A Bennett pen
Croal <45
Match Information
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: G.W. Hamilton (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Since the first day of January, when the Celtic won by the narrowest possible margin at Ibrox Park, the Rangers have not lost a League match. The only blot in a brilliant record was Falkirk’s Cup victory on the same ground. Before meeting Falkirk on Saturday, the ‘Light Blues’ had not lost a goal in five successive League matches. Despite the cheerless weather, 16,000 spectators put in an appearance at Ibrox. The gate returns totalled £355, and £140 extra was drawn at the stands. But the break-down of the weather, the attractiveness of the struggle between the League and Cup champions would have imparted to the closing match in Govan a tremendous interest. As it was, the slippery ground spoiled the spectacular side of the game, and proved exceeding troublesome to the players. Rain fell incessantly. All things considered, there was not much to grumble about. The play was keen, and the defence on both sides was clever and enterprising on ground that told adversely against the backs, who were most severely handicapped. The brighter attack was seen on the winning side. I reckoned Rangers were full value for a victory that avenged a cup defeat that still rankled, even allowing for the regrettable accident that fell McMillan early in the second half. Gordon had just got the ball round the Falkirk half-back when the two men collided. McMillan was carried off in an ambulance suffering from a fracture to the left knee-cap. Once before this unfortunate youth had a leg fractured. The crowd and the players viewed his enforced retirement with intense sympathy. In the first half, when the cross winds from the south-east played all sorts of pranks, the Rangers were the more virile in attack. Their only goal accrued from a penalty-kick sixteen minutes from the interval. Donaldson, lying up against the posts, fisted a ball that was going through, when Stewart was drawn out of position, and had just cleared. Bennett scored from the penalty. Almost on the call of half-time Croal got his head to a corner-kick beautifully placed by Terris, and equalised the score, after running a few yards to get his head to the ball. Goodwin got the leading goal for the Rangers, before McMillan’s retirement. On to the end there was always the danger of a Falkirk breakaway levelling the score, but the Rangers seemed always the more masterful. In their handicapped condition Falkirk did well to be only a goal to the bad. Gibbons, who was drawn into half-back line, proved an apt intermediate man. As a forward he was just about the cleverest of the Falkirk five among whom Croal and Robertson were equally prominent. Stewart, Orrock, Donaldson and Tom Logan shone in defence. Logan was outstanding and played with more dash than I have seen him. To the Rangers following the debut at Ibrox of Muir, the St Bernard back, was an event of more than passing interest. He times his kicking perfectly. I fancy Muir will yet prove as useful a defender as Ormonde, who was also in good form. He operated the one-back game nicely on occasions. All three half-back on the home side played the spoiling game to perfection. James Logan and Galt put in also a power of work. Alex Smith proved as lively and effective and as versatile as any of the Ibrox forwards. It was one of his superlative games. Paterson took the ball first time in splendid style, and his corner-kicks taken with the left foot were splendidly directed. Goodwin and Bennett were clever inside supports. Reid wrought hard for a goal with Logan and the Falkirk backs generally on his track. Not a few good drives came from his foot.
