JR Smith 35
A Cunningham >45
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Mr Rennie (Dalmuir)
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
There was noting very special in the football with which the season was opened at Ibrox last night. Rangers did not hit it off too happily either individually or as a combination, but sufficient was seen of Alloa to incline one to the opinion that they will do at least fairly well in the major competition. One man summed up the position rather nicely by saying “The new-comers will beat mire than beat them.” I was not particularly taken on with the ‘Wee Coonty’ attack, nor for that matter was I enamoured of the corresponding Ibrox quintette. The Rangers had the more clever individuals engaged I grant you, but as a whole their line – like Alloa’s – was jerky scrappy is perhaps the word that best describes the work of either front. Of course, all eyes were turned on JR Smith, and – well, the old Battlefield boy who has arrived at Ibrox via Kilmarnock and Cowdenbeath passed muster. ‘JR’ didn’t set the Clyde on fire, but he showed that he knew how to take up a pass, and that he had a right good notion of where the goal lay. In the first half he rattled a clinking shot against Thomson’s left-hand upright and followed this up by registering a smart goal. The game was about thirty minutes old then. No further scoring came along until the closing period was about as long under way. Then a free kick was given away by an Alloa defender. The ball was sent goalward and pushed back by Thomson to Cunningham, which was unfortunate for ‘the pigmies.’ ‘Andy’ promptly returned it, and the ‘Light Blues’ had beaten ‘Black and Gold’ by 2-0. Rangers were value their victory, but don’t run away with the idea that Alloa were overwhelmed. They never were. Thomson turned aside several teasers of shots in the first half, and Cunningham and his colleagues threw away a lot of good chances, but the general run of the play was not one-sided. Nor did Alloa crack up ultimately – on the other hand, they were forcing matters as much at the finish as at the start. I liked Thomson. This big Benburb-Bristol boy will do, as will his immediate supports. Bobby Orrock is not just perhaps the virile little back he was at Falkirk, but he is still nippy, and takes some circumventing. Tom McGregor was very safe. In the middle the men were workers all, but pardon me, McInally – just a word. Spikes are wanted. Arthur; your game is too slow for the First League. In front I fancied most Celtic’s contribution to the ‘Alloains’ attack. Craig will do. Young is not a centre-forward, I am afraid. He was lacking in repose. Robb did what was asked him between the Ibrox sticks; McCandless was the better back – Manderson doesn’t seem turned up yet, and ‘tis a case of ‘ditto with the dots’ with the middlemen. But they’ll come, and - it should be remembered that the footing was not tip-top. In front Alan Morton, his own little elusive, dainty self, was the pick of the basket, even if he overdid the dancing master business once or twice. Archibald I would place next in order of merit, then Smith, then Cairns.
