S Archibald 9
Gray 10
Fleming
Howe 84
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: J Baillie (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Had Hamilton Academicals only been able to stave off that second goal for a bit loner, they would quite likely have gone on to make a better match of it. As things worked out, Rangers never were in the slightest danger after the sixteenth minute. The heavy going was a new problem for both teams, but more difficult for the Aacademicals than for the other side. The reason for this was simply that Rangers because of their team work, their understanding one with another, could wriggle out of a tight corner, while the Academicals once in, stayed in. From the way Rangers et about their work at the start, it seemed as if they had in mind a more or less merry evening of Marsh last. Morton dropped one across which landed a clear foot over the goal-line before Gilmour could get round and pull the ball away. Naturally, Rangers asked for a goal, but the referee was a bit away, and having a doubt I suppose, very properly gave the Academicals the benefit of it. However, Archibald, who was being kept well plied and taking it all with hearty acceptance, slapped one into the net from his favourite position, thus after exactly nine minutes. On its way to the net, the ball was deflected through by a defender. Of course, Rangers were all smiles, but in just half-a-minute they found they had to start all over again., for F Wilson raced down the wing and centred nicely for Gray to as nicely head the equaliser. Rangers’ defence didn’t earn any bouquets here. The best of the game was seen then, for the Academicals’ forwards were going ahead freely whenever the half-backs could get the ball out of them. For a little, there looked to be a match in it, but the Rangers right and centre opened the throttle and the Academicals’ defence wilted. Archibald, going like a steam engine, gave Fleming a ball with which to head a second goal, and he put across another in half-an-hour for Fleming to shoot a third goal. Academicals’ forwards were always quick to seize a chance of raiding the rangers’ rear, and from a beautiful cross pass by Dand, Moffat had one glorious chance, and hesitated, this being the outstanding fault of the Hamilton inside forwards nearly all the time. It had been mostly Archibald up to tea-time. Now it was Morton. Muirhead and McPherson kept him at it, and within ten minutes after changing ends he laid the ball ‘on’ for Fleming, and then McPherson to take the total to five. When Rangers took to making the ball do things, the Academicals took their chance and five minutes from the end, F Wilson steadied himself for a centre which Howe headed home at the far post. Rangers’ forwards, with the half-backs as auxiliaries, were much too strong for the Academicals’ defence. Gilmour had no chance with the goals, which were mostly of the tantalising kind – from close range placed away for him. Strange to say, there was little ‘shooting’ in the match. Bulloch found his task rather big and no disgrace to him. It was the same with Hill who, however, did splendidly for the first half-hour. Jock Wilson had to bear the brunt in the first half – he and Dand, and they made the best of it. Watson, I thought did not get back quickly enough, and the fact that Fleming had three pf the goals rather emphasised this. But Fleming was getting about at such a rate that one man couldn’t watch him. Hamilton inside forwards found the heavy going not to their liking, but as I have suggested, Moffat and McKay could have got more out of their partners. Yet McKay showed himself difficult to circumvent, and more than anyone was able to cause a flutter in the Rangers’ defence. The Ibrox forwards were so such on the romp that the defence had not a heavy day, but perhaps heavy enough for their liking. This is only the second time they have lost a couple of goals in a match. Tom Hamilton was not to blame. Gray was the best back of four. I thought Meiklejohn was not thoroughly tuned up, but he did a lot of good forcing work along with Muirhead and McDonald on ground that did not lead itself to artistry. McPherson is playing a stronger game than when he first came into the team.
