McNee 55
Thornton 57
Match Information
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: William Webb (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Perfidious Albion! Now, Im wondering if old man Bismarck was thinking of the Wee Rovers from Coatbridge when he coined that phrase. Perfidious, tenacious; in fact, everything which goes to make up a side fit to be known as challengers to the mighty Rangers. And mark my words, might is the right adjective for this present Rangers compote. And they had to be right at their mightiest to hold their all-conquering record here. Rovers defence took the honours. There they stood, full of grit as a sausage is full of meat, with the ball coming back to them as if they were a hi-li bat. Waddell was terrific; I didnt think him capable of such skill. To be rated No 1 defender when the others include such exponents as Gray and Shaw is no small praise. Yet here it was deserved. Certainly, Rovers rear lines had luck, but only such luck as their courage deserved. Well into the second half, with still nothing separating the teams. There was more anxiety than confidence in the terracing calls to Come away, Rangers. But Rangers came way all right with two goals in two minutes. McNee got the first. Venters succeeded in doing what he had been trying the whole afternoon to roll a ball just that few yards in front of McNee. The little winger was right in position to whip it home. Some doubt about Rangers second. McNee chipped in with a high one. McClory punched high into the air. Slowly the ball descended in front of the crossbar. Half Rangers front rank, evidently tired of standing on their own feet, decided to stand on McClorys. Result was that when the ball did come down all the keeper could do was to finger it into the net. His appeal to the referee, which I thought was justified, went unheeded. And those of us who thought Rangers were now in easy street thought all wrong. For Rovers showed that not only could they defend, but they could hit back. Louden careered up field. Overcame his cross into No Mans Land. Kiernan ran in, and on the drop thumped a glorious fifteen yarder past Dawson. Nearly a sensation followed. Dougie Gray proved that his name should go down in history with the long list of great Rangers goalkeepers. A Bell scoring effort was magnificently cleared on the goal-line. Only thing lacking in a great Rangers display was just that teeing up process for a colleague to go in and score. Right up to the penalty area Rangers could do what they liked then time and again that final pass went amiss. More and more it is getting difficult to single out Ibrox stars. All-in team work displacing the personality touch. So long as this continues, I frankly cannot see them go under. McClory had saves which were never bettered even in his prime. Miller stood gallantly up to Smiths wiles. Up front Kiernan was the man who made Shaw thinks that if the game lasted much longer, he would be tramping on his tongue. The biggest Regional attendance for far turned out. Not one, I m sure, was disappointed.
