A Venters 26
C Johnstone 47
Kirchen 49, 79
Smith 77
Match Information
Attendance: 25500
Referee:
Match Trivia
Although, over the piece Rangers were the better and more thrustful team, it was not until the very closing minutes that they had the RAF beaten at Ibrox last night. Twenty-five thousand spectators, in fact, had most of their thrills provided in the last dozen minutes. That was when the Airmen put all they had into an effort to secure an equaliser. Every man in the Rangers team fell back in defence and only in the closing seconds did a typical Dougie Gray save on the goal-line avert the need of the tossing of a coin to decide the destiny of the trophy. It was obvious from the outset that Rangers wanted to add to their collection of silverware. They were on their toes and for a time made the RAF falling back in defence, look an ordinary lot. Where Rangers made the mistake, however, was in trying to get too close before attempting a scoring shot. Rangers continued the more aggressive party and after Bolt had hit one past and Smith headed a Waddell corner into his namesakes hands, Venters netted in the 26th minute. A right foot cross was sent over by Johnstone, Joy, hampered by Smith, failed to connect properly with his head, and the ball, only partially cleared, was met by Venters, who running in made contact to give the keeper no chance. Near the interval Bolt with an injured leg went to outside right with Waddell going inside and Thornton falling back to right half. Rangers resumed with only nine men, but within 90 seconds they were a complete eleven, Smith and Bolt running on in time to see the ball again go past the visiting keeper. Waddell raced down the line and crossed for Johnstone to head the ball which hit Scott on the face and spun to the rigging. Two minutes later, Kirchen beat Dawson with a terrific angular grounder. Really exciting stuff for a time, with Dawson bringing off one of his great saves from a Gibbons howitzer. Jimmy Smith, 13 minutes from the end, scored a brilliant goal with a right footer from a Waddell cross, but hardly had the cheering died down when Kirchen again beat Dawson with a shot similar to his other counter.
