A Bennett
Hogg
Hogg
W Reid
A Cunningham pen
Hogg
Match Information
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: J.S. Muir (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
If the match at Ibrox proved anything it is how strong the Rangers are in reserve power. Gordon, Bowie and Alex Smith were missing, yet they were scarcely missed. As a matter of fact, the side, when so minded – and there were occasions when it palpably eased up –showed football of a quality quite on a par with the best exhibited by the champions when at full strength. Brown appeared in the place held almost sacred to the Darvel veteran, and with the single exception of Hogg – and he moved along with almost the power and speed of an express engine – there was no pluckier player afield than this fast and clever left winger, who has spent a couple of years or so in the land of the star-spangled banner. To those who made his acquaintance for the first time, his display was a revelation, whether in gathering Bennett’s pretty passes or carrying the ball up field in much the same style as Smith is wont to do, in shooting, or in centring, his work proclaimed him a master of his art, and incidentally assured the Ibrox directors that they can face Smith’s retrial, which it is hoped will be long deferred, with equanimity. Truly the mantle of the veteran seems to have fallen on Brown, who, besides scoring the third goal off his own bat at the second attempt when the match was haft an hour old, and placing the ball beautifully for Hogg to ram home the only point of the second half, got across many admirable centres and shots. If Goodwin can still be classed in the reserve category – he has played so often in the League team that one is apt to dub him a regular – then the Rangers are doubly happy in possessing a second string of his ability. He has figured more prominently in prior games; still this latest display was quite good enough to ensure him a permanent position in almost any contemporary eleven. Robert Brown, the Kilwinning lad who immortalised himself in the 1910 Scottish Junior Cup final, also impressed most of the 15,000 people present – the gate was well over £300 – with the ability contained in the eleven that carried off the Scottish Reserve Cup the other day. Playing against the Kilmarnock ‘wizard’ and Andrew Cunningham, it is perhaps little wonder that Brown should feel a bit diffident to sail into his men for a quarter of an hour or so. But as he gained in confident his play improved to such an extent that at the finish he had worthily earned the right of being mentioned in the same breath as his partners, both of whom and Hendry particularly so – might be said to have been at the top of their game. Last back-end many wiseacres reckoned Hogg as something of a spent force. But who would have the temerity to say so this term, in which his strong-going is only equalled by his ability. Against the light ‘Swifty’ Anderson and the inexperienced Davidson he had something of a picnic, but so clever, so eager, and so whole-hearted was the burly right-winger that one is inclined to infer that he would have been scarcely less successful against much stronger opposition. He operated during the greater part of the closing portion – Law retired injured – at right back, and played well there too, but prior to that he succeeded in bright off the ‘hat-trick’, the second, fourth, and, as already mentioned, the sixth goals being credited him. Bennett, who played quietly but none the less effectively, opened the scoring after 18 minutes’ play, and Reid, who appeared none too eager, although he did manage to deliver a few of his ‘extra specials,’ got the fourth a few minutes from the interval. From the magnitude of the score it need not be inferred that Kilmarnock were altogether outclassed, or that at the start it was a case of how long the Ayrshire defence would hold out against the Ibrox sharpshooters. The Rangers for a good hour were certainly the superior company, but until Bennett broke the ice – and that somewhat softly – the one side looked as likely to score as the other; indeed for half-an-hour or so most of the play was in home territory. Yet Kilmarnock then found themselves three goals down, although Lock had dealt with quite as many shots as Smart. But none of these had anything like the force behind them possessed by Hogg’s opening net crasher. Smart’s goal-keeping was far from satisfactory, but if Barrie is expected, it might truly be said that the defence, as a division, lacked the penetrative power necessary to force the game sufficiently to obtain success. Kirkwood kicked nicely, but, like the others, was far too reposeful, while Orr and Anderson, clever enough both, were handicapped by their physique – or lack of it, rather. Carson fought doggedly, but could make little or nothing of the lanky Galt, while J Cunningham failed to keep Wilkinson going as well as he might. Most of the passed were received by the diminutive right winger when in awkward positions. He is very small, but if properly supported the ex-Tollcross junior seems clever enough to pay his way. Kilmarnock’s star forward, though, was Andrew Cunningham, whose exhibition was not bettered, if needed it was equalled, by any other player afield. His leading out work and placing to Templeton, and now and then to the other wing, were as neat perfection as possible. Yet the International was all but a complete failure. He diddled his man beautifully on occasion, and got across a nice ball now and then, but was, nevertheless, only a shadow of the Templeton who has so often thrilled tens of thousands as he carried his country or club to victory. Supported as he was, had he been in the mood he might have played the game of his career, for Cunningham, who as often as not practically ‘put the ball in his pocket,’ seldom gave a faulty pass.
