J Smith 11
Telfer 17
Match Information
Attendance: 29,777
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers are in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. They never looked like bring denied that position from the moment Referee Hutton whistled the start of the game at Fir Park yesterday. They were the superior lot, but not, mark you, by the margin with which they triumphed. And yet, curiously enough, they might have won in the end by the proverbial bagful. After Smith had completed his personal triumph of scoring four goals Motherwell were a lot of flounders, and Main was given opportunities that outside-right dream of. He had half a dozen times the chance of scoring off his own bat or giving his mates scoring chances. He missed the lot and so saved the steelmen the ignominy of blushing before a tall score. It was for the most part a hard game that had the crows roaring and the blood tingling, although it was spoiled scored two goals. The first was the result of a cross from Main. The centre, in company with Gillick, rose to the ball, the big fellows head getting there first. The second followed slick work by Venters, who slammed a body-high ball from the right into the centre of the field. Smith brought it down to his toes with his mid-section and, first time turned and shot the leather with his right foot well out of McClorys reach. In between these two Telfer scored for Motherwell, the left half shooting a high ball from twenty-five yards that Dawson tipped with his hands against the cross-bar. The force of the drive, however, took the leather into the net. After Rangers second goal Motherwell, territorially were on top. They made the pace but could not find an opening in the Rangers defence, which seemed to have an almost uncanny precision in blocking the way to goal. To Meiklejohn I unhesitatingly give credit for his understanding here. On addition to his footwork he guided his mates, and we had the picture of the Motherwell forwards, brilliant almost in the outfield, looking stupid when it came to twenty yards or so from Dawson. Always was there a blue jersey to block the way, and Motherwells forwards parted in a week manner. Their work on the ball went for nothing and so it was in the opening quarter of an hour of the second half. They couldnt find a way through. MacFadyen, all the time, was striving for a chance, and my memory of the game is that he got only one. That was when Motherwell were playing, outfield of course, in a manner that suggested they would level the scores. The Fir Park centre got away, but Meiklejohn went after him and hampered him, and the result was that Willie instead of netting as he might have done put the ball wide of Dawsons right-hand post. Smiths third goal was due to the work of McPhail, the centre being left with a clear run in on McClory. His fourth was a clever thing. Main looked like being beaten but came fortunately out of a tackle with Ellis on the bye-line and squared. Smith had his back to the Motherwell goal but hooked the ball at tremendous pace past his own right shoulder to send it whizzing into the net. After that Motherwell completely faded away. Rangers, with half an hour to go, looked like having to fight for victory. In the last fifteen minutes they won as they liked. Dawson was a grand goalkeeper, and Gray and McDonald were safe in tackling, clever in anticipation, and sure in kicking. Meiklejohn was the best of the half-backs. Simpson was not so steady as I have seen him. Brown was good and had a perfect understanding with his captain. This was one of the best games I have seen Smith play, and I dont say it because he scored four goals. He was on his toes from the very beginning. McPhail was the brainy man od the attack, and what power he carried! There was definite purpose in almost everything he did, and he varied the play in manner that had the opposition guessing. In the Motherwell team, I cannot blame McClory for one goal. Ellis was the better back. Allan, I think, being poor from a positional point of view, although his kicking was good. Telfer was the best half-back. Blair was just ordinary, while Wales too often seemed incapable of making up his mind what he should do. MacFadyen, in the attack, was asked to perform too many miracles, the ball seldom reaching him in the right manner. Stevenson and McMenemy were all right when things were running for them, but seldom made opportunities for themselves. Ferrier never showed up like the danger man he can be, while Ogilvie was slick on the run but made some very weak centres.
