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Match Details

Rangers

1-0

Morton

League - Western Division
Ibrox Park
30 March, 1940

Rangers

Jerry Dawson
Dougie Gray
Jock Shaw
Tom McKillop
Willie Woodburn
George Brown
Stanley Matthews
Jimmy Duncanson
Willie Thornton
Alex Venters
Christopher McNee

4

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Morton

McArthur
Maley
Fyfe
Mess
Gray
Whyte
Turnbull
Martin
Calder
Steele
Hughes

Match Information

Goals

A Venters 29

Match Information

Manager: Bill Struth
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: J.L. Provan (Chapelhall)
Matchday:  Saturday

Match Trivia

The inclusion in Rangers’ attack against Morton at Ibrox Stadium today of Stan Matthews, Stoke City International outside right, created more than a ripple of anticipation. Morton were no overawed side, for in a jiffy Turnbull, Calder and Hughes were up and at it, and Turnbull gave Woodburn more than the rules allow. The free kick sent Morton back, and Duncanson’s pass went to Matthews. The Stoke man was met in first-class fashion by Fyfe, who had probably heard about tactics that were necessary in dealing with English’s star. There was a rare to-do when Turnbull flashed in a ball at Dawson which the Rangers goalkeeper played out to the fast-approaching Calder, who missed. Rangers escaped luckily in the fourteenth minute when Calder, after beating off a series of tackles, let go a shot. Dawson dived and smothered the ball, and both Steel and Calder kicked it from under the goalkeeper, the ball going high into the net. Morton were penalised and the count was erased. It was Morton’s turn next for a bit of luck, a goal kick by McArthur going to Woodburn, who passed out to Matthews. Over went the ball to McNee via Venters, and McNee gave it everything. McArthur sprang and flicked the ball on to the post, his recovery to recapture it being superb. In 30 minutes, Rangers took the lead. Shaw’s clearance was the prelude to the goal, Gray Morton’s centre half, failing to time the return. In dashed Venters for the kill, and his shot went roaring to the net. It was only at infrequent periods that Matthews was asked to match his skill with Morton’s defence, but on all occasions his tracery type of play and nimble operating for position brought shouts of approval. Fyfe’s obvious concern and jockeying in front of the Englishman raising laughter. In the second half one had to wait a considerable time for any incident that concerned other than Rangers, fir it was the case that Morton had no combined attack to offer against the Ibrox five-man affair. It was now easy for Matthews to find touch with Venters, and it was also apparent that Duncanson was finding an affinity with the Stoke player, the back-heel passes from Duncanson being a feature. Rangers were in territorial possession but had no mastery beyond that, and one wondered if Matthews had by any chance a shot hi his repertoire. All honour to Morton’s defence, and Gray and McArthur in particular, will summarise the final verdict
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