Fleming 10
McLelland 17
Match Information
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: J Baillie (Motherwell)
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
Rangers finished good winners at Hampden, but Queen’s Park made a rare game of it up to half-way. I would say that level pegs at the interval would have been fair to both sides, but at that stage Rangers had a lead of a goal – 2-1. In the second half, Rangers were stronger, they stayed the course better. Except for an occasional breakaway by the amateurs’ forwards, the Ibrox team were in command, and a third goal was fully merited. I enjoyed the first-half – every minute of it. The play was fast and clever, and there were some thrills at either goal. In the first minute, Crawford went away fast on the wing and centred, and when Gray headed out straight, McAlpine got in a terrific shot, which Tom Hamilton did well to save at the expense of a corner. On the top of this, Marshall took a pass-back from Fleming and shot with great force, which was grandly saved by Smith. For a spell the amateurs’ forwards kept going well, McAlpine leading out with fine spirit and getting a splendid response from McKenzie. Tom Hamilton had to be on the alert, and he saved a few shots cleanly. Rangers unexpectedly took the lead. Smith hit the ball up the field, and when Gillespie headed away, he put the ball right at the feet of Fleming, who ran in and scored. Smith was a trifle late in getting down, but otherwise, throughout the game, he played well. This Rangers’ goal was registered after ten minutes, and six minutes later McLelland equalised. He received a nice pass from Crawford, and from about 25 yards, shot low and hard. Hamilton seemed to be gathering the ball, but there was a lot of spin on it, and it ‘broke’ away from him. Some pithy attacks by the amateurs, a few shots by Alan Morton, and then Rangers got the lead again as the result of a beautiful movement. Marshall put the ball through the centre to Fleming, who cleverly headed it forward for McPhail to gather it at his feet, walk in, and score. Although having the best of the second half, Rangers did not score again until ten minutes from time, when Fleming went through, and then sent a forward pass on for Marshall, who shot out of Smith’s reach. Stamina told. In the second half, Gray and Newry Hamilton were not harassed. Both were steady and sure. They are playing well to each other, which is the secret of sound defence. I do not blame Tom Hamilton for the loss of the goal. I have seen some of the greatest goalkeepers of all time beaten by the same kind of shot. Why, Jack Robinson, the finest English custodian I ever saw, lost two goals to the same shot sent at him by Bob McColl in the 1900 International. They ‘look’ easy, but they aren’t. Rangers held an advantage at half-time, for although Simpson did not place well, he was good in defence. Buchanan and craig both forced the game, and this was a telling point. Marshall excelled in front. I see he has acquired a feint, the very thing that I saw lacking before. He was shooting plenty and good, and in fact, played a dashing all-round game – the best I have seen him play. Fleming, who received a knock, was neat in his touches, but he could make little of Gillespie in the first half when the Hampden pivot was at his best. McPhail put rather too much work on the ball, and Morton and Archibald did not let themselves go all the time. Queen’s Park defence put up a splendid resistance until they tired. It was pretty heavy-going. Campbell and Walker more than held their own until the interval. All the half-backs wrought very hard, and in front McAlpine played at the top of his game and made an excellent wing with McKenzie. McLelland made the most of his opportunities, but Crawford, after as a marksman 0 he mossed one of the best chances of the match. Taylor, I thought, could have held the ball more with advantage.
