Wilson 5
A Morton 9
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: R Innes (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Whether Rangers were over-confident or Cowdenbeath discovered the Ibrox weaknesses, it turned out a far better contest than was anticipated. Rangers got their leading goal from a doubtful penalty, as to my mind, Moyles was clearly intending to play the ball when he brought down Fleming. However, the referee, who came in for much criticism during the game, thought otherwise. Rangers may make an inside-right of Marshall, but I am a bit doubtful. He is willing and clever, but he does not seem cut out for the role of purveyor. I have seen Gray and Hamilton to much better advantage, the big Irishman being frequently at a disadvantage when dealing with Wilson. Buchanan was the best of their middlemen but should learn to take knocks as well as give them. The forwards were uneven, and only moved as the usual well-oiled machine in the latter stages, and then their finishing was very erratic, even allowing for the adverse wind. McPhail, I put first, and at times his sense of direction in finding Alan Morton was fascinating. However, he roamed too much, and probably in this way contributed to an extent to the ragged nature of the attack. I was agreeably surprised with the Fife team’s display, particularly their forwards, whose open method of attack carried them into prominence greatly in the first half. Wilson, their outside-left, I liked extremely well. He always made ground and shot and crossed as soon as he came within distance. Pullar, on the extreme right, was equally good, and gave Craig and Hamilton an anxious time during the first half. The top-line player of the team, ay of the game was Moyes. The Cowdenbeath left-back is a valiant defender, taking and giving knocks with easy abandon, and his kicking excelled any of the other three defenders. Cowdenbeath’s half-backs were dour. Dixon has slowed down, but his head piece is still one to the Fifers. A simple-looking movement opened on Cowdenbeath’s left after some Rangers’ pressure, and Wilson getting off, shot before Gray could close with him. The ball found the inside corner of the post and crossbar. This wakened up the Rangers, and we saw some real Ibrox stuff. McPhail, from out the crowd, found Morton with a leading-out pass, and Alan made off. McDonald tried to crowd him out as he made his famous cut in. It was no use, however. He came round as the proverbial cooper round the barrel and went in to touch past the helpless Falconer. The second Rangers goal came from penalty, to which I have already referred. Meiklejohn, of course, scored in his usual convincing way. Most excitement in the second half centred round Rangers’ efforts to work through in close formation, and some hectic exchanges between Buchanan and Wilson, which called for a word from the referee. Cowdenbeath misses great chance, when Lindsay allowed Wilson’s cross to go. He was apparently thinking someone else was in position. In between Falconer brought off two remarkable good saved from Fleming and Archibald. In the last minute of the game Archibald cut in from the wing and holding on until all the Cowdenbeath defence was round him, he touched over to Morton, who had nothing to do but put through. These was no time to resume the game
