Dr Marshall 25
Ferrier 80
Match Information
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: J Thomson (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Bobby Ferrier, who has probably scored more goal in first class football than any other wing forward, gave Motherwell a point which they deserved, but did not look like getting at Ibrox yesterday. Probably the least enterprising of the For Park forwards, he nevertheless finished up the hero of the side by scoring the equalising goal seven minutes from the end. It was typical of the man, and it showed us clearly that whatever he has lost in speed he has retained all his old brilliance when given the chance of a goal. This goal was perhaps the feature of a match that was definitely not up to Rangers-Motherwell standard. It was merely a hard contest with the slippy ground troubling both sides and giving advantage to the man in possession. Motherwell would have been unlucky to come away without a point, for they had the best of the play. But they were never on top of the Ibrox defence, which covered up well, and had in Tom Hamilton a goalkeeper who could do nothing wrong. Big Tam, who is no bigger than he is popular, has fairly come on between the sticks, and as on other occasions this season, it was he who saved the team. It is a long time since that could be said of a Rangers goalkeeper. For one thing, he doesnt often get the chance. These has been a lot of criticism recently about the methods of the Rangers team, and I have on occasion pointed out that their tackling was not always too fair, but on this occasion, I could find no fault with their play, if one excepts an incident between McMenamy and McPhail. Rangers played the game in clean fashion, and if any rough stuff was meted out it came from the other side. It was Rangers replay to their critics. But the McPhail incident was unfortunate. McMenemy upended the Rangers forcibly and the crowd shouted, Get your own back Bobby, and this Bobby did. It was a blot on a very good Rangers record. Referee Thomson came out on to the field determined to stop any rough tactics, and he succeeded in his policy. Even if he did stop the continuity of the game by repeatedly bringing men up for offences, he gained his object. For that he deserves every praise. I heard many criticisms of the whistler after and during the play, but with two exceptions I thought he was beyond reproach. In the first place, he slipped what looked to be a penalty when Hunter put up a hard during a Rangers attack, and in second he gave Motherwell a free-kick outside the area when really the offence took place inside the box. So, you see it did not vitally affect the result. Both sides can complain that they were done out of a spot-kick. With that weighty stuff off my chest, I can return to the game itself. What impressed me most was the fine play of the young Motherwell wing half backs, Telfer and Wales, the goalkeeper of Hamilton, and the wonderful display put up by Alan Morton. The wee fellow was Rangers best forward by a long way and he broke the heart of Johnman long before the finish. The Merchiston-born back would not go near him if he could help it. Another stalwart was Alan craig. His generalship was of the inspiring nature. Motherwell had perhaps a shade the better of the exchanges in the first half, and it was not their due to be one down at half-time, but Rangers took their chance when it came and got a goal. Morton early showed that this was going to be his day, but Motherwell counteracted his brilliant runs by dogged play, which brought a host of corners but no goals. Wales was belting home a smasher when a defender got in the way, and Hamilton was pulled up for carrying over the penalty area. The referee got the bird for this, but he was right in his decision, nevertheless. Then Ferrier smacked one right at Hamilton, who saved brilliantly for a corner. Rangers took up the running after this and it was during this aggression that Hunter appeared to handle a shot from McPhail. On top of this Archibald missed a pinch by hesitating. Rangers shooting was of the erratic variety, while Motherwell just lacked that final punch that would have brought about a goal. After 25 minutes Marshall scored. The ball was thrown in from the touchline, Fleming hooked it over into the goalmouth, where Marshall, with a half-hit shot, put the ball into the net. McClory should have stopped this one for it was not wide of his body when it went past. More ding-done stuff followed and then a slice of real bad luck for Motherwell. Ferrier took a free just outside the area, Murdoch got it, hit the crossbar and then the post without the ball crossing the line. Dowall fell injured on the ball in the goalmouth. Had he been conscious of his position the merest flick would have meant a goal. In the second half the ding-done fight went on, but with a quarter of an hour to go Motherwell started a desperate rally to retrieve their position. Ferrier with an overhead cross gave McMenemy a chance, but a defender nipped in, then Stevenson hit the post from 30 yards. At the other end McClory retrieved his position somewhat by stopping a Fleming special. Then back came the Fir Parkers. Big Tam was glad to fists a lob from Wales over the bar, but Motherwells point was not far off. From the corner Rangers failed to clear and Craig, then Murdoch, upset the defence. McMenemy slung the ball over to the left where Stevenson failed to connect, but by doing so left Ferrier his chance. Bang went his deadly grounder far out of Hamiltons reach into the ned. That was the end. Rangers tried hard to retrieve their position, but Craig saw to it that his defence gave nothing away, and in the end, it was Motherwell who were pressing. In criticising the two teams, it must be remembered that the footing was slippery. That gave the lighter men the advantage. Rangers certainly had a pull in goal, for McClory was not confident. Hamilton, who had much more work to do, was in his element getting away dangerous high balls and blotting out the Motherwell inside forwards. Not one of the backs were impressive. Gray kicked weakly but tackled well. Buchanan was perhaps the best of the four, although he was not speedy enough for Murdoch. Hunter and Johnman both made a habit of slicing their kicks, but of the two I preferred the former. Still, neither were good, and this obviously was Motherwells weak suit. At half-back I though Motherwell had a slight pull. Craig was a star defender and always in position. Meiklejohn was not so sure as usual and left a number of balls he should have cleared to Buchanan, but on the whole, he played well. Telfer and Wales came out of it with credit. They adopted forcing tactics and always kept in touch with their forwards. These lads are two finds for John Hunter. Brown and Craig had their harassing movements, but the former stuck well to Stevenson, and the latter had a lot to do with the success of Morton. He knew that Alan was the man who could do things and supplied him religiously with the ball. Rangers attack has done much better, and only Alan Morton was up to scratch. Marshall got the vital goal, but he was strangely quiet, and McPhail, like Stevenson on the other side, found that he was being well policed. Archibald improved on recent form but was not so deadly as of yore in front of goal. Fleming did not get much of a chance in his first match of the season Craig saw to that. He was not so dashing as was Dowall, who needs only a finishing shot to make him a first-class centre. His worrying away at the defence, however, had a lot to do with Motherwells partial success. Murdoch and McMenemy, if not so spectacular a pair as Stevenson and Ferrier, stuck well, and it was from their play that Ferrier got his chance to score. Stevenson was well watched, but his combination with Ferrier was perfect. It wasnt a great game, but it had its thrilling moments, and the crowd liked it, for they stayed on for the final blast of the whistle. Motherwell were the cleverer team, and they hadnt the best of luck, but in the end, they were mighty pleased to get a point. I was delighted to see the players shake hands all round as they trooped off the field. Thats the spirit boys
