B McPhail 51
Main 73
Match Information
Attendance: 90,428
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
There was not much in it in the Scottish Cup semi-final replay at Hampden. Rangers deserved their victory because they were able to get the vital goals, but Hearts played some good football. In fact, as far as outfield play went, the losers took as much credit as the winners. The big defect, that of finishing, was shown by the fact that the only shot that beat Dawson came from a half-back Massie. Unfortunately for the marksman, his great drive was stopped by the cross-bar. Hearts started as if they were to sweep everything before them. Had they got a goal then, there is no saying what the outcome would have been. After Rangers came into the game, it was a case of raid and counter-raid in a hard game, in which the interest was maintain until the end. If anything, Hearts held the balance in the first half, and would not have been flattered by a goal lead at the interval. Rangers defence in this period, however, played with great determination and skill. Gray, as he was throughout the game, was a cool and calculating intervener. McDonalds kicking was not always dependable, but he tackled well, while Simpson cleared his lines with head and foot, though he made rather too much use of the touch-line. Hearts attack was pushed on manfully by Massie and Herd. Both of them kept the ball going well for their forwards, and both went up to the firing-line. The front line men played with spirit under the coaching, but McKenzie, as hard as worker as there was on the field, did not have things going well for him at close quarters. McCulloch was never quite subdued by Simpson. Walker did clever things with the ball and kept shifting position in his search for openings. Invariably, however, he was closely shadowed by Brown, whose job was to force him to part with the ball. Munro did well, and Miller, though he found Gray one too many for him, sent an occasional dangerous ball in Dawsons direction. Hearts need not have lost the first goal if they had covered Harkness better. The goalkeeper depended upon the line pf players to cover part of his charge, and McPhail sent the ball between them, where Harkness couldnt reach it. That goal was fitting reward for a great second half by McPhail after a not too impressive start. Some of the Rangers forwards were not hitting it very well. Gillick did little, and Venters had undesirable attention focused upon him by his tactics. Smith had many fine touches, including his gift of the second goal to Main. Meiklejohn, who was injured in the second half, returned to outside right, and was injured again, played a captains part in repelling danger. Dawson had several fine saves, as had Harkness, who was well protected by Anderson and McClure. A thrill came in the second minute. A terrific shot by Walker took Dawson by surprise, and instead of putting the ball over the bar he palmed it forward. McCulloch, coming in, got his head to it, and Dawson had to make two grabs before he could clutch safely and clear. Hearts were taking full advantage of their wind advantage to press home the attack, and Massie set a captains example. McKenzie had a shot which went just over, and following a clearance from Hearts line, McCulloch had a gift of a chance, the ball beating the rangers defence before they could double round after it. McCulloch might almost have run the ball into the net, but he shot too soon, and straight at Dawson. Beautiful footwork by McPhail let Gillick off, and the wingers narrow-angle shot was deflected in the nick of time by Herd. McPhail was making some wonderful running, both for Gillick and for himself. The Hearts defence, however, was dour, and it was from a nice touch by Smith to McPhail that Rangers best try so far came. McPhail hit the ball with tremendous power, and Harkness was glad to see it fly over the bar. Smith also had a great left-foot shot, on which Harkness dropped at the post, while McPhail sent another past the post. Venters got a word from the referee for dangerous play. The first half closed with Rangers on the defensive, but they restarted in much more impressive style, and Harkness did well to get rid of a dangerous flag kick by Main. Equal danger for Rangers developed in a scramble in front of Dawson, and they were lucky to escape a penalty-kick when McKenzie was elbowed off the ball. In six minutes, a free kick, granted against Reid for tripping Smith, brought a goal to rangers. The Hearts line-up was not solid enough, and McPhail, from about 25 yards range, slashed the ball through it into the net. Gillick, with Anderson missing his tackle, had a glorious chance. He delayed his shot, and Reid arrived in tome to block it. A free kick was cutely placed by Herd, and Dawsons promptness in reaching the ball as it left Walkers foot prevented the equaliser. In bringing up Walker short on a dangerous run; Meiklejohn sustained a thigh injury and was taken off. McPhail beat man after man in a clever dribble but went just one move too far. Then a glorious centre by Munro and a fine header by McCulloch brought out Dawsons best sabe of the game. With Walker in possession six yards out, McDonald saved Rangers bacon with a quick interception. In 28 minutes, after being off seven minutes, Meiklejohn returned, crippling badly and with his leg heavily bandaged, to see Rangers get another goal. The Hearts defence was upset in a concerted attack, and Smith made the final pass for Main to score close in. This was one of the best movements in the game. With seven minutes to go, Meiklejohns injury was aggravated, and he went into the pavilion in obvious pain. But the tie was won the Rangers captain had led his men into another Cup final. Even a great dribble and shot by Massie could not shake Rangers lead, for with Dawson nowhere the ball came crashing back off the bar.
