Marshall 26, 49, 59
Martin 27
Wallace 74
Match Information
Attendance: 21000
Referee: J.B. Smillie (Lanarkshire)
Match Trivia
If Rangers were not to run away with the League championship it was necessary Clyde should stop them today. A good crowd turned up at Ibrox Park to see if Rangers could resist the challenge. Rangers forwards seemed to settle down at once, the inside moves being fast and accurate. Marshall had the ball home wand was rightly given offside. There could be no doubting the seriousness of the play. At the same time, one was glad to notice it was not of the Cup-tie sort, and that players made intelligent use of the ball. After Clyde had paid a fleeting visit to Dawson a scoring chance fell to Venters. He took the ball too rapidly and shot yards wides. Rangers movements were more intricate than Clydes who preferred the long pass. Quite effective it was too. The wing halves of each side were very dour, and some fine bouts developed in their forwards. At length Mills beat Bolt in the tackle, sent out one of his specials passes to Agnew, and Clyde were in full sail. In the end Martin failed, as he failed a little later when Beaton got him going. Johnstone trapped and was away with the ball after the style of Alan Morton or a Dally Duncan. A real treat to see such a ball player. In pressure Rangers had the bigger say, although much of it was negatived by Brown. Johnstone continued to delight so much that Mills was back assisting to avert the danger which was rapidly developing in this section. The battle of wits became more and more engrossing. Suddenly Clyde broke clear to reveal the menace which lurked in the moves of Wallace and Mills. With Brown out of his goal and falling to dispossess Smith, another chance fell to Venters. He shot rather tamely at the gaping goal. Kirk cleared out to Johnstone, who shot swiftly across goal. An exciting episode this. Most correctly, the referee ruled that the ball had played Beaton and not Beaton the ball. When the noise over that had subsided, there were more occasions to admire the brilliance of Brown. In 26 minutes, Marshall scored for Rangers. It was a goal born in swiftness. Venters started it. He passed to Johnstone, who at once returned to Marshall. Like a well-seasoned veteran Marshall rammed a low shot clean past Brown. In just one more minute Clyde squared accounts. Here again it was a goal of amazing quickness. From the right the ball reached Wallace. He flicked to Martin, who wedged himself between two defenders and then drove a low ball inside Dawsons right-hand post. This was terrific stuff and all so fitting to the splendid play. Now the game took a new intensity. McCall flashing down drove in a ball which pranced out of Dawsons arms and over the bar. A great rumpus when the referee refused Rangers a penalty. Venters went spinning in a bout when Brown. It had all the appearances of an offence, but the referee was adamant despite the protestations of the Rangers team. A little later when Venters bundled Brown into the net there was no award either. This is what is known as a mans game. When play resumed after half-time Martin and Fitzsimmons exchanged places. Hesitancy by Smith and Johnstone spoiled a likely-looking chance for Rangers. Johnstone was undismayed, and he was soon teasing the Clyde defence again. The large crows were thoroughly roused as the struggle for mastery proceeded unabated. Rangers regained the lead in five minutes. Again, Marshall was the scorer and Brown the sinner. Johnstone crossed a ball which the big goalkeeper was slow to intercept. He allowed Waddell to nip in and send across goal for Marshall to net with the agility he had previously displayed. It was the goalkeepers first lapse, and what a price he paid. Beaton brought down the ball as only he can. Then when he swung it over Gray nipped in to beat Wallace. Further misfortune visited Clyde when Kirk was injured and taken outside the touchline. He resumed limping. Clyde seemed rather upset now, although they did retaliate. When Martin gave Mills a chance the Rangers defence was quite reposed and only a really masterly full-length save by Dawson prevented the equaliser. Clyde now staged a revival. Urged on by Beaton they penetrated far into the defence. Martin made a poor job of a shot. Play regained the high standard of the first half. And Brown recovered his skill too as we saw when he saved a savage shot from Waddell. Always Johnstone indicated danger. In 19 minutes, Marshall recorded his hat-trick. It was another ball from Waddell, and with his established speed Marshall shot quickly. Despite Browns effort the ball went over the line. This was a great personal triumph for the youngest player on the field. It looked like Rangers match now. Superior forward play, especially on the wings, and the opportunism of Marshall, took a heavy too. In 29 minutes, the situation changed again. Mills, released by Beaton, crossed to Wallace, who although positioned awkwardly, smashed a great shot into the net. A real braw goal.
