A Cunningham 1
S Archibald 81
Match Information
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: D Calder (Rutherglen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Points are points, no matter how you get them, but I suppose that Rangers will yet feel satisfied. They scored two minutes after the start, and a couple of minutes from the end, but in between Motherwell played the better game. I mean they were evenly sound in defence and the forwards keep their places better and showed more method than the Ibrox front line. Where the Fir Park attack failed was in the fondness for passing and repassing round goal instead of a slapping in the shots from quite reasonable shooting distance. What to make of the rangers I don’t know. Their early lead should have given them confidence, but they never settled to anything like a winning game – even if they won. The three men in the rear were the best of them, including Weir, who did exceedingly well for a beginning. Dixon, in his own run about style, was useful in defence, although he was fortunate to find Tennant slow to take advantage of openings. Motherwell were superior at half-back, and Thackeray the best of the lot. There was little cohesion in the Rangers’ attack. Both Cunningham and Cairns were too often out of position and Archibald could not get touch at all. Marshall and Fleming might have done something good had the proper support been forthcoming. The cleverest wing was Stevenson and Ferrier, and I should say the ablest forward of the ten was Stevenson. Motherwell right wing was disappointing, however. About the goals, the first was snapped by Cunningham after Marshall had pushed the ball back to him. McClory, I think, had expected Marshall to shoot, and when Cunningham fired the ball at him, he was caught unprepared. The second goal was a peculiar affair. Shaw dropped the ball high across, and it fell right in front of goal. McCloy got his hands to it, but it dropped down at Marshall’s feet, and he shot against the goalkeeper. There ensured a thick bunching of men round McClory, and Archibald was the lucky one to get his foot to the ball and net it. And now for the thinking caps!
