A Bennett pen <45
W Reid >45
Match Information
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: J Lyons (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The very fact that Partick Thistle even considered the advisability of protesting concerning the playability of Ibrox Park in the second half, during which portion the ground markings in some placed had become obliterated raises the question as to whether or not it was politic to go on with a League match under the conditions prevailing. The ground was soft, and as play proceeded the ball became most difficult to drive; indeed, on many occasions it stopped yards short of the spot it would have reached in ordinary circumstances. Thus was the expectant waiting player on either side often baulked of a pass which, on a less water-logged and holding surface, would undoubtedly have been his, while he was forcibly reminded that his preconceived notions of force and distance required revising to fit in with such miserable climatic conditions as obtained. But if the footing was bad, the state of affairs overhead, during the first half-hour at least was worse. Seldom have teams taken the field amid such a downpour. The merciless rain sent the Firhill players, first to make their appearance to seek the shelter of the covered enclosure, but it had if anything increased in volume when the referee came out, and started the game. On such a surface, leaving the still falling moisture altogether out of the reckoning, play of the generally approved type could scarcely be looked for, but there was nevertheless a surprising amount of ability, agility, and stamina, shown by the respective players. As can readily be understood, skidding formed a big part of the afternoon’s entertainment, and entertainment which was evidently to the liking of the crowd, which interested to the end, and often amused by the unorthodox antics of the players in the ‘glair’ waited to see the very last kick. Although Rangers won as they deserved to – and they played without Hendry the whole of the second half – Partick Thistle, handicapped as they admittedly were, by the absence of Raisbeck and Wilson, put up a rare good fight. Forward they did not play the game best suited for the day as their conquerors did, but there was no denying the earnestness with which they set about their work. Elmore and Gardiner made praiseworthy efforts to drive and carry on the ball as the Ibrox forwards did, but Callaghan and Robertson, in a lesser degree, persisted in that class of short passing play, which one might have looked for, and even heartily applauded had the match been played on an April afternoon under ideal conditions. Instead of dashing ahead, and making ground as Goodwin, who was deputising Hogg, and Alex Smith did, the little Englishman must needs stand on the ball until such time as he had diddled or attempted to diddle an Ibrox defender. Very often it was the latter that happened, and when he did succeed in sending the ball across, he almost invariably discovered that the Ibrox defence had taken advantage of the time lost in the vicinity of the touch line, to cover up their goal. It was certainly neither a day nor a ground suited to the light Firhill right winger, but he would most assuredly have been of greater value to his side, and he certainly would have taken less out of himself, had he adopted the methods favoured by Goodwin or Alex Smith, or Branscombe even. McDonald and Allan the substitutes in the intermediate line, both made a very good show. The latter, a cleanly built chap, seemed to revel in his work, and is well worthy further trial in the position. McGregor was nippy as normal, while the backs put in a hard afternoon’s work. McKenzie, who on the day was not bettered by any other defender on show, excelled himself. Campbell saved cleverly as usual, but his fielding of the ball could be improved on. While there was a decided element of luck attaching to the Rangers’ opening goal, which came fifteen minutes after the start from a penalty awarded against McKenzie for handling, there was never much doubt as to which was the better side. It was forward the greatest disparity lay. Goodwin and Smith, splendidly served by Bowie and Bennett until Hendry got injured never wasted a second. But the retrial of the half-back had little effect on the team, for Bowie, who dropped behind, while Galt shifted to the other side of the field, besides making a splendid half-back, found time on occasion to assist Reid in keeping young Goodwin. The centre-forward’s nippy and opportunistic touches kept the crowd on the best of terms with itself, and a big section did not forget to cheer when, eight minutes after the interval, he following a smart bit of individual work, cleverly got the point which enabled him to equal Simpson’s great League goal-scoring record. This total should have been augmented ten minutes from the end had Reid been allowed the goal which a perfect centre from Alex Smith enabled him to score. From the pavilion at which end the incident occurred, it looked the best goal of the match. Chapman and Galt played splendidly in the middle line, while Law, Campbell and Lock were safety itself.
