Russell 4
A Cunningham pen 58
Match Information
Attendance: 22,240
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Even when after they had been stung in the fourth minute Rangers launched an intense offensive, and concentrated a bombardment on the Queen’s Park goal, their display in the Glasgow Cup semi-final tie at Ibrox never generated the feeling that they were on the point of subduing the opposition. The longer they remained in the Amateurs’ territory the more apparent became their forward weakness. Overcrowding or getting in one another’s way was a common mistake, and this didn’t tend to enable them to bore past a defence that was solid, tackled swiftly and vigorously, and excelled in positional play. It was Queen’s Park who set the pace that made the start of the tie the best of it. Their swinging play was full of menace, and when Crawford danced round Weir and squared his centre so that Russell experienced little difficulty in heading the opening goal, I wasn’t surprised at the early success. Another dangerous attack by the Amateurs was repelled before the Rangers started the spell of aggression to which I have referred. All their shooting was done from long range, and some of it was excellent. But Harkness was brilliant in goal and saves at full length from Henderson and McKay were exceptionally well accomplished. Henderson had done surprisingly well in leading-out work, but his inability to clinch a chance from close in was made obvious when McKay left on a ‘sitter’. George, as he did later on, hesitated – he didn’t know which foot to use – and the ball was nipped away from him. The Amateurs never again entered into the refreshing stride that had brought out their score, but they found another chance coming their way, and this Russell muddled. Seven minutes of the second half had gone before anything of note happened. It was a Crawford shot, which changed its course through striking Shaw. Hamilton saved brilliantly. At the other end, Cunningham placed the ball beautifully for Henderson, whose shot, however, sailed high over the crossbar. Following a futile corner-kick, Cunningham looked like going through till Gillespie dispossessed him. Bob placed the ball to the left, and when Nicholson centred into the goalmouth Crawford had only to touch the ball to score, but he banged it wildly and it went over the crossbar. What a miss! Then off went the Rangers’ left wing. Morton eventually let go the ball, intending it for the centre, but McDonald handled, and Cunningham scored with the penalty-kick. In the course of the strenuous minutes that followed the Rangers were the side that mattered. The leading goal seemed imminent when from a Henderson touch, McKay found himself with only Harkness to beat from four yards out. He drove with power, but Harkness showed amazing anticipation in getting his fingers to the ball and deflecting it for a corner-kick. Midway through the Amateurs turned the scale in their favour. Meiklejohn was standing in the right place to block a thundered from Chalmers, and a few ticks later Hamilton had difficulty in catching a happy-go-lucky high shot from McDonald. With the end drawing near, the Rangers came on again and only another brilliant save at full length by Harkness kept one of Cunningham’s extra special left-foot drives from winning the match. Harkness and Hamilton were confident and capable in goal. The Hampden defence was undoubtedly the busier, and not one man faltered. Wiseman and Graham tackled like lions. They were well supported by Gillespie, who after the opening minutes, overshadowed Henderson, and McDonald usually upset the scheming of the Rangers’ left flank. McCandless was the better Ibrox back, but Shaw was easily outstanding in the rear lines. Meiklejohn seemed awkward at centre half-back, and craig was late in striking a forcing game. Neither forward line combined. Russell did fairly well as leader of the Hampden line. McKay, however, was the liveliest of the ten attackers. He put lots of clever work on the ball, but his finishing was weak, and his shooting so high that it seemed as if he had ladles protruding from his toes. The draw was a fair result
