W Reid
J Bowie
Match Information
Attendance: 9000
Referee:
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
Belgian War Relief Fund Shield. By defeating Celtic by 2 goals to 1 at Firhill Park yesterday, in the semi-final of the Relief Shield, Rangers qualified to meet Morton in the final. The tie attracted easily the largest crowd of any of the games in the competition, and the spectators were rewarded by seeing one of the most rousing contests of the season. Play at times was strenuous, and even more than strenuous. That, of course, added to the engrossing nature of the match, still there were a few passages that quite well could have been omitted. In the first half Celtic held the whip hand. They showed the better style all over, the half-backs, for one thing, getting the ball away quicker than the Rangers middlemen. But if the Rangers half-backs held the ball too much at times, or rather, did not hold it skilfully enough, they were keen, effective tacklers, and with both Craig and Muir offering a fair resistance at back, the Celtic forwards never could quite master the defence. They were the more like scoring, however, and they deserved to take the lead, which they succeeded in doing after some twenty minute. Browning had dribbled close into goal when he was brought down, and Dodds converted the penalty given, and of course, rightly given. Rangers improved after this, putting more bit into their attack, and the half-backs passing quicker to the great advantage of the forwards. The equalising goal was a surprise packer, however, for Bowie shot when most people expected a pass, and the ball got past Shaw’s guard high up. Almost on top of this success Rangers lost Duncan, and Celtic, until the interval, were making a series of dashing raids on Lock’s goal. The Rangers’ custodian distinguished himself on several occasions, and so the Ibrox team managed to hold to equality until the interval. We saw a tremendous struggle in the second half. Duncan reappeared somewhat lame for Rangers, but able to do some strong running, and in fact, it was from a return cross from him that Reid was able to head the winning goal. But before and after this the play waged ‘fast and furious.’ Once on the lead, Rangers steadied up all over and played some clever, pretty football, the half-backs now giving the forwards all the assistance they wanted, with Muir tackling and kicking to the top of his form and Craig not much behind. But this fine effort of Rangers in time ran out, and then Celtic took the bit between their teeth and went for an equaliser. Many time it looked to be on the way, but somehow the wings could not get quite linked by with McColl, in centre and always Muir to Craig or Lock foiled them at the crucial moment. Rangers came again, and were going strongly at the finish. For its breeziness and its keenness it was a game worth seeing. Had Celtic maintained their first-half form they would have been even more difficult to overcome, but all the same, they did not round off their forwards movements in convincing style. That was the one serious blemish. I thought they overdid the wing game, clever as both flanks were at times; I certainly believe it would have paid them better to have pushed the ball through more to McColl, who had little chance when it came to taking centres from either wing. Young was the best of the half-backs, even if Paterson gave him some chasing to do late in the game. McNair had Paterson well in hand during the first half, but splendidly supported by Cairns, the Rangers winger in the second half put in some of his best play. The winning goal was largely due to him, as it was from his fine centre that Duncan was able to get the ball back into the goalmouth for Reid to head it through. Cairns gave further proof of his ability. He is improving in control of the ball, and his passes and running were a feature. Only in the second half did the half-backs excel as supports, and then all three played well. Muir’s second-half display made him as good as any back on the field. He both tackled and kicked almost to perfection. Gate and Stand drawings amounted to £203, and as the final is certain to produce another good sum, it is now certain that there will be a handsome amount to pass along to the Relief Fund
