A Bennett
Gordon
Match Information
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: J.M. Dickson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I cannot rid myself of the feeling that, in a manner of speaking, Raith Rovers were over-awed by the makeshift experimental Rangers’ eleven that simply walked away with a couple of point from Stark’s Park. How they should be I cannot understand, but certain it is the Kirkcaldy side never showed the confidence displayed against Airdrieonians the previous week; the sustained powerful stick-at-nothing attack we were regaled with that afternoon only came in spasmodic bursts against Rangers. They seemed afraid to come out from their goal. In a word the Rovers overdid the checkmating or destructive policy and suffered for it. The result was that their flashes of real constructive play – the kind that leads to goal-scoring and consequently wins matches – were like angel’s visits, few and far between. The thought struck me when I saw the Rangers make practically all the running downhill – and to little purpose – that the Fifers themselves were perhaps contributing factors. You know the feeling – they will be satisfied if they keep their end up till the interval; then let the ‘Light Blues’ withstand if they can that humanised avalanche which carried all before it in the second half of the game I have referred to. My surmise was quite wrong. Instead of Raith taking charge of thins when it came their turn to kick towards the lower goal they fell further back than ever, and Lavery and even Morrison – their first-half bulwarks – wavered before the insistent pressure. Nor could one wonder at it. For the forwards at this stage were really doing nothing, and Porter and Harry Anderson, the intermediate players who were worth their salt, found it an all-too heavy task to keep the Ibrox wings and Gordon in check. True, the International half-back had not distinguished himself as a centre-forward, still, he took more than a bit of watching. I had always the notion that, given half a chance, he would score – and he did. But before that came about, the Rangers had gained the lead, and lost it. Their goal accrued from one of the prettiest efforts I have seen for many a day. Gordon initiated the movement by tipping the ball along to Bennett. Alex was on it like a bird, and a short sharp run followed, in course of which he outflanked Morrison are flashing the ball past Wallace, low down close to his left hand upright. I heard a good Kirkcaldy club man say the goalkeeper should have got the ball. He might, I grant you, if he could have read Bennett’s thought, or had happened to be standing against the post. As a matter of fact the entire movement was so quickly conceived and carried out, that Wallace was absolutely helpless. Just before and subsequent to this success which came when the game had still 36 minutes to run, we were treated to much delightful play on the Rangers’ wings. Gordon, who had now changed places with Cairns, struck up a rare combination with Paterson, and Bennett and Scott Duncan improved on their smart first half display, in that they were now finishing much better. To this latter statement I have no doubt Wallace will subscribe. The Rovers’ guerrilla-like raids carried them often within hail of Hempsey, but that young man, and Kelso and Craig, had little need to worry, such a bad hash did the Fife forwards make of things down there. For instance, Scott rounded Kelso and wrought himself into position like a very master of his art, only to finish like a novice, and after Gordon had just missed with a magnificent left-foot screw-shot at the other end, Rattray, perfectly placed, did just exactly what the other Kirkcaldy inside man had dome a few minutes previously. Thus were two glorious scoring chances thrown away. The Rovers’ one crumb of comfort came midway through the half, and it was thoroughly deserved, Gibson getting well down the left, forced Kelso to concede a corner, and the kick beautifully taken by the Englishman, was headed into the back of the net by Potter. The ball flew past Hempsey like a rocket. Paterson followed with a shot which brought out Wallace’s nest saving qualities. Duncan failed to send home a cross from the same quarter, which simply shrieked to be put into the back of the net, and them, almost before you could say Jack Robinson, three Raith forwards, with the goal at their mercy failed to pilot Gibson’s beautifully crossed ball out of Hempsey’s reach. Another kaleidoscopic turn, and the play raged at the top end once more. A weak return from Morrison reached Gordon – in a trice the ball was lying snugly behind Wallace. Gordon’s shot was as magnificent as it was fast and sudden. While giving the Rangers every credit for their smart and deserved victory, I would not say for a moment that their team was anything like first-class. Strange, isn’t it, after all that has been said and written about the backs, that the side pleased me best behind. Lock could not have improved on Hempsey, and Kelso and Craig, even if the tackling of both was a trifle faulty just a few times, were a very safe pair of backs. Of the two, I liked best Kelso, whose powerful and clean kicking was much admired. I have seldom seen Joe Hendry do better, even if he over-kicked the ball now and then, while Brown, who wrought untiringly, made a first-class substitute for Gordon. I preferred both to Pursell. Forward, Bennett, who, you may remember, also scored a spectacular goal last time the Rangers were in Kirkcaldy, was in a class by himself, although, like the others, his finishing in the first half left something to be desired. Paterson’s centring was defective on occasion, still he and Scott Duncan must both be written down as successes. Cairns did not exhibit the dainty touches of Bennett and Paterson, but paid his way just the same. He is a plodder. I have already indicated that Gordon accomplished his best work on the left. He might, if persevered with, adorn either of the inside wing position, but the Ibrox directors, I think, will be well advised to play him in his natural place – among the half-backs. Like Hempsey, Wallace kept a grand goal. He seems just a trifle slow in getting down to low shots, but when I say this I do not mean the big fellow should have got hold of either ball that beat him. Morrison and Lavery I have already told you were in Queer Street for a little at the beginning of the second half, but before, and after, both did splendidly. Harry Anderson was the best of the Kirkcaldy middlemen, although the more virile Porter was also of much service to his side. This youngster gave Gordon little rope. Logan was completely out of it. In the second half Gordon and Paterson practically ran him off his feet. In the front I was best pleased with Todd and Rattray. The outside man took the ball up field nicely and centred most accurately; Rattray was ever in the thick of it. Welsh disappointed me much after his promising display against Airdrieonians. Scott, although eager as ever, was completely off his game. Gibson was also a backslider; I grant you he warmed Hempsey’s singers with a grand early shot, and sent across perhaps hald a dozen good centres, but he wasted far too much time on the line
