Fleming 25, 40, 43
Buchanan >45
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: R Innes (Glasgow)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
Rather too easy for Rangers this – as easy as shelling peas. What was wrong with Falkirk, who used to be able to give the Rangers all they could tackle? After a good first ten minutes, the Bairns went right out of it. Fleming opened the scoring after 25 minutes, helped first by a faulty tackle by Gilroy, and then by poor judgment on the part of Ferguson. Fleming got the second goal in 42 minutes, and a third two minutes later. Falkirk’s defence was outplayed on both these occasions. When in the second half was 30 minutes old, Buchanan registered a fourth goal. He hit the ball hard, and it was deflected off a defender into the net. The whole Rangers’ team were lively and full of running. I thought Andrew Cunningham was the master mind of the attack. The way he put the ball about and kept the play open was a regular treat. He and McPhail, although at times neglecting their outsides, bewildered the Falkirk half-backs. Between the two of them, Fleming completed an effective three-inside game, and his goals were all cleverly taken. Properly played, the inside game is the beat of all. Craig moved well, but I would like to see him bot so fond of serving his left-wing. Many a time he could swing the ball over to the right with advantage. Meiklejohn put some beautiful balls through the centre and was strong all the time. Buchanan is a grafter, always up and at it – a useful man for any side. Gray and Robert Hamilton had an easy evening, and so had goalkeeper Tom Hamilton. Apart from the first goal, Ferguson was never at fault. He and his backs had a testing time, and they did well to keep the score down to four. I should like to give a little bit of advice to Kennedy. He plays mostly with his toe of the boot, but if he would use the instep, he would keep the ball lower and be of more use to his forwards. With this fault cured, Kennedy will get on at the game. Gowdy put up a big-hearted resistance, but the game played by Cunningham, Fleming and McPhail was more than he could master. Ritchie, on the ball, was clever as usual, but he did not get much opportunity. Only Gallagher and Morrison, of the Falkirk forwards, could make much use of the ball. The young centre kept excellent position, but the way the game went allowed him little scope for shooting. Gallagher had some lovely moves; the genius was there. Hunter could not respond. I saw little of Martin and Houston, but I imagine Martin capable of serving up something really good. With Rangers masters practically from the start, the game was not exciting, but the home crowd would enjoy it.
