Craig og 35
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: J Winter (Dundee)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I have yet to see the Rangers drop a point this season, but I came within an ace of doing so at Ibrox. As a matter of fact, the ‘Light blues’ will never gain a luckier victory. You will agree with this statement when I tell you that the only goal of the match was scored by a Morton man. That was a scurvy trick Craig – unwittingly, of course – played on Bradford eight minutes from the interval. The Greenock custodian had gone out to get hold of a loose ball, which only an untoward happening could have prevented him doing. This latter is just exactly what happened, evidently, that Bradford had ‘left home’, kicked the ball gently in the direction of his own goal for Bradford to gather. I can only conjecture what Bradford said to himself as he watched the ball slowly ‘stottin’’ into the net. As for Craig, he looked the picture of misery. To assist any other opposing club to victory would have been bad enough. But to help the Rangers was veritable gal and wormwood. These ex-Ibrox players are ever keen to get the bulge on their old comrades. On the hard surface, which had been liberally sanded up the centre, the game was wonderfully fast. Naturally enough, for several minutes at the beginning, a few players on either side were inclined to ‘gang warily’, but gradually the timidity wore off, and soon all hands were going heartily into their work. Morton, the more robust going lot, were perhaps quite as often at Hempsey’s goal as the Rangers were in Bradford’s vicinity, still the bulk of the best scoring chances in the first half fell to the Glasgow men. Bowie headed over the bar a beautiful centre from Hendry, and splendid shots by Paterson, Bennett and Duncan were as well saved by Bradford, while Reid was twice or thrice caught up just in the nick of time. Against this Torrance, Buchanan and Seymour were given fair opportunities, but the most was not made of them. Yes, the Rangers had just ever so little the better of the opening portion. A different tale remains to be told of the play subsequent to the interval. For a little I thought the Rangers, who right away took a better grip of the game than they had yet done, would get a goal for themselves. But although Craig gave them a glorious chance by missing right in front of his posts, the score did not come along. Then a magnificent left foot shot from Bowie caught by Bradford, almost against an upright, and Reid, after spread-eagling the field with one of his characteristic dashes, kicked too far in front at the psychological moment. Later Hendry skimmed the crossbar, and Paterson and Scott Duncan flashed balls narrowly passed the post, but the Rangers era may be said to have finished when the game had little less than half an hour to run. Morton then took charge of things with a vengeance. The Ibrox defence, which improved as the game progressed, took some beating, still with the exercise of just a little judgment, the Greenock side must have equalised at least. I do not blame Gourlay for not scoring from the perfect pass which came his way from the left. His really fine shot was splendidly picked up by Hempsey. But I do blame Torrance, Buchanan and in a lesser degree, Seymour. Hesitancy in shooting proved the undoing of the extreme right winger, a marked tendency to quarrel with his opponents adversely affected Buchanan’s play, and incidentally the prospects of his club. The Paisley boy is a good speedy centre of the bustling type, who can distribute play nicely, and shoot fairly straight, hard and true, when the occasions arises. I have mentioned his chief failing. Seymour was very fast and very clever. He got across several fine centres, but he should have whisked along a few more. The little Englishman waited a moments too long once or twice, as often he shot past when he should have meddled. Paterson did not please me so well as against St Mirren. I have already alluded to Torrance’s fault. He has, however, much to commend him. There are great possibilities in this flying wing forward, who gets better way with the ball every time I see him. But Gourlay was the brains of the line – the best forward afield. And, mind you, he was none too fit. Ten minutes before the start Mr RR Cochran, the Cappielow manager, told me that Gourlay, who was suffering from a damaged leg, wished to cry off, but they had decided to risk him. At that time Mr Cochran was feverishly awaiting the arrival of John May, so you can have an idea how the manager felt. He was in wonderfully good trim at the close. The plucky attempt by his boys to make up the leeway, and the share of the huge ‘gate’ appeased his wrath. I may mention that 28,000 of the 30,000 people present paid for admission. Figure that out for yourself. Individually the Ibrox forwards – particularly Scott Duncan and Bowie – were clever enough on occasion, but the line never went with the consistent swing it did earlier in the season – say at Kirkcaldy. Up against such a ‘cute trio of old-timers as Stark, May and Craig, it might have paid better to depart from their usual game of plying Reid with the ball. The veterans seemed to anticipate what was coming almost every time. I have seldom seen Stark and May do so much spoiling work for the expenditure of so little energy. They as often as not simply waited – when either failed to bring up the centre, who was less eager and trustful than usual, Craig often did the trick by stepping forward. The bulk of the crowd did not approve of the Cappielow backs’ offside tactics, but it is all in the game – or in the book, should I say? Wright, I thought, was the best all-round half-back afield. The ground had no terrors for the big Port Glasgow lad. There was little to choose between the useful rather than brilliant Rangers’ intermediate players, who, compared with the Greenock trio, were lacking in resource. In a placing sense, Gordon and Galt were ahead of Hendry, who was kept too busy attending to Gourlay and Torrance to think must about constructive play. Hendry had to keep a more than usually tight eye on the Morton inside right man, otherwise he would have been guessing much oftener than he was. A big proposition of the crowd were doubtless attracted by the appearance of Fulton, just returned from Everton, against his old Cappielow club-mates. On such a ground it would be unfair to say that the Rangers have not got the back they have been so long hunting for. I would like to see the sturdy blacksmith treading a less flinty surface before giving an opinion. On the day, he was just the same old Greenock back who tackled moderately and kicked a good length ball heedless of direction – simply that and nothing more. I liked Ormonde, especially in the second half, when he went out for the ball or took his man, both first time. If he did this consistently I would have hopes of him, even yet, becoming a really great back. Against St Mirren I was not impressed with Ferrier. At Ibrox I was. He did not display the subtle touches his partner occasionally did, still he was the safer of the two
