G Henderson <45, 80
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: W.F. Campbell (Dundee)
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
What might have developed into a real thrilling contest stopped short of that through the ineptitude of the Kilmarnock forwards when within the shooting zone. Although interesting for the most part, with both sides showing nice touches, the game lacked fire. Perhaps the necessary liveliness would have followed had one of the Rugby Park boys banged home some of the openings that came their way. I don’t want to you to infer from this that Celtic’s Scottish Cup conquerors should have broken the Rangers’ home record. What they might have done was to have got on the lead in the first half and made a real fight. As it was the freer moving ‘Light Blues’ notched the opening goal after 29 minutes’ play. ‘Jock’ Morton erred. Going out to meet an Archibald cross, he allowed the ball to bob into the net off Henderson’s head. This point enlivened matters for a time, and Robb deserved the hearty cheer which followed a brilliant sabe from Smith – low down at his left post. The ball was driven between a crowd of legs, and Willie only got a glimpse of it as it looked like flashing into the net. Rangers deserved their lead at the interval. They always looked to be playing within themselves. Hansen, who took Cunningham’s place for the day, gave Archibald admirable support with those long ground passes beloved by the ‘Fifer’. Carl’s nippiness was also a source of danger to ‘the Killie’ defenders, but fortunately for them the ‘Great Little Dane’s’ shooting was not often on the mark. As the second half advanced the Kilmarnock middle division lost touch with their forwards, and Gray and Co had to do too much foraging for themselves. Once on the move, however, they made speedy progress, and Gray ought to have converted a pass from Smith. But instead of steadying, the centre battered the ball over. This miss, bad though it was, was nothing compared with one at the other end. Alan Morton, after diddling the defenders, was on the point of finishing himself when he espied Henderson still better placed. To the amazement of everyone, however, George belted the leather behind an open goal. Twelve minutes before the finish Henderson made amends with a great drive from the penalty line that left Morton helpless. Each side was well served by the defence; but the Ibrox half-backs were a bit ahead of the opposing trio by reason of their purveying. Smith and Borland were the pick of the Kilmarnock forwards. In the Rangers attack, Hansen more than paid his way, but the quintette gave one the impression that they were content to plod along with something in reserve.
