J Smith 16
Armstrong 48
Match Information
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: W Holburn (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Cutting it fine again, Rangers? They did it against Aberdeen because they couldnt help it. The Pittodrie Dons ran them close, might have turned the trick, and in the end were unfortunate to lose. Of course, everybody said the Rangers would have to play better to win the Cup. They have a fortnight to go, and if their invalids are fighting fit by then, they will be expected to do what everybody said they would have to do. I liked Aberdeen heaps better than in the Cup-tie they played and lost at Ibrox. The defence was hard-bitten, the half-backs fighters all, and the forwards played some tip-top football during a big part of the second half. It was then the Dons had their chance. Rangers defence was in some distress, they threw scoring chances at the Aberdeen forwards, and they must have thought their lucky star was shinning when Mills and company failed to put the ball into the caress of the rigging. And then thump goes one home from the foot of Smith to win the match, and virtually the championship for Rangers Had an Aberdeen forward possessed a shot like that, the points were away North. Smiths winner was disputed, not because of anything he did, but because Aberdeen claimed that McPhail had handled before pushing the sideways to the centre. McPhail may have done so, but he had his back to us and the infringement, if it took place, was not discernible. This goal was the turning point in the game. Afterwards Rangers were on top and came very near adding to their score. Aberdeen got great heartening from Armstrongs neatly flicked goal three minutes after the start. They were mostly on the defensive for the next 20 minutes, but McPhail twice failed badly with the goal to himself. It was a pass back by Falloon that equalised. The ball ran away from Smith the custodiam, who had gone out a bit, and it rolled slowly over the line, so slowly that the crowd had time to get excited, wondering whether it would actually go in. That for the goals. It was a keen, punishing game. Nothing was lacking of the element of competition, even if the play was not all up to standard. A nasty cross-wind and a bit of skid did not help. Dawson was not at all like the usual Jerry. His timing was not nearly so good as it generally is, and he punched the ball when he should have been clutching it. Smith, at the other end, was safe and sure. Those who blame him for not saving his namesakes scoring shot have to be close up to realise the power the Ibrox centre gets into his drive. Gray played his customary sound game, even if frequently worried by Beynon. He could rely on Craig every time, for in fact there was no better half-back playing than the Tullybody boy. McDonald was uncertain with his kicking, but didnt be twice rescue his team by kicking clear from under the bar when the ball was all but through? For headwork, the icicle tactician, Meiklejohn, was on his very own and what a pity he isnt ten years younger! Not quite himself yet, Brown never spared himself. It was not a real Rangers forward line yet. Little Gillick was a game trier, and out of position. Did quite well. Neither Marshall nor McPhail had a good day, but Smith and Nicholson did a lot to pull the game round. Even with their shooting failures, Aberdeen played well enough to justify their high position in the league. In front of Smith, Cooper and McGill were rugged defenders, the right back the more consistent. Fraser and Thomson were quick into the tackle, as Marshall and McPhail know, but Falloon did not have such a merry innings as in the Cup-tie. Mills, I thought the cleverest inside forwards on the field, but he should have been a scorer. He and Beynon made a good wing, and Love was a lively raider. Warnock had a good spell in the second half, but Armstrong found Meiklejohn too wily for him
