Fleming 23, 26
A Morton >45, xx
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
For twenty minutes or so it really looked as if the altered St Mirren team were going to put the Rangers through the mill. There was strong, aggressive appearance in their manner of getting down on the Rangers’ rear, and then – well, then the fatal defect-showed itself. Even when McCrae got the ball to bounce kindly for him and he found himself with only Hamilton to bear at close range he merely slammed it at the goalkeeper. Then after all the brave showing by the Saints’ half-backs, which had given their forwards the chance to get a lead, the Rangers showed how easily it could be done. Archibald dropped across a bonnie centre, which went over the heads of Newbiggin and Findlay. Boyes ran out but Morton had started before him, and as the ball touched the ground, the Rangers’ left-winger hit it hard and low – first goal. After that, the Saints lost their firmness, and eight minutes after the first goal, Morton scored again, the ball this time coming across low from Fleming. What an illustration of the art of finishing! It had been a first half with a bite in it but somehow the play after the interval became very ragged. The foothold was bad, and the players slipped about provokingly. Now and again the Saints showed fight, but they were not a good working combination. In 24 minutes, Morton got going again, and was stopped outside the penalty box. He placed the free-kick – a nice lob – and Fleming headed a third goal. The fourth goal was Fleming’s also – the sequel to a pretty movement in which McMillan and Archibald participated. The Saints obviously lost all confidence in themselves after Morton’s first-half goals, but previously they gave cause for hoping that they had got hold of their old game. Walker, in that early period, shaped well and so did Morrison and McDonald
