G Henderson 68
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: W Bell (Motherwell)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
By one of the most remarkable goals ever notched on Firhill – or anywhere else for that matter of it – Rangers collected the points yesterday. These on play they hardly deserved. Twenty-two minutes of the second half had gone when the goal came along. Up till then, and more especially throughout the first half, the Ibrox fellows had been more or less lost in the mud. The inside forwards, and Cairns in particular, had persisted in hugging the ball, whereas Patrick, by keeping and swinging out to the touch-line, had found progress comparatively easy. Most people had given up any hope of the Rangers pulling a win. If their defence holds out, they will be doing famously, so many thought. Then a sudden transformation! The ball came over to the stand side. Archibald crossed to Cairns, who as quickly returned it in the direction of the corner flag. Henderson was after it like a shot and banged it into the middle of the goal. Not an Ibrox forward was within a dozen yards of the ball and Ramsay rightly came out to clear. Almost simultaneously, however, Chatton stepped in front of his goalkeeper, and to the general consternation of 22,000 people, the ball bounced off his chest and into the net. It was difficult to grasp the fact that Partick, who all along had looked the more likely winners, were now a goal behind. It was a tragedy for the Thistle. Nit until then did we see anything like the real Rangers. All the sting was out of the Queen’s Cross team and the Ibrox fellows were rejuvenated. Cairns and Cunningham did now what they should have done from the start – they kept the ball on the swing instead of dallying in the mud. As an exhibition, the game can be dismissed without serious consideration. Real football was impossible, but a deal of credit is due Partick for their efforts to surmount the conditions. They realised much more quickly than did their opponents the uselessness of attempting to make progress down the middle of the field. Salisbury and Ness were piled with the ball, and both made excellent use of it. Ness was not seriously challenged by the limping Muirhead, and had many lively bouts with McCandless, and in the end the sturdy little Irish Ranger came out on top. But Ness put in a good afternoon’s work. Salisbury might have done even better had he been supported after the cross-over. Rangers raided often, too, but their movements were more laboured. Alan Morton and Gibson – the long and short of it – had some amusing duels, and the Firhill half’s length of limb frequently came in handy. Archibald was fitful, but he was not overburdened with work. Cunningham and Cairns smashed in shots, and Donald was lucky to get in front of one from the Rangers’ skipper. Miller and Henderson were very energetic, but their individual attempts to plough through the mud brought nothing. Dixon and Chatton were seldom out of position. I felt very sorry for Chatton’s calamity. Gibson tapered off, but McMullan stuck out to the bitter end. The Denny ‘National was the most effective of the middle division. Meiklejohn, while not at his best, was far ahead of Muirhead, who gave a leg a twist in the early stages. McCandless was in a class by himself. Muirhead’s injury added to the work behind, but the little Irishman shirked nothing, and his kicking was as accurate as it was powerful. Jamieson had a worrying time with Salisbury before the cross-over, but he had a good grip of Sally later on. Both Firhill backs came out of the ordeal with credit – especially Donald, who never knew when he was beaten. Robb, like his friend at the other end, was not overworked, but neither goalkeeper made a mistake. Some of Ramsay’s clearances in the closing minutes were very smart
