McDonald 16
S Archibald
Match Information
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Lucky isn’t the word to fit the cases of some of the fellows who footed it at Parkhead yesterday, when the open door of the pavilion loomed very large in the vista od Referee Dougray’s eye. The last Charity match at the same ground may have been a heated affair, but it was bantam-weight stuff to some of the blows that were struck in this Rangers-Queen’s Park battle. It is all very well reiterating that we want some pep in these Charity games to draw the crowd, but there is a limit to everything, and this is going a bit too far. At least three Rangers players received their final warnings from the referee, and for prolonged periods there was that uncomfortable feeling of temper in the air. The trouble started in a very simple way. Queen’s, who fell into their stride exceedingly quickly, were not long in peppering Hamilton, and one lob of McAlpine’s got the keeper a bit unawares, making it simple for Bunty McDonald to charge him over the line. Once on the lead Queen’s were proved to be the less skilful brigade, and only a packed defence kept Rangers from scoring. Indeed, so many of their best efforts went amiss in some remarkable manner that it eventually got on their nerves, and first Buchanan and then McPhail got into trouble. When, however, just on half-time Rangers equalised great deal of the pep went out of the game, and from the first kick of the second half it was obvious which team would lift the silver. Two goals were put on at intervals, and in the end, there was really only one team playing. Still, the Queen’s had put up a grand display in the first half, and of they had just held out until the half-time whistle things might have been very different. They went into their work doggedly and upset Rangers’ calculations badly. Once again it was Rangers’ right wing trio Buchanan, Cunningham and Archibald, who laid the foundations of the victory. They played forcibly and cleverly and were always a thorn in the side of the Queen’s defence. Queen’s changed team, with HR McLeod as centre, was not quite up to it. McLeod hardly has the idea of the centre forward berth, but there is no fault to be found with W Walker, his deputy at back. He shows great promise. Queen’s started off in brilliant form, and we had the novelty of seeing Gillespie up to have the first shot of the match. Rangers retaliated strongly, and one from Cunningham went over at the expense of a corner. McAlpine at the other end just failed to get the ball in his stride in delivering a lone one. McLeod, however, missed the first real opportunity when McAlpine lofted one in for him right in the goalmouth. The centre hesitated and then spanked it over the bar. Next time McAlpine had a piledriver on his own, but Hamilton was there to save. Morton had Rangers’ best effort with a long one from the wing. Wilson was in difficulties, but he managed to deflect it for a corner. Queen’s got on the move again and Hamilton was lured from his charge; McAlpine noticed this and pushed in a harmless sort of lob. The keeper returned just in time to clutch it, but Bunty McDonald was there, and with a big biff keeper and bell were bundled over the line. With Queen’s on the lead things became positively fierce, and foul after foul was the order of the hour. Rangers secured a handful of corners, and twice were desperately near to counting. On each occasion Archibald was on the mark, but King deflected his first shot, and the post took the second stinger. Wilson was finding these Ibrox sharpshooters no easy meat. He stopped but could not hols a Meiklejohn shot, but a defender saved the rebound from a Light Blue boot. More rough stuff. A free came to the Queen’s just outside the area, and Referee Dougray had some difficulty in getting the rangers to line up properly. When the kick was eventually taken McDonald charged the keeper while in possession. Protest came from the Rangers and a foul was granted, and just following this both Buchanan and McPhail for their last ‘warning’ from the Knight of the Whistle. After Cunningham had been ever so close with a long one, Archibald cut in cleverly and rectified all the shooting failings of his colleagues by scoring a brilliant goal. The half-time whistle went ere the crowd had ceased shouting. Wilson again had trouble in the opening minutes of the second half, but he saved excellently from Archibald and Cunningham. Rangers were undoubtedly the team that counted now, and when Morton sent in a long one from the touchline and Wilson failed to hold, even a heroic header by Wiseman failed to prevent the ball going in. After this Queen’s did better, and McDonald sent them off on a fruitless excursion. Followed this more Rangers pressure and long telling shots from Archibald and Cunningham. Rangers put the issue beyond doubt when Fleming converted a first-class cross of Archibald’s. Queen’s proved, however, that they still possessed a kick, when Nicholson potted one in and had Hamilton fully extended. Rangers were the better team without a doubt. Hamilton was safe in goal – confident even in difficulties – but the backs have both done better. Gray I preferred of the two. Buchanan played a storm of a game in the middle line and Meiklejohn was out of the picture merely because McLeod was rarely up to trouble him. Craig was less conspicuous than usual. In front, as I have said, Cunningham and Archibald were stars. Morton was a big lot better than either of the two others. McPhail failed to get the ball to run right for him and Fleming found a good guardian in Gillespie, who gave him nary a yard. Archibald’s smashing crosses were the big features of the game. For plucky Queen’s, Wilson found this, his first big occasion, a difficult one. I am not going to condemn his display, for he brought off some brilliant saves, but his handling will have to improve. He is a promising type to fill Harkness’s boots. The backs were highly sound – Walker especially so, although Wiseman had much the bigger handful to watch in the Rangers’ right wing. Gillespie gave one of his best displays, forcing the game at every opportunity. Russell too, was a successful half-back and did an immense amount of work in the early stages of the game. McDonald showed the pushing tactics necessary for a winger, and his inside man, Chalmers, played up to him well. Nicholson and McAlpine were good without being brilliant, and McLeod, of course, just lacked one thing – experience.
