A Smith
Branscombe +2<45
Match Information
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: G.W. Hamilton (Motherwell)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Once again the Glasgow Cup competition has evolved a series of drawn matches. This is the week of the final, and the semi-final have failed to disclose the clubs that will met at Hampden Park next Saturday. For the second time the chosen of Firhill and Ibrox met on the Rangers’ ground yesterday in the presence of 18,000 spectators. The holiday crowd from the districts widely apart helped to augment the local enthusiasts. The south stand was packed before the teams took the field. The winning of the toss revealed that the Firhill artesian had abandoned work for the afternoon and was out to extend moral support to the plucky ‘Jags’, who gained fame last season by running into the final after twice drawing with the Celtic and winning at the third attempt. An odd change from the expected teams occurred on both sides. Adams was unable to toe the mark do the Thistle, and Dunsmuir filled the breach. To accommodate the Lanemark back McKenzie shifted to left position. The reappearance of RG Campbell strengthened the Rangers at full back and permitted the ubiquitous Gordon to operate in a position at half-back, where he is not excelled by any contemporary players. A football player rarely does himself justice in a Monday match, and traces of last Saturday’s punishing games at Aberdeen and Firhill were reflected in the slower movements of the majority of the players. One could see ere the game was twenty minutes gone that the Rangers’ half-backs trio, collectively and individually, were not so nippy in their tackling as they usually are. Similarly Raisbeck and Bulloch were slower than usual. The activity of Wilson in the Thistle half-back lines showed at a glance the benefit derived from an enforced rest and of not playing on Saturday. The first half display of the Thistle gladdened the hearts of their supporters. Playing with a westerly breeze in their favour they had the best of the exchanges. They swung the game forward better than the Rangers’ attacking line, and but for an unaccountable apathy in shooting they might have reaped the fruits of their outfield work. The Rangers’ backs bore the brunt of these attacks in determined fashion. Campbell was convincing in his strength, while Robertson’s greatly improved form showed that he is gradually recovering from an illness that prevented him demonstrating his London form at Ibrox. The game spun its course of attack and defence and intermittent dashes by the Rangers for half an hour. Then Hogg forced a corner –kick off Bulloch. The ball was cleared, and was passed out to Alex Smith, who in the act of falling slipped the ball past Bulloch, and out of the reach of the boyish-looking custodian Houston, who played a noble part in the subsequent play. This goal struck a new chord in the game. The Thistle rallied grandly, and three minutes later Branscombe broke away clear on the left and shot a brilliant goal from about twenty-five yards’ angular range. The ball went beyond the reach of Lock and stuck in the net high up. The rapidity of the scoring elicited rounds of cheering. The equalising goal inspired the Thistle, and eight minutes from the interval King tested Lock brilliantly from long range, the goalkeeper tipping the ball over the bar. Ere the men retired Alex Smith and Reid had each a pop at the other end. In the second half the Rangers came more into the picture. The improvement was greatest forward and at half-back. A goal almost resulted from one of their raids following a drive by Reid. Houston was drawn out of his goal, but Raisbeck, ever alive to the advantage of covering-up saved a certain goal right under the bar. There was now more in the Rangers’ play. After sixteen minutes’ play a penalty kick was given against Wilson for shoving. Bennett took it, but shot straight at Houston, who saved. The nest point in the game was an awkward crisis for the Rangers. Callaghan getting the ball close in apparently had the goal at his mercy, but Lock effected a daring save at the expense of a damaged right knee. A few minutes later Campbell had a brilliant long drive at Houston who saved as Reid charged him. Gardner next went lame, and Branscombe exchanged position with him. Altering their plan of attack, which had been mainly from the right, the Rangers’ kept Alex Smith and Bennett busy. Tries for goal from left-winger and Reid and Galt followed, but the Thistle defended splendidly, and lived to replay at Firhill on Wednesday. Both sides deserve praise for a fairly fast game under handicapped conditions. Taking into the reckoning the Thistle’s lead in the first half, and the Rangers subsequent rally a draw was a fair reflex of a punishing game. The penalty was a mild affair and it saved a deal of controversy when Houston came to the rescue. The most consistent of the Rangers were Lock, Campbell, Robertson, Alex Smith and Hogg. Gordon’s second half recovery atoned for his shortcomings in the first half. Galt and Hendry suffered from the Aberdeen encounter more than the others. Neither Bennett nor Bowie were quite effective and Reid was an earnest trier, but he had no luck. The Thistle were well served by Houston, Dunsmore, Raisbeck, Wilson, King and Branscombe. Murray’s best play was seen in the first half.
