Pringle
Mackie
Heggie
Unknown (4)
Match Information
Manager: No Permanent Manager
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: unknown - to be confirmed
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
This important game took place last evening at Kinning Park and after a really good exhibition of Association football ended in favour of the strangers by four goals to three. From start to finish however the Rangers had by far the best of the play, and if corner flag kicks are to be taken as an indication of how a team pressed, the Glasgow team had seven to every one of their opponents and of the hour and half devoted to the play the ball was at least an hour in the strangers territory. ‘Hard lines’ in fact is scarcely the term to be applied to the Rangers efforts and we fail to see yet how such a team were able to administer a sound dressing to the Queen’s Park. In justice however to the Englishmen it must be said that their goalkeeper and back play were splendid, but the forwards were not to be compared with the Rangers and all their goals were taken by superior speed and nothing else. The evening was fine and about 6000 spectators attended and cheered the various points of interest. The strangers kicked off, but there was little or no wind to interfere with the play. The ball was speedily returned by the Rangers backs and the forwards closing in the Rovers goal was closely pressed and Peacock had a shot, which went over the bar. After some hard tackling, the Blackburn men by Douglas and Yates, had a good run near the home goal but the ball was nicely returned by Young and during a scrimmage in which play was virtually stopped by half of the Rangers team on a cry for ‘hands’ the ball was sent between the posts. Most of the spectators seemed to be prepared to see the ball brought to disputed territory and usual penalty exacted and great was the surprise of all when the referee gave a goal. The teams then faced up in the centre and for fully five minutes the Rangers forwards led by Mackie, Heggie and Pringle had several splendid shots at the strangers goal; but Arthur showed himself a perfect master of the saving art and do all they knew the leather could not be forced under. The Rovers were in fact getting it hot and in about ten minutes had to submit to four corner flag kicks, which with one exception endangered the goal. A ‘break-away’ on the right however by Douglas and his companion ended in the former scoring a second time and no sooner had the ball been kicked off again than the Rovers made a third goal, owing to a mistake on the part of Chalmers who carried the ball along with him through the goal. Three goals to nothing was rather heavy odds against the local men, whose only fault was playing far too open a game; but notwithstanding the odds they never relaxed their efforts, and after again pressing the Blackburn men had other two corner flag kicks. The Rovers defence however was perfect and just as halftime arrived the Englishmen actually obtained their first corner flag kick. Ends were now changed with the Blackburn Rovers three goals ahead. It was now the Rangers turn to kick off, and after some even play they soon made their presence felt near the Englishmen’s goal and from a brilliant ‘pass ahead’ by Young, Mackie got the ball and made a shot which Arthur with difficulty saved but on sending the ball away the keeper dropped it close down and Heggie sent it under. The teams then faced up again and after the effects of the kick off had been reduced to a minimum the home team came down on the Rovers goal in a body, and Mackie made a beautiful shot which proved too hot for crack English clubs goalkeeper, and in such a short space of time the Glasgow club had actually scored two goals. The Rovers kick-off and immediately followed up by an attack of their own, and two corner flag kicks were had from the English flags. After this the dribbling of Mackie on the right for the Rangers was capital and when some smart passing had been indulged in near the Rovers goal a brilliant shot by Heggie again passed the Blackburn goalkeeper and made the game even. After this the Rovers had a turn at the Glasgow men’s goal and one of the forwards made a run, amid cries of ‘offside’ and sent the ball under. The Rangers appealed, but a goal was allowed and this left the strangers one ahead. Some vigorous play afterwards took place at both goals, but no further scoring occurred and when time was called the strangers were declared the winners of a most remarkable game by four goals to three
