Whittle
Branscombe
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: T Robertson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
At Ibrox Park in blustery weather before 25,000 spectators. Partick Thistle qualified for the final of the Glasgow Cup. Following a pass back by Gordon, Whittle opened the scoring in the first half. On crossing over, Branscombe added number two and the Thistle won deservedly. As one spectator apty remarked on Saturday – ‘Youth will be served,’ and that was amply proved by the more youthful Thistle team. The Firhill men exhibited rare dash right from that start, even against the wind, and they really never looked like losing after the first five minutes. The ‘Light Blues’ seem to be going from bad to worse. Against the Hearts they were disappointing, while of Saturday a strong word might be used without undue harshness. There was a lack of harmony in every line. The backs had had no plan of campaign, the halves were over-played, and the forwards suffered accordingly. Every attack was merely a haphazard rush, and as for the shooting, it was seldom well directed. Frankly speaking, the Rangers were deservedly well beaten. I thought that with the wing behind them in the first half the ‘Light Blues’ would have all the play but to my surprise, and to the surprise of many more, the Thistle forwards were always dangerous and more enterprising. Whittle lay behind Logan well up the field almost between the backs, and when Loney passed forward to him he invariably sent well out of the wing, and then took up the right position for the return into the centre. On the day’s play Whittle was far ahead of Reid in every respect. The ex-Kilmarnock and Third Lanark forward settled the ‘Light Blues’’ pretension when he gathered a pass from Gordon intended for Craig and Lobbed the ball over Lock’s head into the net. Whittle always waited, Micawber-like, for something to turn up, and when the something came along he was ready. I think the match was lost and won at half-back. The Firhill three quite overshadowed their opponents. Loney’s experience combined with the dash and running of Morrison and McMullan, made a rare combination. The ex-Celt played one of his extra special games. McMullan had Bowie and Paterson well under control, while Morrison invariably intercepted Bennett’s best-intended passes. On the other hand, Gordon was distinctly unhappy against McTavish and Branscombe, who were far too good for him. Logan was a shade better, but Hendry could make nothing of GS Ramsay’s clever footwork and ‘cute passing. The ‘Light Blues’ failed at half-back. Whittle’s opening goal I have already credited, but Branscombe’s was an even better effort, as he accepted a long pass from Loney well out on the line, then cut into the penalty area and beat Lock with a fast low shot that the goalkeeper was too late in making to save. It was Branscombe at his best. Although defeated, the Ibrox men had scoring chances. Logan in the first half made several fine tries; Gordon also had one, but in each case Campbell proved unbeatable. McTavish was presented with the finest opening of the match in the4 second half when he had only Lock to beat, but he pushed the ball past the post when he had yards open before him. I don’t know what the Ibrox directors think of their team, but their supporters hold decided opinions, and if drastic changes are not made the attendances are certain to suffer. Whether it is lack of harmony, loss of form, or want of confidence that is to blame I am not prepared to say, but the fact remains, the rangers at present are a spent force. There is an absence of vim about the attack that is provoking, and the incessant playing up the centre to Reid is not a paying game, It is too obvious to now prove successful. I would suggest more wing running and more centreing across the goal to improve matters. The ‘Light Blues’ tactics are all wrong, and must be revised if wins are to be registered. Partick Thistle have no stereotyped mode of attack. The best placed man gets the ball, and he invariably makes for the net. Whittle has improved the attack immensely; Loney has done wonders for the defence; and I can foresee many notable victories in the future for the Firhill team if the men are lucky enough to avoid injury. It was a glorious win for the hitherto unfortunate ‘Jags,’ who should now win the cup, no matter whether they meet Clyde or Queen’s Park. Congratulations are due the victors on the last achieving their heart’s desire. Campbell kept a safe goal, thanks to the fine support of two clever backs. Adams had an easy task against the home left wing, and Bulloch seldom allowed Paterson a look-in. All three halves were excellent, each in a different way; I was greatly impressed with both Morrison and McMullan, while Loney played his usual clever game against the Rangers. He always did well against the ‘Light Blues.’ Whittle led the forwards grandly, and was ably assisted by McTavish and Ramsay, who seldom wasted a ball. Ramsay seemed to be out to show the home directors what he could do when in earnest, and he succeeded admirably. His clever feinting and adroit passing were immense, and had Armstrong seconded his efforts at all well the goal margin would have been greater, Branscombe was fast and clever, and his goal a well-taken one. Lock could not be blamed for the goals. The first was due to Gordon’s badly-judged pass back, and the second was practically unsaveable. Kelso did better than against the Hearts, though he was still inclined to stop the ball ere clearing. I don’t think the jeering of a section of the crowd helped him. Craig did well. Not one of the halves was worthy of commendation. As for the forwards, they were easily stopped. Bennett seemed to lose heart, and Smith made nothing of Adams. Reid was overshadowed, and the right wing was just fair to middling. As already said, more changes are imperative if success is to be achieved. There are problems still to be solved at Ibrox. Reserves must be called out, and at onc
