Aitken 48
Williamson 70
Missed Penalties
T Craig pen miss 15
Red Cards
Buchanan sent off 89
Match Information
Attendance: 114,708
Referee: T Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
For the second time in their history, Kilmarnock carried the Blue Riband of Scottish football to Ayrshire, and their triumph over the more fancied Rangers was one of pluck, determination and opportunism. At Hampden yesterday Kilmarnock were set to face wind and sun in the first half, and for the whole of that period Rangers were hammering at their goalmouth. That their goal did not fall was due mainly to Sam Clemie, their goalkeeper, and in lesser degree to the backs and half-backs. Rangers during this bombardment showed their brilliant play up to a point – but it stopped there. When it came to finishing it was obvious that they had struck their off day. Even a penalty award failed to bring out the desired goal, but here all credit must be given to Clemie for his agile move that stopped Craig’s spot kick. It was fortunate that the game was contested in the cleanest and fairest possible manner, otherwise Referee Dougray’s twice-changed decision might have caused an outburst of feeling. He should have consulted both of his linesmen before changing his mind. The first half was a story of Rangers’ missed chances. Had they scored a couple of goals in this period none could have groused. Then came the second half with its reversed conditions Kilmarnock came out on to the park confident that now they would not, at the worst lose. They had withstood all Rangers’ mightiest efforts against the breeze. With it they would show them! And so, it was. Only a few minutes of the second half had gone when Kilmarnock came out of their shell. The forwards struck up a combination, and their assaults quickly spotted flaws in the Rangers’ rear make-up. Dramatically and suddenly the opening goal came. Tom Hamilton saved a Morton shot in weak fashion, and Aitken taking it first time, whacked it home. That was the beginning of the end. Rangers made another big effort to get on terms, but once again chances were missed – Fleming was a sinner in this respect – and finally Kilmarnock took the upper hand completely, and Williamson scored another bonnie goal. That is in brief the story of Killie’s triumph. They have my congratulations for the excellent way in which they played the game. An unfortunate little contretemps near the close resulted in the dismissal of Buchanan, but that was only flavour of unpleasantness during the whole game. The most distressing point of the game was the comparative failure of so many of the players who are chosen to represent Scotland against England next week. Of the five on view, only Jock Buchanan and perhaps Davie Meiklejohn played up to international standard. Muirhead had an off day, Morton was rarely seen, while Kilmarnock’s representative was not by any means the most efficient back a field. His colleague, Robertson and Dougie Gray were both more in the limelight. Hats off to Sam Clemie! Two or three years ago at Parkhead I saw Clemie and Thomson in opposition, and since that day I have held a very high respect for both keepers. Therefore, it came as no surprise to me to see Clemie standing between Rangers and the cup. I now sat what I have always said – Clemie is a first-class keeper. Robertson and Nibloe were a sounder pair of backs than Gray and Hamilton, despite the fact that they had much more heavy work to carry on. At half-back Hugh Morton gave a display that might have won him another international cap had the team not already been chosen. He and Jock Buchanan were the best middlemen afield. McLaren has served Kilmarnock well if not a stylist, he at least knows his job. Yesterday he clung to Fleming like a leach and covered up well in front of goal. I thought at times that McEwan gave the right wing too much rope, but like the other two, he must be praised for his plucky display. The front rank was not entirely a success, but with two of the regulars missing that was to be expected. Cunningham in the middle did not knit the line together, and it was left to old Mattha Smith, dawning the mantle of captain in the absence of Dunlop, and to young Williamson to keep things going in front. I took a great fancy to Williamson. Beside scoring a great goal he showed himself to be a first-class distributor, and he brought the best out of his partner Aitken. This youngster came on a pace after his goal, and in the ned was a thorn in the side of Rangers defence. On the other wing, Smith and Connell were often noticeable, and the winger sent over some pretty crosses. Rangers were not exactly a disappointing party, for they played some grand football, especially in the first half. Had their finishing been anything like on a par with their general display there would have been no mourning at Ibrox Park today. Tom Hamilton was not impressive. His clearance which led up to Kilmarnock’s first goal was weak, and at other