W Reid 75
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: J Lyons (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
To the Ibrox Park following the success of the younger players, Waddell and Brown, who occupied the places in the Rangers’ team sacred to Galt and Alex Smith, gave almost as much satisfaction as a victory that incidentally meant a termination to the long immunity from defeat Partick Thistle have enjoyed at Firhill in League matches. The Lesmahagow youth exhibited a boldness and confidence in his powers refreshing to see. Nothing seemed too much for him to attempt, and no opponent seemed too strong for him to tackle. If his game id a trifle robust, he is not deficient in the art of placing, and he has developed splendidly this season. Brown took Bennett’s passes nicely and Hendry saw that he was not neglected. The Galston left winger can slip a man cutely, and he is also a good shot. Fog rolled from the city in thick, black banks, but the referee could always follow the game, although the wing play was partly obscured from vision nearing the close. But for its intervention a new ground attendance record would have been established. As it was over 27,000 people were present. The bite in the atmosphere overnight left its effect on the pitch, which was hard and slippery. On the ball the players often came to grief, frequently at the moment when they were most likely to get in a good bit of work. The home team still lacked the services of King and McGregor, and their display, while wonderfully keen, did not show them in as favourable a light as that day at Celtic Park in the Cup Final against the same opposition. The defect was not wholly due to the failure of the attack to settle or push home an advantage gained in the outfield, for the defence was not so reliable as usual in the first half and over the game did not emerge so well as the Rangers, who had the best back on the field in Campbell. The ‘Light Blues’ were also a shade nippier at half-back, although Patrick could claim the most successful half in Wilson, whose cleverness has seldom been more marked. No goals were scored in the first half, when the Rangers playing up the incline had a bit the best of it, and tested Campbell more often than the Thistle did Lock. Bowie once managed the ball in the net, but Campbell, the home goalkeeper, was injured in the scrimmage preceding it, and the point was disallowed. Opportunities for scoring were missed on both sides in a desperately contested game. Not a man spared himself, and when the second half commenced play developed faster and physical power was freely indulged. There was more purpose in the efforts of the Rangers’ forwards, and more skill, and the goal got by Reid midway through the concluding portion that decided the issue in their favour represented the margin between the team. Bennett tricked three players beautifully before giving the ball to Reid, who dashed in and scored with a raking shot. In the last fifteen minutes Hendry was carried off hurt, and following this Waddell was in the wars and had to exchange places with Hogg. The Thistle made desperate efforts to rush the game latterly, but the Rangers kept their advantage. Both goalkeepers did well. Lock’s best test being from a free kick where his vision was partly obscured by those in front of him. Richmond improved on his previous week’s game, and Campbell at back, was almost unpassable and unbeatable going out for the ball. Gordon and Hendry were lively as usual, and Waddell proved a worthy man in Galt’s place. In forward play the Rangers showed the greater thrustfulness, and were the more dangerous at goal. Reid got able support from Bennett and Bowie, and Hogg and Brown put in some clever work. The Thistle put up a plucky fight. The defence had a gruelling time keeping out the Rangers. Campbell’s goalkeeping was excellent, but the ground affected the free-kicking of the backs, whose best work was seen in the second half Bulloch was the better defender, Hamilton showed improved pace, and Wilson was artistic and clever in all he did. Raisbeck did not strike his ordinary form, but he had the liveliest opposition to contend with, and overall he put in a hard game, and was seldom beaten. The best of a bustling attack was Gardiner. Branscombe did not mate him so well as usual, and Allan was too well held by Waddell to be often dangerous. None worked harder than Elmore in a fairly tousy game, but his left foot shots lacked direction. Steel was passably fair, but not so clever as in the Cup tie. On the whole, the defeat in the play were largely the result of the tricky surface. The team had no reflections in losing to the champions of the year.
