S Archibald 39
Missed Penalties
Meiklejohn missed penalty
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Joe P. Rowe (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Another Challenge gone west! Airdrieonians did their best yesterday to stop the all-conquering Rangers, but they were not good enough, and before the game had gone very far it was obviously just a question of how long the visitors would hold out. Thanks to a splendid defence, it was almost half-time before the rampant Rangers were able to find the net, and it was as late in the second half before the Airdrie defence was pierced again for the ‘mak siccar’. I must congratulate Airdrie’s defence. They were in action for practically the whole of the game, for Airdrie’s incursions into Rangers’ territory were as few as they were brief. To tell the truth, Airdrie’s front rank never did anything. They were bottled by the rangers’ half-backs, and when they did unscrew the cork, they were promptly put back again by Gray and Hamilton. The whole burden, therefore, was put on the back division, and I do not think I am wrong in saying that here every man pulled his weight and a bit more. Crapnell and McDougall are being talked of as international candidates. What they did yesterday improved such chances as they may have. They were two great defenders with the centre-half, the star of the side. In a good team McDougall might rise to any heights. At it is, he is a splendid defender with a good idea of placing the ball. Rangers were in fine form as usual. Even the terrible conditions – I could not call them safe – failed to stop their brilliant play. The half-back line was a storm, and in front Cunningham was in his element. He was the best forward on the field, and his shooting far ahead of any. On five occasions in the first half, he had five great shots. Each and all might have been goals. But Airdrie were lucky – they either intercepted them or they sailed inches over the bar. His goal in the closing minutes was a fitting finish to a fine day’s work. Rangers’ other goal was scored by Archibald, who except for this counter which really decide the match, was not in his best form. Neither was Morton, but the three inside forwards were good. The rear defence was never tested, although Bertram had two grand shots at Hamilton which the keeper saved confidently. Currie, on the other hand, was active for three-quarters of the game. He had all manner of shots to contend with, and he saved some that looked scores all over. Like the rest of the Airdrie defence, he was a hero. During the first half, Crapnell stopped a certain goal from Archibald with his hand, while Currie was on the ground, and from the penalty kick Meiklejohn missed. This was but one instance of the usefulness of the stuffy little fellow from Paisley. He helped McQueen, also a sound back, and found time to do his won work as well. The less said about Airdrie’s attack the better. Not one showed any inclination to make a combined movement, and but for a shot or two by Bertram and McDonald, and a charge at the keeper by Skinner, they might almost as well not have been on the field. Airdrie opened in sprightly fashion, but Rangers were more methodical, and Andy Cunningham looked to have a good scoring chance when a left-footer was blocked by McDougall. Fleming, too was early there, but he was held just in time by McQueen. McDonald relieved matters momentarily with a long run that fizzled out with a bad pass. Rangers came back, and after a dose of foozling on the left owing to the hard ground, Cunningham took a long shot from about 40 yards. It was right on the mark and Currie dashed across and put it away for a corner. From this Cunningham again got possession, and with another full burster shot over the bar. Meiklejohn and McPhail carried on the good work. Currie was confident itself, clearing the latter’s smart overhead hook, and he got another cheer when he saved a grounder from the active McPhail. Rangers were doing all the pressing, but the Airdrie half-backs stuck to their task, and McDougall did valiant service in attempting to get the attack on the move. His good work did not go unrewarded for Bertram sent in a curling one at Hamilton and Skinner charged in. The keeper held in tenaciously, however, and saved an awkward situation. Rangers attacked strongly after this. A Morton corner-kick hit the top of the bar before going over, and Crapnell showed his worth in clearing an attack by Fleming. Excitement grew intense as Airdrie’s plucky defence stopped the dashing, Rangers. McQueen stopped a sure thing from McPhail, and McDougall and McLaughlan were prominent stopping Archibald and Cunningham. In between-while Airdrie pushed play to the other end, and a movement on the left gave Bertram his chance. With a long raker he brought Hamilton to the ground for a great save. Rangers were rampant after this, and when Currie fell saving a Meiklejohn shot, Archibald lobbed into a keeperless goal. Crannell was not tall enough to head it out, so he used his hands and palmed it away. Meiklejohn took the spot-kick, but even this did not produce the goal, for the shot went wide of the mark. After 35 minutes’ plucky striving Airdrie had to bow the knee. A defender failed to gather a McPhail shot and the ball went out o the unmarked Archibald. Without hesitation he banged it in and although Currie’s hand was able to deflect it slightly it went in at the corner. The second half began with an Airdrie attack, Sommerville shooting past from a wide angle, but Rangers did not take long in continuing their attack. And Airdrie’s defence was overworked once more. McDougall did three men’s work in this hectic period. Beautiful Rangers attacking work gave McPhail a chance near goal, but he shot past. Cunningham was much nearer with a great long-range effort that Currie smothered and Crapnell cleared. The Rangers’ defence was left in the cold, for Airdrie, playing three forwards, rarely got beyond the centre line. When they did it was a simple matter for Rangers to shake them off. On one occasion, however, Skinner got going and it was touch and go with Hamilton getting the ball away. Sommerville was on the spot like a flash and his shot was blocked by Gray just in the nick of time. Rangers’ next shot of note came from Cunningham, who drove over by inches. The big fellow from Galston got his rich reward when he banged in a Morton corner-kick. A defender got in the way but the force of the shot prevailed and it went in with Currie hopeless of saving. Coming as it did, seven minutes from the end, it sealed Airdrie’s fate, and the game petered out. Meiklejohn missed a 34th minute penalty
