Fleming 9
S Archibald 65
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: A Scott (Mossend)
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
Figs from thistles? No. Football from such a pitch? No. For one day, at least, the player’s life was not a happy one – nothing like so happy as a policeman. The policeman could watch the fun. Rangers won, but I reckon they were jolly only when they tumbled into their warm bath at the ned of it. It was a match in which anything could have happened – and some weird things did happen. I never saw a ball more difficult to subdue. It did pretty much as it liked. The only thing to do was to boot it hard, and the players who tumbled to that were the ones who gave the most profitable service. But though the football was not superfine, there were plenty of peppery incidents, a great many free kicks and – a most extraordinary goal, which we shaw arrive at in a moment. Rangers, with Haddow getting his first League run in Alan Morton’s place, took the lead in nine minutes. A free kick, in Haddow’s favour, was soared across by Craig from the line. The ball was landing plumb in the centre of the uprights when Fleming got his knee to it and deflected it sufficiently to leave Jackson helpless. For a little after this Rangers were happier than at any time in the game. They got a grip, and shots by Cunningham and Fleming missed by nothing to speak of, while Archibald smashed one against the bar. Before the interval, however, the more tardy Thistle fired up, and Ness and Gibson had glorious chances. Gibson ran right through but, from only a few yards, raised the ball over the bar. So well did they come along Partick scarcely deserved to be a goal down at tea time. A couple of minutes after getting to business again Rangers enjoyed a ‘life’. McDougall wriggled into position and shot with snap, but after beating Hamilton, the ball hit the far post and rebounded. There were some more spirited Thistle raids, the while Rangers gave the impression of being out of gear, but like the bumble bee, they were carrying their sting out of sight. McPhail brough the forwards along, and his shot, which nearly beat Jackson, began a fusillade which ended in Archibald scoring the aforementioned freakish goal. Getting a return at a difficult angle he smote the ball so hard that the impetus caused him to fall forward. Like greased lightning the ball flew towards Jackson, passed him, hit the net a foot or so in, high up, and swerved out into the field again. The referee gave the signal for a goal. The Thistle protested and were reluctant to line up, which perhaps was not surprising, since few of the players, and fewer spectators, could have said exactly what had happened. But the referee was right on the spot. Thistle’s grand defence survived a storming attack which followed the goal, the forwards came into their stride again, and eleven minutes from the end Gibson headed past Hamilton from a Ness free kick. Partick made a fighting finish and would not have been flattered by a draw. Had the Thistle forward shown more steadiness in front of goal the team would not have lost. The chances were there. In bringing the ball through Ness and Boardman and McDougall were quite clever, but Salisbury could make little of Gray, who played one of his beat games. Gibson was well watched by Meiklejohn, who was one of those who realised the value of a hefty clearance; lucky, perhaps for Rangers that Meiklejohn’s desire to play was conceded. In front of two splendid backs – Paton I have seldom seen do better – the Thistle half-backs got through a vast amount of spoiling work, and Lambie set a good lead in biffing the ball about. Jackson could bot have saved either goal. It was not a good day for a newcomer to be making his debut, but Haddow showed any amount of confidence – only, the little back-heel device was overdone. Better to go right ahead, as he is clearly capable of doing. He had one of the best shots of the match, which Jackson just managed to deflect over the bar. There were bright bits of Rangers forward play, with McPhail and Cunningham opening up well; but the conditions often upset the schemes. Muirhead tired, but Craig and R Hamilton were strong to the end. If tempers were ruffled occasionally, well, no wonder.
