J Bowie
McColl
Match Information
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: unknown - to be confirmed
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Most of the 45,000 people who watched the first Rangers-Celtic League match of the season will doubtless say that the ‘Light Blues’ were unlucky to lose both points at Ibrox. A miss by Blair was primarily responsible for the Parkhead winning goal, and Dame Fortune was surely no friend of the Rangers near the close when the ball would go anywhere but into Shaw’s net; but Celtic, too, threw away chances. Surely no player ever missed an easier opportunity of putting his side ahead then did McColl just before the interval, and what chance would Hempsey have had with that terrific second-half crossbar-scraper of McAtee’s had the elevation been a foot lower? But what’s the use of dwelling on lost opportunities, might-have-beens; or close shaves? And misses, like hits, are all in the game. Rangers, I think, lost the match in the first twenty minutes, during which Bowie gave them a smartly-taken goal from McDiarmid’s second successive lovely cross, but instead of adding to this lead, as they should, they old held in four minutes. Browning brought the ball down the left, and played it into the middle, the Ibrox defence was at fault, and McColl gave Hempsey no chance. In billiard parlance, the ball was ‘left on’ for the Parkhead centre. With the scoring of this point the Celts picked up a game which was absent in the first quarter of an hour, and instead of finishing the half the beaten company they looked like for a bit, they, as I have already indicated, came within an ace of crossing over a goal ahead. McMaster and McGregor, who had opened rather gingerly, became something like the real selves and this improvement had its effect on both sets of forwards. The Ibrox arrack was less often in the picture than formerly; the Celtic quintette became a genuine source of trouble to Manderson and Blair. Hempsey had to look spry to get hold of a bad touch back by Dixon – a most un-McNair-like effort – McColl sent one spinning past, which might as easily have found its billet within Hempsey’s strings, and, after Cairns and Gordon each had a shot at Shaw, Jackson or Gallagher fired an exceptionally hot thing at the Rangers’ keeper from very short range. The rebound gave McColl that unaccepted present I have referred to. During the thirty-six minutes of the second half which preceded McAtee’s goal the Celts, in my opinion, had slightly the better of matters. In a Titanic struggle, which was not conducive to an exhibition of the finer points, the forwards showed several pretty touches; at times, indeed, they were something like the Celts of old. But these were only flashes. It was too grim a contest for dainty movements to predominate in; it was a regular old-time Celtic-Rangers battle. As a matter of fact, both before and after the interval, we had incidents which did not redound to the credit of the players involved. It is not an edifying spectacle when players of the class of Manderson and McColl, Bowie and Gallagher and Gordon and McColl come to loggerheads. Cut these little interludes out, gentlemen all. There was sufficient excitement in the game without these exhibitions of bad temper. Most of the thrills were reserved for the last nine minutes, after Blair had missed that kick which McAtee made the most of. The champions, evidently satisfied now and determined to hold what they had and avenge that Glasgow Cup defeat, played more on the defensive, but although the Rangers, after McColl, who looked like going clean through had been brought up with a most unfair jerk by Gordon, stormed Shaw’s goal, nothing further was done. A couple of corners nicely taken by Archibald were a source of much worry to the agile little Parkhead goalkeeper, who came out of the ordeal with flying colours. One daring save midway through this half was particularly noteworthy. Charlie sprang out like a cat and cleared. A risky thing – its success justified it. When I say that McNair was easily the best back afield, I am not belittling his partner. McGregor did splendidly for a man who is not playing every Saturday. John McMaster once he found his feet, did very well at half-back, and in defensive connection, there was little wrong with young Brown, who wrought like a Trojan throughout. But for that matter of it, so did all the others – there was not a weakling among the twenty-two men engaged. Willie Cringan had a mission, and fulfilled it to the letter. The Ponfeigh-Sunderland man was never far from Brown, who got little chance to slash in at Shaw many of these shots which made something of a terror in his Dundee days. Cringan found time now and again to get on terms with his own forwards, among whom Gallagher was the number one forager. McColl eager to a degree, pleased me better than the Rangers’ centre. McAtee’s failings were more than counter-balanced by his good points. Browning, if he didn’t run away from the much speedier Manderson beat him occasionally ere getting the ball nicely into the centre, and Jackson improved much on his cup-tie appearance. Hempsey was in no way to blame for the Rangers’ defeat, nor was Manderson; but Blair, who never seemed happy, was a bit off colour. Pursell is playing a better game now than at any time in his career; Dixon eminently successful as a spoiler; but Gordon was easily the start Ibrox half-back. ‘James E’ shared with Cringan the honours of either middle line. By word and deed the International Ranger gor the best out of Archibald. The ‘Fifer’s’ work in the second half was splendid. He beat his man nicely in very little space; his centres were as dangerous as they were pretty and accurate. But with Gordon behind and brainy James Bowie alongside him it would be difficult for any outside right of ability to be a failure. Bowie’s leading out work and distribution was both first rate. Brown, as I have already inferred was ‘policemaned’ into subjection; Cairns was clever and keen; McDiarmid after starting nicely, tapered away to nothingness almost. Master McNair had the measure of the ex-Queen’s Park boy in the second half.
