A Cunningham (2)
W Reid (2)
Match Information
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: H Humphries (Greenock)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Third Lanark, with vital parts of the team undergoing the Experience test, were no doubt prepared for defeat in opening the Ibrox season. They got it. The absence of Anderson, and the turning of the breeze midway through the first half, did not help them, but Rangers, on the form shown, would not have been held in any case. The Light Blues were in their merriest mood from beginning to end, and their superiority was in no way exaggerated by the score. Brownlie alone stood between Rangers and many more goals. Reid’s mission was to score the goals. He was well plied with the ball by his four colleagues, and he delivered several rare shots. He nearly turned goal wards as fast, low centre from Duncan; headed in a high ball from Gordon; drove in a powerful ground ball, and then tried a high one – but Brownlie defied him. Then Cairns, following a corner-kick, in his first attempt almost found the net – but not quite. Brownlie was down at the ball like a flash, and saved at the expense of a barren corner. Occasionally Third Lanark’s forwards called on Lock, who was glad of the opportunity to handle long shots from J Smith and Black. Manderson and Muir saw to it that Lock was given plenty room to clear, although once JW Smith hampered the goalkeeper, who had a little difficulty in getting rid of the ball. Bowie sent his forwards away again with a long pass to Duncan, who running on a few yards, lobbed the ball in front of Third Lanark’s goal. Brownlie, Orr and Cairns disputed possession, with the result that neither of them succeeded, and the ball coming nicely to Reid, there was nothing else for it but to place the leather into the unguarded goal. It took Rangers forty minutes to establish a one goal lead, and that was not increased by the interval. On resuming, Third Lanark had to face a stiffest breeze, but with admirable confidence sailed into the Rangers defence and secured two corners, which yielded nothing. Then JW Smith was going through when brought down, and Brown took the free-kick, relieved Rangers by shooting past. That was the finish of Third Lanark’s aggression. Fifteen minutes after resuming, Cunningham, whose footwork had all along been delightful, scored a grand goal. Cairns had neatly got the better of Lennon on the goal-line and crossed over to Duncan, who transferred to Cunningham, who in the space of a saucer, rounded Orr, then Lamb, and with his left foot drove the ball high into the net. One or two good chances went a begging after this, and it was left to Cunningham to add the third goal. This time he received a neat pass for Reid, and Brownlie had no chance to save Cunningham’s strong ground shot. Gordon came near scoring, but the ball hit the upright a resounding smack and rebounded nearly forty yards. To keep his foot in, Reid added a fourth goal in the last minute from a pass by Paterson. Rangers were sound in every department. The Half-balks dominated the game, while the forwards move much as they liked. Cunningham was brilliant. Third Lanark were well served by Brownlie, Lennon, Orr and McPake. The others will try to do better next time
