Dr Marshall 5
McCrae 15
Match Information
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: J Thomson (Burnbank)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Ten minutes from the end of a battle royal, St Mirren looked good for a well-earned point. Rangers were then going with the throttle open and being thrown back by a defence that was like iron for strength and resolution. Fotheringham had, by his great full stretch saving his alertness and general cleanness of saving given the impression that he could not be beaten. But one fatal opening was left in the height of the hectic struggle, and – Archibald snapped at it to drive home the winning goal. I felt sorry for St Mirren, because after losing a goal to a smart bit of bustling work and a shot by Marshall, in six minutes, they fought back so well as to make the issue swing in the balance right up to the time of Archibald’s winner. McCrae’s equaliser, eleven minutes after Marshall’s goal, was a splendidly worked affair. It fairly set the Saints on the razzle-dazzle. They had the wind with them, and they played the proper game – the half-backs swept the ball ahead to the forwards, who lay well up, and so the Rangers’ defence had the attack on the top of them before thy knew it was coming. Tom Hamilton did his side a good service then; so, did Gray and R Hamilton; while all the half-backs were at it tooth and nail, with Meiklejohn heading away on the stretch, and craig and Muirhead taking every chance to ease the pressure by bringing the ball through. No one equalled Craig Here. He was great – I have never seen him play a game like it. Rangers’ forwards never found their game. McPhail’s ankle went wrong early. He was afraid to use the foot, and after struggling along he changed places with Morton in the second half. This was a handicap of course, but even Archibald and McPherson failed to come up, and Morton was not himself until near the end. No; the forward display by the champions was not the thing the doctor ordered. Had the half-backs cracked or a flaw developed further behind, Ibrox was by way of providing a little surprise. St Mirren’s qualities were of the rugged order. They were full of fight. Fotheringham was grand, especially in the second half, when his half-backs were failing to check the Rangers’ attack, and Hay and Lilley were hard pressed. His saving from a series of corners showed coolness, daring and skill. Both backs stood up like he-men and came out of a thrilling tussle with honour. The half-backs did not play – they did not attempt to play – the football shown by the rangers’ middlemen, but they never said die. Walker was content to biff the ball, and he sometimes let Marshall through perilously, but both Colquhoun and Miller gave sound support to their wings. The Paisley forwards faced a difficult task with any amount of spirit, kept the ball travelling, and contrived to give the Rangers’ defence many anxious moments. The line was not ideally balanced, but Stewart and Meechan played well enough together to promise improvement once they have been in each other’s company a few times. McCrae required all the watching Meiklejohn could give him, and Connor excelled in getting the ball across. He and Rankin were as good as nay wing playing – at their best they were not equalled. It was a match to keep the excitement at fever point, and the big crowd enjoyed it, even if there were defects to warrant criticism.
