Main 5
Dewar 26
Match Information
Attendance: 23986
Referee:
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
With the two silver cups standing on the ledge of the directorsÂ’ box to remind them that they were the holders of the most coveted trophies in British football, Sheffield Wednesday and Glasgow Rangers played at Hillsborough last night a 1-1 draw, which sent home a crowd of 23,986, one of the biggest ever seen at a friendly match in Sheffield, delighted with the fare served up. There was no soft-pedal work about this game. Both sides showed from the start that they were all out for the honour of their club and their own prestige. Many a League match at Hillsborough has had less bite in it. Wednesday practically gave the Rangers a goal start. The game was only five minutes old when Gillick forced Brown to concede a corner. Main, standing close to the far post, met the flag-kick with his head, and squeezed the ball between Brown and the post. Main had been left unmarked, a at their own game, but it did not take them long to realise that it was no use trying to beat the Rangers in that way. As soon as Wednesday began to swing the ball about, they made better progress. Forward and backward the game swayed, as first one attacked and then the other swept down the field, only to be turned back by solid, swift-thinking and resourceful defenders. Millership was here, there and everywhere for Wednesday, while the tall Simpson was an impassable barrier at centre-half for the Rangers. However, in the thirty-fourth minute, Dewar, who had been trying tremendously hard followed up a long kick by Surtees, beat Gray, recovered the ball after Simpson had stopped it, and then, with the goalkeeper out, crowned his effort by shooting into the empty net. In the last minutes of the first half, the Sheffield goalkeeper leapt into the air to fist a fierce drive from Gillick over the bar. Midway through the second half, Dawson had to make a magnificent save when Dewar hooked in a strong, low shot. McPhail, who failed to live up to his reputation, out in a drive that was a bit too high, and Main made Brown save a header. Towards the end, however, Wednesday attacked briskly, and Hooper was stopped with difficulty several times. The end of a rousing game came with honours even, prolonged cheering, and handshakes all round. The players had obviously enjoyed the match as much as the spectators. For Wednesday, outstanding players were Dewar, the two backs and Millership. Starling and Surtees worked hard to make opportunities. There were times when the Rangers looked as though had the ball tied to their bootlaces, but they were not slow, as some spectators seemed to have expected. Macaulay, their red-headed inside right, was their best forward, although, like the others, he did not relish the robust methods of the Wednesday defenders. Smith at times dribbled beautifully, and the wingers were thrustful. Simpson and Brown were the pick of the Scottish half-backs, while Gray and McDonald put up a magnificent defence along with Dawson.
