Gallacher
S Archibald
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: William Bell (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers once again confounded their critics by winning handsomely after being a goal down at the end of 21 minutes play. Frankly Airdrieonians disappointed me. They began so well that we were entitled to expect a rattling good tussle. And during the first half we got it, with Airdrie deserving their one-goal lead at the cross-over. It was a cleverly taken point. Rangers had had the better of the opening exchanges and were actually pressing when Neil let Reid away. Jimmy slipped a perfect picture up the middle. Gallacher got on it and passed all opposition. Robb ran out to try to retrieve the situation, but the centre shot safe and sure into the net. It was a swift thrust and deserved the counter. Rangers’ replay to this was some good shooting by Henderson, Cunningham and Cairns, but Morton missed a peach close in. At the same time Shortt let nothing away, and he had a particularly brilliant save from the rangers’ centre. Airdrie had their hard lines, but though, Robb being fortunate to get in one from Gallacher. It wasn’t like the same game during the second half. Rangers were rampant now. In eleven minutes, Archibald drove the first one past Shortt low down, and after Bennie, who wasn’t too fit to start, changed places with Sommerville, Airdrie seemed to goal all to pieces. Just on the twenty minutes Henderson, who had been shooting well, whacked his first past Shortt and gave his team the lead. George’s second came in 35 minutes, and his third, and his team’s fourth, nine minutes from the end. All three were great shots, reminiscent of RS McColl. Airdrie during all this time, could make no headway, the only real danger coming from Reid, but Robb was never in trouble. What Willie got to do he did confidently. McCandless was the better back, Reid being a bit shaky at the start. In the middle I liked Meiklejohn best, and all five forwards were in rare trim. Henderson has never played better. Airdrie’s weakness was in the middle, especially with Bennie failing to last. McDougall individually was grand, but he had too much to do. Shortt was great, although he lost four goals; and of the forwards Reid and Gallacher were the pick, although Somerville often threatened danger in the first half. The backs were all right and could not be taxed with the defeat. McQueen hadn’t his equal afield
