J Smith (3)
B McPhail
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: H.G. McArthur (Airdrie)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
For half-an-hour the Shire were a smart go-ahead team. They flattered then. With the wind to help them, their forwards could make the Rangers defence go all out. They made a really good impression did the promoted Shire side, but there was no mistaking, even then, the Rangers had the driving power in front, and the greater resource behind. Before Smith headed the first of his three goals, 13 minutes after the start, Craigie had drawn cheers with one or two thrustful darts and a shot not far off the mark. After Rangers had taken the lead, the Shire made more inroads on the Ibrox defence and Hamilton had to save a handful from McLurg, while Craigie put a beauty just over the bar after working quickly into position. Rangers were kept on the defensive for quite a time, but once their forwards came into action again, they proved themselves the more penetrative lot and with 35 minutes gone Fleming put across a centre which enabled Smith to score a second goal. Two goals up at the interval against the wind seemed good enough to make Rangers safe. So, it proved. Eight minutes after the restart, Brown, came through with the ball to transfer it down the centre. Smith went after it, and when Clemie came out, the big centre very cutely placed it past him into the net. Rangers half-backs and forwards played their best football after this, and Clemie saved grandly from Archibald, while Smith hit the post. The Shire came on better for a spell, but with two minutes to go McPhail got what he had been trying for all the time. He ran to the right and shit hard. Clemie saved, but could only knock the ball out, and McPhail made no mistake with the second attempt. Hamilton had an easy day. Gray was a perfect back, and Mason, although inclined to over-kick, passed the test which was not a serious one. Rangers had the pull at half-back, where Simpson was splendid in defence. Meiklejohn a, slightly lame, changed placed with Marshall in the second half. Without being always smooth in their passing, the forwards had too much driving power for the Shire defence, which stood up well. Clemie and his backs fought it out behind half-backs who could not hold the Ibrox forwards, although McLurg and McCabe were quite smart on the ball. After a bright start, the forwards tapered off, but Craigie and Black were always nippy and took a lot of watching.
