Hillhouse 15
Watson 30
Match Information
Attendance: 65,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
We are to have a new name on the Scottish Cup. That was determined at Celtic Park last night, when 53,000 people watched Albion Rovers defeat the Rangers in their twice-played semi-final. Exclusive of stands and amusement tox, the gate taking totalled £2104. It was a late crowd. But could you wonder at it? the toe was billed for 5.45. When the game started there would be little more than 40,000 people with in the enclosure, but the entrances were being stormed, and I am credibly informed that many were refused admittance. It was not a great game to watch, but here and now let me say that Albion Rovers thoroughly merited their victory. They were not better football team, but they got a couple of goals through sheer determination, and their lead they kept until the close. In the second half I though they should have been given a penalty when Gordon brought Gut Watson down. Their luck was out about this time, for nit many minutes afterwards the Rangers were granted one, but it was of no use. Shirt saved Gordons shot. As the Rovers tripped afield a Coatbridge man rung a tocsin on a doleful sort of bell, and my neighbour whispered thats the Rangers death-knell. He was right. Against the wind the Ibrox makeshift eleven did not so badly. They had the pull, and as Jack Bell started quite differently from what he did a week ago on the same field, things looked a bit sultry for the Rovers. But Penman was sound, and the few balls that came goalwards from Paterson and Henderson caused Shirt little trouble. About fifteen minutes after the start, I was expecting a Rangers score. Muirhead forced a corner another followed on the other wing and a great shot from Walls was blocked. Then a kaleidoscopic change! The Rovers found themselves at the other end, Hillhouse cut in and his right foot shot left Herbert Lock guessing. Time, seventeen minutes. This reverse did the Scottish League leaders no good. A couple of minutes later Lock was called on by Black, and when we were midway through the half a desperate effort by Harry averted further Ibrox disaster. Watson shot past, Lock came out to save another, and really Rangers were rattled hereabouts. They recovered and Cunningham sent over a sweet thing to Henderson, who gathered it badly, Lock caused the hearts of the Ibrox faithful to leap to their throats by dropping a free kick, then further disaster. Guy Watson from twenty-five yards out, let go a rasper. Lock never seemed to know what was going to happen after the ball left the Cliftonhill forwards foot, and the ball found its way home just inside an upright. In the five minutes that remained of the half Rangers had two near things. Muirhead struck the bar above Shorts head and Walls sent one narrowly past. Restarting two goals down I had little hope for the Rangers, but for twenty minutes or so they did very well indeed. During this period, they treated us to the best football seen in the game, but their luck was out, and the stick-at-nothing Coatbridge defence were giving nothing away. Penman was going on as he started, and Bell had found his game that of a week ago on the same field. Rangers altered their formation it was difficult to know just exactly in what positions the men were playing. They were completely knocked out by the turn of events. Bowie was inside right, Muirhead right half-back, and Cunningham inside left. Could you expect any betterment, rattled as they were? In a never-say-die Rovers side Short kept a great goal. I have referred to the backs, and of a right good middle-line Ford was the best. In front Guy Watson was the brain of the line, White was a worker, and young Ribchester, so has as his power would allow him, did very well indeed. Hillhouses swinging of the ball kept the Rangers right defence on toast all the time. In an Ibrox team which fell very flat, Lock was nervy from the beginning he should have saved Watsons goal and Manderson was easily the better back. Bowie was the star Ranger middleman, although Walls, if a bitt too tousy, was not far behind, and Meiklejohn did his beat work while acting in concert with Manderson. None of the Rangers forwards was up to concert pitch even Paterson was off his game. These delightful centres we expect from the doctor were few and far between. Cairns and Muirhead were the best of the bunch, although Cunningham did not so badly when in the inside left berth. The occasion was too big for Henderson. Gordon missed a 80th minute penalty
