McNee 23
Thornton 50, 80
Bolt 62
Wallace pen 60
Match Information
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
Rangers were superior in strength, tactics and skill and deserved to win a game that provided plenty of thrilling passages. The Light Blues were more facile at finding their men, and all through showed a quickness in perception and action that was not Thistles possession. The difference was particularly noticeable in regard to the forward line and at centre-half. The home lot had no Venters or Thornton, who were live wires in every sense of the term. Douglas was a trifle slow in the uptake, while Wallace was a bit awkward in getting the leather under control when in shooting position. You can guess what happened with a Rangers opposition ever so quick in the tackle. If Pickens solo job were to spend out long passes to exploit McSpadyens speed, then I would say he was a success, but the boy lacked power. Linton was a poor winger compared with McSpadyen, whereas Rangers were well served on both touchlines. Waddell had a right good game. Little did well at left half, while the other Rangers reserve, Gilmour, if at times a wee bit slow, entered quite nicely into the scheme of things. Bolt was a brick wall so far as the Thistle left-wing was concerned, and on the few occasions the cement sometimes fell loose, Gray was always there to cover up. Shaw was a game un against the speedy McSpadyen. Curran and Stewart had a much more difficult task at their end of the field, and it was made no easier by a half-back line that was erratic. With a hurricane type pf start each side in turn tried to get in a quick and telling blow. There was more than one instance in the opening few minutes of the defence, particularly Thistles scrambling the ball to safety. The first big thrill was when Waddell crossed a hip-high ball to Thornton, who ran on with the ball to within six yards of goal, when he was tackled from behind to allow goalkeeper Johnstone to throw himself at the centres feet, clutch and clear. Next minute Dawson had to run out and dive to prevent Wallace making contact. Then McSpadyen beat Shaw at midfield and spanked along the line to send over a high one that Linton just failed to meet properly. There was more method in Rangers attack which was not so one-sided as Thistles. For making headway the home lot depended mostly on Picken sending long passes for McSpadyen to test his speed in chasing them up. The nearest thing so far was Venters, when he hit a low 25-yarder. Johnstone went down for it too soon and the ball actually struck the keepers outstretched body. Bobby wasnt slow in grabbing hold of it. The first goal came almost immediately afterwards, in the twenty-third minute. Waddell thumped over a powerful cross. Thornton threw himself into an almost horizontal position to send the ball home, bit it whizzed past him to be met first time by the oncoming McNee, who side-footed it into the net. Thistle were spirited enough in their efforts to regain equality but didnt have the proper finishing touch against a resourceful defence. The second half began with Thornton again beating A Johnstone in the air. The centres header was met by Gilmour, who, in turn, headed the ball against the cross-bar with the keeper beaten. Thornton met the rebound, but not too well balanced, drove over. This led to Thistle putting a jag into their play, but efforts by Douglas, Picken and McSpadyen were blacked out. There was a slowness about getting the ball into position to shoot that was fatal. Thistle pressed hard for five minutes and then disaster came their way in the sixth. A Johnstone squared the ball to Waddell who raced ahead to best Stewart and cross. Bobby Johnstone ran out but when he looked like getting the ball safely, he dropped it and Thornton, fastening on, drove into an empty goal. It was a setback for Thistle hardly deserved and all was caused by Johnstones poor attempts at returning the ball to his mates in front who were on the attack. A sudden quiet descended on the hitherto roaring crowd, but the yells were revived after 15 minutes play when Wallace scored from the penalty spot, the award being given for Woodburn handling. This success, however, was short-lived for two minutes later Bolt beat Johnstone from a free-kick a couple of yards outside the penalty area, the rising ball entering the net high up with tremendous speed. The kick had been awarded for A Johnstone handling. If Bolts shot had been hard, one immediately after by Wallace was simply terrific. It was a good thing Dawson that the goalkeeper was right in the way
