C Duncan (2)
Lawson
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: J Lyons (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
A hurricane blow during a period following the interval of the game at Ibrox transformed a dubious struggle into what had the appearance of being a smashing victory for Rangers. But it was really so. Airdrieonians during the greater part of the game fought a fine fight; and it is not to be forgotten that they lacked the service of both Yarnall and Paterson, so that a fledgling in W Anderson had to be retained at Centre and a veteran in Alec Thomson had to adventure at outside left. What these points meant to Airdrie may be deduced from the fact that it was only in the strength and dash of their forwards that Rangers possessed any advantage. Even this advantage was completely neutralised in the first half by the keen, vigorous tackling of the Airdrie half-backs. They had the breeze behind them and they made good use of it, but the Broomfield forwards did not have the necessary driving force near goal. Sam Anderson, the cleverest of the bunch, came nearest to scoring with a shot that Hempsey brilliantly stopped at the expense of a corner. W Anderson also had a capital effort saved by the goalkeeper, while Donaldson, in the best position of all, failed to get power behind his shot. Yet Rangers might easily have been the scorers in the first half, for in scampering in on the Airdrie defence first Martin and then Charles Duncan had the goal practically at their mercy. Change of ends showed that the wind had been greater factor then we had supposed. Rangers let themselves go, and before the Airdrie defence could recover themselves they were three goals to the bad. Lawson for the first with a shot that struck a defender. Then C Duncan collared a centre from Scott Duncan and scored, and soon after the performance was repeated except that Scott Duncan’s centre was from a free kick. The Rangers’ centre got both goals by sheer determination. Once in possession he was always a menace to the visitors’ defence, but it appeared to me as if he too often allowed an opponents, usually Mercer-like Kennedy, to intercept the passes meant for him. Before the end Rangers lost Pursell with an injured ankle, but they were perfectly safe, for the Airdrie attack lost rather than gained in force. Against the wind the Ibrox half-backs were outpointed, only Riddell showing ability to hold the ball to any purpose. McKenna’s eye – as the cricketers say – was ‘out’, but before the finish he was doing better. Farther behind Airdrieonians did not suffer by comparison. Even if McDonald and Watson staggered under the impetuous attack that brought the Rangers their goals, they were mostly fit for anything asked of them. So was Bernard in goal. The fact is that the backs when playing against the wind were all severely tried, and they have to be judged accordingly. Blair gauged the breeze better than any of the four. Rangers’ forwards were not playing well until they got their first goal. Bowie was not drawing the defence as he generally does, but that seemed partly owing to a determination on the part of Sneddon and Watson to keep a close watch on Scott Duncan. Yet the latter paved the way for two of the goals. If Lawson could play always as he played when the game was a good as won his efforts would be more fruitful. He was getting the ball across well in the second half. Quite a nice game was played by the Airdrie forwards in the first half, when Rankin and Sam Anderson were the best wing afield and Donaldson also clever. W Anderson combined smartly with his wings, but just lacked the strength to go through
