A Smith (2)
A Kyle
J Speirs
McTavish
Match Information
Attendance: 52,000
Referee: R.T. Murray (Stenhousemuir)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Physically the fitter team, the Rangers shaped like winners after the first ten minutes at Ibrox Park in the cup replay. The Falkirk men were not so active as in the home match, and their outstanding weakness was in attack. For the first time in a big match this season their forwards failed to combine and were easily dispossessed of the ball by the more energetic ‘Light Blues,’ who for the nonce were garbed in blue and white. It was easily discernible that several of the Falkirk team were physically unable to last a punishing second ordeal. I asked Mr Nicol, the Falkirk manager, at the close of the game, to what cause he attributed the failure of a side that had achieved so many starling victories throughout the season, and he said that McTavish, Skene, Collins and Mitchell were none too fit on account of mishaps sustained in the first game, and in Skene’s case the additional handicap of a strain while training. “All four players,” said Mr Nicol, “took the field today under pressure, and Gibson’s lameness completed a chain of bad luck that prevented Falkirk rising to the occasion as we excepted.” It was a hard gruelling game all through. The thaw on Saturday after frost overnight made the surface treacherous, and this circumstance accounted for many of the falls that occurred. The Rangers flattered their supporters from the first, but they never felt comfortable until Kyle, who was in the centre, scored when the game was half an hour gone. This success foreshadowed the end. Falkirk played without heart. The defence crippled as it was by the lameness of the left back, stood manfully and pluckily up to their opponents, but they were a hopelessly beaten lot, nearing the close, when Speirs and Alex Smith (the latter twice) scored in succession. McTavish prevented Falkirk retiring goalless, with a shot from well out that struck the post low down, and went in. The game was devoid of the excitement of the previous match, and was not so ‘clean’. As both sides were guilty of occasional roughness it would be unjust to apportion blame, and the referee meted out free kicks regardless of club. In the attempt to better matters Simpson went into the centre in the second half and Skene to outside right. The change however did not improve Falkirk’s play. The crack winger was useless in his novel position. The Rangers rose above their failings of the previous week, and there was not a weak man on the side, although Dickie was only seen towards the close. The backs were fit for all they got, and in a strong middle line Barrie and Galt improved upon previous display, with May again best of the line. Forward Livingstone, despite an injury to his hand, sustained early in the game in contact with Galt, played well to centre and left, and Kyle proved a smart centre, and had more deadly shots at goal than all the other forwards combined. Alex Smith played as effective a game as he ever did in his career, and facing a strong defence, he dribbled and shot with magnificent accuracy. Speirs was clever in the second half, when he was at his best. Falkirk had the sympathy of the crowd in their trials. Allan kept a splendid goal. Leishman proved a sound back, and Gibson’s heroic pluck gained him many friends. There was too much abandon in the play of the halves for the good of an attack, which required all the nursing it could get. Not one of the forwards did himself justice
