A Bennett (2)
Gordon
Match Information
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: A Kirkland (Cathcart)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
There was never any doubt which was the better team at Ibrox. It was Rangers. They adapted themselves to the awful conditions, and even in the first half, when they were playing against the gale of wind, they were more impressive than Kilmarnock, whose forwards found the task of beating the Rangers’ half-backs a too heavy one. Frequently in the first half the visitors got into touch with Pursell and Muir, who were none too steady, and the mis-kicking of Pursell led to Kilmarnock’s goal, scored after seven minutes. Bowie might have cover up Pursell’s mistake, but he also was at fault, and the Kilmarnock forwards gathered around Lock, who saved from Culley, but was beaten by McKnight in a scrimmage. It was a bad bit of bungling by Rangers defenders, but a lesson was learned, and Gordon, Logan and Bowie tightened their hold on the Ayrshire forwards besides forcing on their own. Duncan had early found the measure of Mitchell and Mackie, and many fine balls were centred from the right, but Dickie’s height stood Kilmarnock well. Reid and Cairns worked very hard, but it was a tough job battling against the wind, and Hamilton and Mitchell had always the better of the argument at close quarters. Once Paterson was unlucky not to count, his shot from close range deflecting off the inside of Hamilton’s leg, and the ball was carried away by the wind out of danger. On two other occasions Paterson was going clean through, when he was unceremoniously brought down, and when I mention the fact that a Kilmarnock forward was the guilty party on the second occasion, you will get an idea of Rangers’ pressure. Of course Kilmarnock had not always been defending, but they had less of the attacking than Rangers, who had taken a lot out of themselves, but were only a goal down at the interval. It was east to tell what would come in the second half. Rangers resumed with an unlimited supply of confidence, and a few short sharp raids brought about the equaliser in four minutes. The ball came from the left, and Reid was well placed, but he allowed it to go to Bennett, whose strong rising shot was well out of Blair’s long reach. For ten minutes the Kilmarnock defenders stuck to their work stubbornly, but a little rashness brought a free–kick for Rangers, from which Gordon scored. The ball went into the net like a rocket, and at least two Kilmarnock players’ dooked’, evidently believing that it was better to lose a goal then lose a head. Logan followed Gordon example with another free-kick, but this time Blair showed how simple it was to hold the ball, and his clutching of string shots from Bowie, Duncan, Bennett and Paterson was very fine. Rangers’ continual pressure was bound to tell, and it was n surprise when a third goal was scored; again the ball came from the left, and Reid, Bennett and Duncan were all at the death. I though between them they would miss, but Bennett got his right foot to the ball, and Blair had no chance to save. Fifteen minutes from the finish Bowie’s knees gave way, and he was carried to the pavilion, but by this time the issue was settled, although Kilmarnock near the end mad one or two spasmodic calls on Loc, who had been indulging in walking exercise to keep himself warm. Kilmarnock’s forwards were feeble against Rangers’ strong half-back, McKnight being the only one who was passable. Even when the visitors eluded the home middle men they were lost, and that against a defence which was weak. Dickie played a hard, strenuous game, although at times he was rather impetuous. Goldie, from Bury, found his job in holding Paterson and Cairns too heavy, but he is a plodder. Hamilton and Mitchell defended valiantly and gave good protection to Blair, who came out of the game with honours. As I indicated Rangers’ strong men were Gordon, Logan and Bowie, all of whom purveyed well to the forwards. Bennett came into his own after the interval; Paterson did well in the first half; Cairns and Reid worked hard all through, but Duncan was the most prominent. Muir was not his usual form, but he was better than Pursell, who never seemed happy on the right – he had always to get the ball on his left foot to clear
