Thornton 52
Smith 65, 70
A Venters 73
McCulloch 55
Match Information
Attendance: 57,000
Referee: Peter Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
What went wrong, Motherwell? That first 20 minutes of the second d half, when you took blow after blow on the chin, reeled, staggered and kept on staggering takes some explaining away. All the more so, when we take into account your refreshing display in the first period. Perhaps I strike the nail on the head when I repeat that old adage a good footballer is coming to him. At Hampden ball control was difficult. Well, Rangers had two good footballers in Venters and Thornton, and when these two players are in the mood, the Ibrox contingent are terribly hard to beat. Take for instance that classic second goal of Rangers. Young Thornton, about the centre of the field, gained possession. Deftly he manoeuvred the ball until Venters came across the field to give a helping hand. At the correct moment came that devastating pass which split wide open the Motherwell defence. Venters took the ball in stride, Blair was drawn out of position, and with perfect judgment the ball came flying across to the unmarked Smith, whose header left Johnstone clawing the air. That was the beginning of the end. Motherwell defence lost the place. Five minutes later a flick from the head put Venters in excellent position. Although Johnstone parried the inside mans shot, Smith, who had followed up, gathered the rebound and smacked it into the roof of the net. A little later more of Thornton saw a fourth coming along after 28 minutes had been clocked. Another well-timed pass sent Waddell on the move. The winger footed a grounder which landed at the feet of Venters. His job was easy to travel on and pick his place in the net. Sorry I have started this report, as you mat say, at the wrong end, but therein lies the story of Motherwells fond hoped being blasted sky high. And, mid you at one part of the game, they were fully justified in believing that these same hopes would be realised. In the first half I have seldom seen the lads representing the steel town play better. These boring runs of Hutton Bremner, that energetic raiding of McCulloch, Smiths dainty dribbling and goal-searching crosses, all went to give the Rangers following some anxious moments. Yes, at that point I would not have given a snowball for Rangers chances. Rangers half-backs were not convincing. Too often were they beaten to the ball in the air, which naturally led to many goalmouth skirmishes taking place. But here again Rangers had competent men who could step into the breach. Dawson was just Jerry at his best, Gray, the consistent defender he always is, and Shaw, although often puzzled, never seen to know it and fought against the onslaughts with grand courage. The restart gave no cluse to revise this statement. Motherwell stormed Rangers goal and had they received a smile from Dame Fortune would have opened the scoring. With Dawson at the other end of his goal McCulloch hit the upright. Seconds later the same players just missed with a header. Yes, it still looked odds on Motherwell. Ten in seven minutes the fun began. Thornton rose like a bird to a cross from McNee and set Johnstone to the back of the net. In a couple of minutes, the Well restored equality. A fierce 30 yarder by Wales bounded off the crossbar to McCulloch who did the needful. The rest you know, except one item which does not make good reading. Tempers became frayed in the second-half
