Stark
Buchanan
Match Information
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: A Allan (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Three home defeats on successive Saturdays is a new experience for the Light Blues. Occasional chastening is not without its salutary effects, but the Rangers and their followers will be of opinion that they have had enough of the medicine to be going on with. For this latest reverse they can put forward the palliation that for more than half the game that had to play a man short. About five minutes from the interval Logan, their captain, sustained a severe ankle injury in contact with Gourlay, and had to be carried off. He was unable to resume, and Bowie had to act as emergency centre-half for the second half. This certainly impaired the efficiency of both their intermediate and front lines. Kelso was unable to turn out, and Craig played at right back with Purcell as partner. Stark and Seymour reappeared in the Morton team, which was at full strength. In the opening half the Greenock men had to face a stiff breeze in addition to a blinding sun, and it was therefore not surprising that they had a good seal of defending work to do. Just after the start, Bradford, with a couple of Rangers in attendance, had to clear a good try by Paterson. Seymour came nearer scoring at the other end, Lock only managing to turn his shot past for a corner by throwing himself full length at the ball – a magnificent save. A timely pass by Bowie presented Scott Duncan with a fine chance, which the right winger drove past carelessly. Paterson after a smart run placed accurately to Reid, who also missed his opportunity by skying the ball. Paterson on the Rangers left, well supported by Cairns, was much in the picture in the early stages. He piloted the ball up the wing well repeatedly, but nullified a good deal of his work by shooting from awkward angles instead of centring. One fine cross Scott Duncan ought to have nodded through instead of past the goal. Reid was twice beaten only a yard or two from goal, the backs getting there first. These were the main items of Rangers’ attack, but it is not to be supposed that Morton were only a defending force – very fat from that. They were continually executing raids, and sustained raids, on Lock’s charge, and the Ibrox custodian was called on periodically to handle. More than once, as the ball lay in the goal-mouth, practically, it was touch-and-go as to what would be the issue. But half-time arrived without scoring. When Logan did not come out after the interval it was clear that the Rangers, who had to now face the breeze, which had subsided somewhat, would be sorely beset. Gordon especially seemed to realise that a special effort was called for, and during the first fifteen minutes after resuming he was conspicuous with several brilliant dashed through. He was all over the park looking for work, and from a cross he sent over after a burst through on the left, Scott Duncan allowed the ball to pass him when a tip was all that was necessary. This was the liveliest spell in the game, and in the course of the hustling Stark and Paterson both were in the wars, but soon recovered. The Ibrox spurt soon fizzled out, and Morton took the game in hand. Stevenson drove hard against the upright; Gourlay, after manoeuvring cleverly through, shot just over; Seymour emulated his partner by shaking the post; and Buchanan in centre, had a shy which was just a trifle wide. The pressure at last had its reward. Lock left his charge to follow a partial clearance, but before he could regain possession Torrance swung the ball across and Stark from well out let go at the empty goal. Lock, in making a great effort to get back in time, went head-over-heels over Craig, who was also making a desperate attempt to clear. Both lay prostrate, and had to receive attention from the trainer. Rangers looked a beaten team from this point. Lock had another fine save from Buchanan at the expense of a corner, but a little later the Morton centre gave him no chance with a hard shot from short range. But for slackness on the part of the Rangers’ defenders, he should never have got the ball. Making due allowance for their handicapped condition after Logan’s retrial, the Rangers did not pass muster. Their forward work was spasmodic and disjointed. Their attack lacked cohesion, and when fine chances did crop up at goal they were most erratic in their finishing. By comparison the Morton forwards, who had a resourceful and dashing leader in Buchanan, were cool and calculating in their movements. They kept their places better and worked more in unison. It is true they were better served by the men behind them, all the Cappielow half-backs sending the ball on with marked judgment. Wright was the best of a capital trio, Stark not being much behind him in effectiveness. Stevenson and Seymour were easily the smartest wing combination on the field. They also had the bulge at back, where Ferrier and Ormond both played well, especially the latter. Bradford, while handle with opponents in attendance, and always inspired with confidence. Lock cannot be blamed for the defeat. He was perhaps slightly at fault in straying so far at the time Stark’s excellent shot too effect, but he atoned for that blemish by the rest of his work, which had to be daring at times. Craig played well at back, and Purcell made a fair appearances. Gordon’s single-handed efforts were inspiring to watch, but his propensity to roam is not without a tendency to unsettle the attack generally. Hendry did not last the game, and is evidently hardly back to his usual fitness. Paterson was the best of a line which did not play well to each other. When Reid wanted to get in a shot there was generally some single opponent blocking the way, and the Rangers’ centre displayed little resource in these cases. There is no occasion for perturbation in the Ibrox camp. The team seems to be a little nervous and unstrung, but the talent is there
