S Archibald
B McPhail 40
Match Information
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: J Hudson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Thursday
Match Trivia
Had Ness equalised in the last minute, when he was presented with something like a New Year gift, the Thistle would not have got more than they deserved. In a game spoiled by the blustery breeze there was little to choose between the teams. Desultory spells were numerous – more numerous than usual in the Ibrox-Firhill clashes – and real bright patches few and far between. Easily the liveliest period was the twenty minutes preceding the interval. Elliot, who was leading the Partick attack, had just failed to drive home a Torbet cross, and the Rangers seemed to sense the consequences that might have followed had he scored. At anyrate, they became a fighting force. Sleeves were rolled up, so to speak, and Jackson and his brother defenders had to face something resembling a whirlwind, and – almost at once the extra Ibrox push were rewarded. A ball from Brown was trapped by Archibald inside the penalty area and taking time and aim Sandy put all his weight into the shot and the ball cannoned like a whizzbang off Jackson’s right hand post into the net. This goal gave the Ibrox fellows the confidence they had hitherto lacked. Fleming broke away, but hampered by Lambie, he shot feebly into Jackson’s witing hands. Archibald had a chance to repeat his scoring feat, but this time his elevation was inches too high. Muirhead joined with the attackers and his curing shot almost caught Jackson in two minds. Two rocket drives followed from Brown, the second of which was diverted behind by O’Hare’s foot. This was a testing time for the Firhill defenders, and so persistent was the Rangers’ pressure that no one was surprised when Jackson’s charge surrendered for the second time – six minutes before the cross over. Archibald had again a big hand in the second goal. A free kick taken by Craig came over to the right, the Fifer carried on almost to the bye-line before sending over a perfect centre, which McPhail nodded into the net out of Jackson’s reach. This finished the scoring in this period but not the excitement, and just before the whistle sounded Fleming allowed a lovely Nicholson cross to run loose. Unfortunately, this proved to be the only hectic spell of the match. When Rangers were awarded, a penalty kick in the eleventh minute of the second half everybody jumped to the conclusion that the points were about to be made safe for the Ibrox brigade. But no. A minute or two elapsed before the spot-kick was taken owing to Jackson having been injured. Brown had been working his way through when the custodian daringly dived at his feet and smothered the ball. O’Hare and Rae rushed to clear the danger, but they, too went down as well as Brown, and in the scramble, hands were used to keep the ball out of the net. Mr Hudson had no hesitation in awarding a penalty kick, but he had also to summon the Firhill trainer, who assisted Jackson behind the goal and transferred the canary-coloured sweater to Grove, whose first task as goalkeeper was to attempt to save the penalty-kick. Meiklejohn, who took the lick, aimed for the corner of the net, but his shot was a foot wide, and the ball went harmlessly behind. A minute or two elapsed before Jackson was able to resume between the posts, but with his return the Thistle roused themselves, and Gray and Bob Hamilton had a busy time. Torbet livened things up with a couple of tricky runs and accurate crosses, and shortly after – in the twentieth minute – a goal for the Thistle came along. Miller veered to the left and shot. There was not much power in his effort, but Ness suddenly nipped in and adroitly piloted the ball into the net. Those who looked for a battle royal following on the top of this Firhill appetiser were disappointed. True, the Thistle forwards did most of the pressing, but they were feebly led by Elliot, who was ill-suited to the job, and few shots if any account went neat Tom Hamilton. Rangers were now mainly dependent on Nicholson, Fleming and Archibald for their foraging, and twice Fleming came near rounding off some good work by the outside left – when he hit the side of the post and the side of the net. There was not enough life now left in the Firhill attack, but they kept hovering round about the Ibrox charge, and in the very last minute Ness broke clean away, but he shot weakly into Hamilton’s hands and lost a great chance to snatch a draw. It was by no means a pulsating tussle. Against the breeze the Thistle forwards opened strongly and for a time Elliot looked as if he were going to fill the bill as a centre forward, but only for a brief period – Davie Meiklejohn soon took him in hand. That twenty minutes siege before the interval by the Rangers settled the issue. Before and after it was a lifeless battle, and the lethargic movements of the players suggested that the Ne’erday match had sapped too much of their strength. Nicholson and McPhail did not get on too well together, but Fleming was a live wire all the time. Brown and Archibald served up some nice football in the first portion, but later on ‘Sandy’ was left to do too much on his own – Brown, like McPhail, was as often as not helping the half-backs. Partick’s forwards pack carried no real stars either. Ballantyne was a grafter all the time, but Miller was fitful, so too were Ness and Torbet. Grove proved himself a serviceable right half, but the best of the bunch was Meiklejohn, who gave those behind admirable assistance in the latter stages. All four backs were safe, with Gray and Rae showing the neatest clearing qualities. Both custodians did their work well, but it was perhaps fortunate that Jackson was not called upon any oftener than he was in the second half – he limped badly after the injury he sustained in the penalty incident. Meiklejohn missed a penalty in 57 mins