times he was not too confident. Gray was a better back than R Hamilton, while in the middle line Buchanan and Meiklejohn took the honours. Craig was all right to start with, but the memories of that missed penalty clung to his name thereafter. In front only Archibald and McPhail were in their usual form. Fleming’s shooting was off in sympathy with the others, and Muirhead and Morton lacked their usual sparkle. Rangers won the toss and right from the kick-off were on their toes. Archibald slung in a lofty centre which Robertson missed, and Clemie swept away with his fist. It was a close shave for Kilmarnock. Kilmarnock improved after this, and a couple of visits were paid Tom Hamilton before Rangers started their bog onslaught. Morton was fouled while going through, and the free-kick was accurately placed into the goalmouth, where Clemie smothered it from the alterations of three Rangers forwards. A corner followed, and for three solid minutes Rangers were battering at Clemie. Fleming first with his right foot and then with his head, got desperately near the mark. Kilmarnock’s defence had a breather while Williamson put in some clever work, but Rangers battled their way back, and Archibald tested Clemie with a long drive. Kilmarnock were lucky not to be in arrears in the first ten minutes, time and again their goal looked at the mercy of the Rangers when someone nipped in and saved. After a quarter of an hour, there was sensation. Buchanan through in a melee and was up-ended when with only Clemie to beat. Dougray at once awarded a penalty, whereat Kilmarnock protested and the referee consulted one of his linesmen, who disagreed. This caused Dougray to change his mind and threw up the ball. Then it was Rangers who took up the case and demanded the other linesman’s version, Dougray then made the trip to the other wing – and awarded the penalty. Craig was entrusted with the debated spot-kick, and thanks to Clemie, what might have been the cause of a very bitter controversy was avoided. Craig put in a great shot to the keeper’s right-hand corner of the net, but Clemie jumped up to it and bright off a save in a thousand. This over, Kilmarnock began to take an interest in things again, and Mattha Smith and Williamson had their chances to go through. However, Kilmarnock, concentrating on defence, were playing three forwards most of the time, and this gave Rangers their chance to get back at Clemie, who was about the busiest man on the park. He had to look lively to clear one of Fleming’s, and immediately after he was lucky enough to fall on and smother a point-black range drive. McPhail missed glorious chance to put Rangers on the lead after 40 minutes had gone. Clemie had been lured from position, and a soft shot by McPhail would have gone in, but instead he shot hard and wide. Right up to the interval, Rangers were on the aggressive and when the whistle blew Archibald had just taken a corner-kick. The second half they recommenced in the same fashion, McPhail putting a Morton cross just over the bar in the first minute. Kilmarnock gradually recovered and for the first time in the whole game they had Rangers defence groggy, and the irony of it – it brought a goal. Hugh Morton sent in a long one that travelled away from Hamilton, who made no attempt to get down to it, and kicked it out to Aitken on the left. The winger took the ball first time in his stride and smote the ball good and true into the roof of the net. There followed a spell of Rangers attacking, and then the revitalised Kilmarnock were at it again. Connell dashed off on his own, and his parting effort hit the post. Aitken made a heroic effort to gain his second Cup-final goal, but Hamilton shot out a leg – this time the only thing he could do – and brought off a spectacular save. No doubt about it. The tide had turned with a vengeance, and Kilmarnock were giving as much as they got. A fooling misunderstanding between Robertson and Clemie nearly proved their undoing, however, for the corner given away was accurately placed, and the ball was going in from a McPhail shot when Clemie brought off another of his daring saves by falling on the ball and smothering it. At the other end a pretty move by Connell saw smith shoot past just inches outside the post. Twenty-eight minutes of the second half had gone when from a corner-kick taken by Connell, Williamson with a left-footed effort hooked the ball into the net. It was all done in a flash, and Hamilton would have had no chance to get near even had he been able to see the movement. Rangers were beaten now, and Kilmarnock., playing with confidence, looked as if they might increase their lead. An unfortunate little sense arose just before the end. Buchanan fell in a tackle and after as altercation with Meiklejohn and the referee the right half was ordered to the pavilion. It was a most unfortunate finish to a very sporty contest. Craig missed a 16th minute penalty, and Buchanan was sent-off in the second half
