W Reid 9
Hunter 44
A Smith
Match Information
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: H Humphrey (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
To the out-and-out Rangers perhaps the most pleasing feature associated with the defeat of the Airdrieonians at Ibrox was the promising display given by Ormonde. The fact that the victory brought them with half-a-dozen points of the Scottish League Championship was taken something as a matter of course, but not so the clever exhibition given by the young Northerner. His kicking powers are already well known, but in this latest match he disclosed tackling ability with which few previously credited him with. With Ormonde given a little more speed – and this is not impossible – an admittedly weak spot in the Rangers’ armour would give the directors less concern in the future. This was a peculiar game. Although the Rangers deservedly won in the end with something to spare, at one time it looked as if they would do well to extract a single point from the meeting. Twenty-one minutes from time Reid’s brilliant goal, scored nine minutes after the start, and Hunter’s equaliser, which came along just before the interval, summed up the work of the respective attacking divisions. For this happy state of affairs, from an Airdrie standpoint, Ewart’s grand goalkeeping and the refusal of the Ibrox forwards to embrace their opportunities was mainly responsible. In the succeeding seventeen minutes Hogg counter twice, and Smith once, but as a matter of fact the Rangers had much more of the game, and many more real scoring chances in the first half than during that period in which they hall-marked their superiority by goals. Airdrieonians put up a plucky fight, but although a few of their opponents were more than a trifle off-colour, there was never much dubiety as to which was the better side. Ewart, who sustained as bad knock through colliding with Hogg five minutes before the burly Englishman finished Smith’s perfect-crossed ball just as he should, showed almost marvellous anticipation on occasion. He never hesitated to leave his post, and through his very daring he brought off several brilliant saves; still, his value to his side might be enhanced were he just a trifle less unorthodox. Anthony and Mackie, like all three halves, were grafters rather than brilliant performers, while the forwards among whom Sam Young, Hunter and Thomson stood out with some little prominence, were only a very so-so company. Templeman was particularly disappointing. He showed a fair turn of speed, centred a few good balls, and failed to middle a lot of others. He has a nice move to the inside with which he made ground on a few occasions, but generally speaking he was overmatched by Hendry, the best intermediate player afield. None too fit, Gordon never touched his true game, and the centre half-back only once obliged – and that late in the match – with two or three minutes of the real Galt. Lock, although worried once or twice, was fairly safe; Campbell inclined to lie too far behind, did well the one minute and indifferently the nest; while forward neither Bennett nor Bowie impressed. Hogg, even if he should have registered another goal or two, played magnificent football throughout. Reid did many smart things besides opening the scoring so cleverly, and Smith, although none too well supported, showed that he is still in the very forefront of left-wingers. His shot from the line, which beat Ewart, was a thing of beauty.
