Kinnear 89
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: J Hudson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Since Partick thistle left Old Meadowside, where they began their First League career, I have seen most of their games with Rangers at Firhill. These games have been among the most throbbing I have ever witnessed. This latest goes into the same category. But it took a different form from sone of the others. It was ninety minutes of seething excitement mostly because of the battle between Particks forwards and the Rangers defence. Except for the opening minutes, a brief spell after the restart, and again near the end, when the fateful goal was scored, the Ibrox forwards never played up to the standard of the home front line. It was a dogged, determined defence Rangers put up and I give them all the credit they deserve, but it is a fact, just the same that luck was with them more than once. So relentless were the Partick thrusts on the right, through the centre, and twice by Elliot that they seemed bound to win. That was the position when, a minute from the finish, Rangers struck an unexpected blow. It was a positively dramatic stroke, a rude reminder of what can happen in this jolly old game of football. In the first minute, Smith had hit the post with Johnstone beaten. In the last minute, the second of two real dead-eye shots by a Rangers player won the match. Kennedy threw the ball ahead, Smith, now playing outside right, glanced it to the left with his head, and Kinnear met it and shot with terrific force into the net. I should say the most wonderful thing about this epic struggle was the pace maintained by the Partick forwards. McSpadyen and McKennan came again and again, with Wallace and Woolley chipping in to bring out all the powers of defence that were in the Rangers rear. Young Gray did not have such a good day against this Ibrox namesake, but then you have to be up early to get the better of Dougie G. Rangers forwards never could find their men as the Partick forwards did. It was symptomatic that Smith and Thornton should change places when the second half was 16 minutes gone. The youngster from Winchburgh Albion shaped well for a boy of 16 ½ years of age. I like his cut and the way he moves. It is always dangerous to prophesy but I should expect Thornton, who is a centre, to make a Rangers player. Partick had the better balanced half-back line with Elliot the strongest forcing half on the field. No one came nearer to winning the match for Partick. Sutherland, like Simpson, stalled off attack with head and feet, and McLeod played his part. Rangers half-backs had the harder job, and they must have been tired men at the finish. All round the back play was more than merely good. Johnstone, who was injured on Friday at Shawfield, would not have played but for the fact that McNair, the reserve goalkeeper, was down with influenza. His task was easy compared with Dawsons, and he had no chance with Kinnears scoring shot.
