J Harris <45
A Smith 52
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: J.S. Muir (Glasgow)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
I am wondering where Partick Thistle conceal the elixir between times that enables them so well against the Rangers, particularly in their League games at Firhill. I remember that two seasons ago, the match between the two teams there, was the fastest and best of its kind I had seen during the whole of that term. Then, when the Thistle were at Ibrox in January last, they gave the Light Blues as great fright, and though only finishing with a draw should actually have won had Marshall accepted any one of the crop of chances that were his. I would not say that the Thistle ought to have won on the run of the game at Firhill yesterday, but they could have won had McIntyre not thrown away at least two chances that were as good as goals to a cool head, and a moderately sure foot. Reid, for Ranger, had only one chance of a similar kind, but somehow he could not get pith into his shots, probably owing to the soft ground, which prevented easy turning. And close control of the ball. But at the finish a draw was an excellent result. Rangers were the better football team in the first half, during which they lost the only goal of that period, but in the second half the Thistle defence met the attacks so cleverly, and the forwards were so frequently dangerous, that everything was levelled up as between the rivals, even to the extent of Rangers getting the equaliser. Rangers sprang a little surprise by playing Bennett at outside right, while the Thistle played an entirely new half-back line, with McTavish and McIntyre on the left wing, and Hynd at inside right. The Ibrox experiment, if such you could call it, seeing Bennett played some of his greatest games for Celtic as a right winger, was soon in a fair way to be completely justified. Right through the first half, Bennett was the most progressive Rangers forward. He dribbled and centred in the most correct style, and was a continual menace to the Thistle defence. Play was fast and full of incident, and though Rangers kept the ball going with a smoother action than the Thistle, the latter, by means of strong, bustling half-back play, and quick rushing by the forwards, kept themselves well in the game after the first quarter of an hour, which had consisted mostly of Rangers attack, against which Campbell and his backs presented a splendid defence. Hynd might have been the first to score, but he failed to accept a great chance after his partner had centred. Several attempts were made by the Rangers half’s and inside forwards to put Reid through, but the centre was closely watched, and twice he had to shoot with his left foot when he was obviously itching to get the ball with his right. In a collision between Brown and McTavish, the Thistle forward got the worst of it, and had to go off for about ten minutes, during which is side played four forwards. He had no sooner reappeared when Rangers briskly raided the home goal, and from a well placed corner by Bennett, Campbell just saved at the expense of another corner. Then Hendry was injured through jumping to head the ball, and falling over an opponent’s back. Rangers always looked the more likely to score, but they never had such a chance as the one that fell to McIntyre when he kicked weakly behind from only a few yards from Lock, and with tome to steady. However, soon after, and some three minutes from the interval, the Thistle secured a free kick for a back charge. Joe Harris took it, and shot as strongly as he could for goal. The ball seemed to be travelling too high to get into the net, but it hit the inside of the post, and rebounded into the net behind Lock. Even had he gone for the ball at first, Lock would have had a poor chance of saving. This should not have been the only goal of the half, for before the interval, a clever run between Bowie and Bennett, and a centre from the latter, left Reid with a ball a few yards out from Campbell. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred Reid would have scored under similar circumstances, but this time he kicked the ball softly enough to Campbell, who promptly kicked it away again. So Thistle turned with their 1-0 lead, which rather flattered them. It was an exhilarating second half to watch. Both teams went into it with rare zest, and you could never tell what was going to happen when the ball was in the vicinity of either goal. Lock was quickly called upon to save a hard drive from Harris, and he did so and no more. Then McIntyre made his second inglorious miss, and, to tell you the truth, it seemed harder for him to get the ball over the bar – which he did – than under it. Then, as often happens, the other side scored. Rangers combined in a rapid run to the other end, and Bowie, lofting over the ball to the left, Smith, left to himself, waited for it, and neatly headed it past Campbell for the equaliser. Adams should have been on the spot, but wasn’t. There were incidents in the game after this that made the blood circulate at an alarming rate. Harris almost beat Lock again from a free kick. Marshall stood beneath the bar to score, and raised the ball over it; Cairns nearly had Campbell beaten with a rakish shot. Rangers made two penalty claims, the second of which I thought should have been allowed, and Reid near the end, had another chance, which only resulted in another shot that lacked the usual Reid-like venom. It had been a game worth seeing for its pith and its bustle, not to speak of the excellent play on a difficult pitch. Both Lock and Campbell saved well, and none of the backs gave anything, unless Adams be blamed for not marking Alex Smith when he equalised. The Thistle must have been delighted with the dash and whole-hearted vigour of Morrison, Stevenson and Harris in the half-back line. It was these three who took the sting out of the Rangers’ attack and made the draw possible. If their placing was not always perfect, they, at any rate, were industrious in covering up their mistakes, and they hung on to the Rangers’ forwards like leeches. Logan got through an immense amount of defensive work for the Rangers, and both Brown and Hendry combined well with their wings, though the injuries to both sustained did not add to their sprightliness. Bennett and Bowie were best in the first half, while the Thistle right wing came out best in the second half. I think Rangers should persevere with Cairns. He is full of life, and only by playing him may he acquire the polish that he presently lacks. Smith was up against a strong defence that allowed him little scope, and Reid I have seldom seen in such poor shooting form. The Thistle were not strong at centre, but McTavish and McIntyre were a good wing until it came to scoring, and then - well, enough said.
