Dr Marshall 28
English 40, 55
Match Information
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: J Thomson (Hamilton)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Just too easy! That a team plays only as well as it is allowed to may be a trite phrase, but no other so accurately hits off this Glasgow Cup semi-final at Ibrox. No matter how earnestly they wrought, Third Lanark were never allowed to develop a telling game. They were completely mastered by a Rangers side confident to their strength, and skilful enough to bring their superiority to fruition. Third Lanark had one hope. Had the inside forwards been able to draw the Rangers defence away from Dewar, there might have been a different story to relate. McKenzie and Campbell, however, could not do so. With Breslin going lame, the Cathkin attack became a scattered band, and made the task of Gray and McDonald infinitely easier than it should have been. For a spell, Bruce, Clark, Carabine and Harvey looked as though they would offer a stout resistance to the Rangers attack, but in the end, they were put generalled and outplayed. Nevertheless, the purpose behind the foraging of Clark, and the noble way he fought it out must be commended. Warden, although repeatedly hoodwinked, never flinched. If he had a fault, it was his inability to head the ball with his customary judgment. A heroic little back, he retained his coolness in the heat of the fray, kicking and covering up admirably. Though not so consistent, Simpson faced Morton and McPhail with fortitude. And behind the Cathkin backs was a goalkeeper who surely has never excelled this display. He could have lost tow more goals, and still have been exonerated. His saving of Archibalds thunderbolt in the second half was one of the tit-bits of the encounter. When Rangers are allowed to get into their stride, they can produce some bewildering football. They did so here. The slick cross pass, the interchanging of the half-backs and forwards, and the understanding than ran right through the side were factors that gave them an overwhelming advantage. The power and craft of McPhail were ever in evidence, while Marshall, who seemed to be always in possession, captivated by his footwork, though some of his shooting was wild. English keeps on getting the goals, and his worth does not stop there. Archibald and Morton gave glimpses of their former brilliance and gave one the feeling they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. As the play progressed, Meiklejohn and Brown joined forces with their colleagues in front, acting the role of additional forwards. Simpson had a comfortable job in watching Dewar, but he had to be on the alert for those lightning thrust of the centre. The control in his kicking made Gray the most stylish back afield. Third fought well even when they found themselves a goal behind in twenty minutes -Marshall rise in the air and guided a cross from Archibald behind Taylor with his head and were still defiant when they were thrown back. With repose and a bit of luck they could have secured equality. It was not to be and five minutes before the turn English caught up the ball as it was pushed through to him by McPhail forced his way through and left Taylor helpless with a fierce, low shot. A magnificent heading movement between English and McPhail shortly after the restart deceived the Cathkin defenders and Sam, from an acute angle, cleverly whipped the ball into the net. From then until the end Rangers superiority became a monopoly, and McPhail could not help scoring in the thirty-second minute, the ball dropping at his feet from Englishs head as he stood practically on the goal line.
