B McPhail 35
J Smith 53
Match Information
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
Queens Park provided their usual thrills at Ibrox Park last night in this first round Glasgow Cup tie, even if they did not serve up a sensation. Rangers were worthy winners in the end, but they had many moments of anxiety, particularly during the opening twenty minutes, when the ball ran very kindly for the amateurs. In this period the Hampden fellows carried the ball along with a slickness that was obviously disconcerting to the home defenders. Crawford was especially enterprising, making full use of his speed, and centring the ball very accurately, but Dodds always found an obstacle invariably Simpson when about to finish off the wingers work. It looked odds on Queens scoring in the fifteen minute when Gardiner for the moment out on the right sent over a ball which Dodds was waiting for with his head. Winning in a desperate effort to clear shot out a foot, off which the ball luckily spun into Dawsons hands. This was a decided let off for Rangers, who quickly came into the limelight with a sustained attack on Whites charge, which ended with Main miskicking behind. This was really the prelude to the Light Blues taking a real grip of things. Smith, whose clever footwork and unselfish distribution made him the most distinctive forward afield, followed with a whizzbang that grazed a post, and when Cooper came to the rescue of White when the custodian was puzzled by a shot from Main. There were any amount of colourful incidents at both ends and eleven minutes from the interval came a goal an unsatisfying affair, considering the entertaining nature of the play. A ball came over from the left and McPhail wheeled round smartly and sent ahead what I thought was intended for a forward pass. White seemed to be unsighted, however, and the leather went into the corner of the net. Rangers resumed the second half with rare sparkle, and in seven minutes they collected a second goal as unimpressive as the first. Cooper was painfully slow in clearing an innocent looking ball and the ever-ready Smith quickly nipped in and practically walked the leather past White. One felt sorry for the amateurs in being two goals in arrears at this stage, for not only was this second one obtained softly but it was got at a time when Jacky Gardiner was on the track being attended for a head mishap. For a spell the Hampden team looked like cracking up, but they rallied in wonderful fashion, and in one of their raids McDonald handled in the penalty area. Dodds shot from the spot was cleverly stopped by Dawson, and with this chance squandered I could not see the amateurs even saving the game. The closing minutes were not with out further thrills, including another penalty-kick for Rangers this time. In the gathering gloom it was difficult to see exactly what happened. Main sent over a half lob-half shot which seemed to deceive White. Dickson rushing to the rescue and prevented the ball crossing the line. A strong appeal was made by the Rangers players to the referee, who after consulting one of the linesmen pointed to the spot. It availed Rangers nothing however, for Meiklejohns shot crashed against the post. While Rangers had to fight hard all the time their task was made easier by the inability of Queens Park to press home their earlier scoring chances. Nevertheless, very entertaining fare was provided for the 13,000 spectators. Jamie Smiths dexterous work was the outstanding feature of the tie. His distribution of the play was something to be admired. I was also much impressed with the progressive work at left-half by young Winning, who showed delightful control. Rangers forward play could have been improved by giving more upfield passes to the extreme wingers such as Crawford received in the first half. Queens were patchy. It was late in the game before Kerr Campbell kicked or tackled with his accustomed power or confidence. Cooper also displayed indecision, which detracted from his otherwise sound work. Martins first half play was attractive, but he was overshadowed later on by Kyle. JM Dodds and Meiklejohn both missed a second half penalties
