J Bowie
McAulay
Gordon <45
W Reid >45, xx
Match Information
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: McKenzie (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
A crowd of ten thousand attended the Ibrox match, and much interest was evinced by the local partisans at the re-appearance of Alexander Craig after an absence of thirteen months. With Chapman also back to the team the Rovers were up against a Rangers eleven practically at full strength. The men from the ‘Lang Toon’ made a most creditable appearance, their form being very much in advance of that shown recently at Parkhead. During the first forty-five minutes they had quite as much of the play as the ‘Light Blues’ who, however, seemed to be playing well within themselves. The fact that Bowie had scored a clever goal three minutes from the start may have led them to think they were going to have an easy passage. The ‘Fifers,’ however, seemed nothing daunted at this early reverse, and played up in a capital style until, after about thirty minutes’ plodding, McAuley caught on to a pass by Ramsay, and piloted the ball to one corner of the net while Lock was making for the other. The Rangers had one or two fine chances of regaining the lead which they failed to utilise. Bennett, if he had taken time to steady himself, looked a certain scorer, but shot hurriedly and at random. Hogg after a fine sprint planted the ball at Reid’s toe in the goalmouth, but the centre managed to get it over the bat on to the top of the net. It looked as if the visitors were going to have the satisfaction of reaching mid-game on equal terms, but just a minute from the interval Gordon essayed a long shot almost from the touch-line. The ball bounded on the ground in front of the Rovers’ custodian, who caught it as it rose, but it squirmed out of his grasp over his shoulder. The rangers played a game more in keeping with their reputation after resuming, and forced quite a number of corners. Although having many narrow escapes, the visitors staved off the pressure and had quite a respectable share of the attack for some time. During the latter half of the closing period, the ground forwards got fairly into their stride, and a couple of characteristic bursts on the part of Reid settled the destination of the points. He gave the goalkeeper absolutely no chance on either occasion. Both openings were very cleverly engineered for him by Bowie, whose heady placing was a meritorious as the successful dashes of the centre. From a rally near the close the Rovers were a trifle unlucky in not reducing the leeway, Ramsay grazing the post with a drive which Lock could hardly have stopped. Although defeated the losers made quite a favourable impression by their plucky display. The forwards are to the light side, but played smart football, and frequently had the strong defence opposed to them in difficulties. McNeil and Ramsay on the right were the stronger wing, some of the combined work of this pair being very smartly carried out. In a good defence the outstanding men were Simpson at centre-half – who was only equalled by Gordon on the other side – and the Rovers’ new right back, Snoddy (late of Vale of Clyde). The latter made a most promising League debut, and Alex Smith found him a difficult man to get past. All the others in the rear division did well. For the winners Lock had one or two saves in his best style, and the backs were very safe, their co-operation and covering of each other being a feature. Gordon was in splendid form in the middle line. Reid was well held by Simpson for most of the game, but in conjunction with Bowie, who played a fine game throughout, he came away in great style towards the close, and shortly after getting his two goals he grazed the bat with a very smart header from a cross by Hogg. The burly Englishman also made matters lively for the Rovers’ defence in the last stages, one of his shots nearly knocking the goalkeeper off his feet
