A Venters 16, 18, 78
Kinnear 25, 58
Mason 60
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: R.G. Benzie (Irvine)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Venters played Santa Claus to Rangers in this Christmas clash at Muirton. With two goals in as many minutes, after 15 minutes play, he put the Ibrox lot on velvet and St Johnstone on the skid. It was a disappointment game to whose who looked to see Saints release the bottled-up energy of three weeks lay-off and put their formidable visitors through the hoop. Such a hope persisted only until Venterss knock-knock. Up to that point, the Perth men had been quite a sparkling bunch. There had been cheers for pattern-weaving by McCall and Caskie, for a grand shot by the latter, and for some tenacious work by Tennant. But after the catastrophe befell them, St Johnstone rarely again showed any match-winning possibilities. Venterss first goal was scored in Rangers first raid. A bobbing ball inside the Perth defence was pounced on by the inside-right, who gave Wylie little chance. A minute later, he met a loose ball which came clear from a Smith-Moulds clash, and practically walked the ball into the net. Rangers now put on the screw and ten minutes later Kinnear scored after Smith had hooked the ball back from the by-line. I think Wylie was at fault here. He seemed to have a chance to get to the ball first. St Johnstone revived towards the end of the first half, but poor finishing robbed them of a reward. On the re-start, they played strongly, but overeagerness foiled their efforts. Dithers best describes their condition when within scoring distance. Pass after pass would go to a Rangers foot. They were hard fighters but showed no sign what ever of developing a finishing wallop. Thirteen minutes after the restart, Kinnear put Saints further in arrears, cutting in to slam an unstoppable ball past Wylie. Saits replied with a concerted push, during which Mason drove a low ball through a ruck of players, with Jenkins unsighted, and reached the net. St Johnstone continued to make headway against the somewhat easy-going Rangers, but with about 15 minutes to go the Light Blues threw off the pressure. Venters ripped in a rocket drive which Wylie grabbed, but the ball spun out of the clutch into the net. From that point the crowd started the homeward trip. It was obvious that the Saints had shot their bolt. As a team, Rangers patently carried the heavier metal. Not only were they sounder in defence, but the understanding and co-operation between the middle and forward lines was never at fault. Where all did so well, it would be invidious to single out any for special mention. Special credit, however, goes to Venters for his smartly taken goals, to Kinnear for his sparkling wing play, and to Harrison for his brainy inside work. Harrison was slightly knocked in the second d half, and for the last 30 minutes played safety on the right touch line. St Johnstones defence was the weak department. Wylie had chances with at least three of the goals scored against him. Taylor was slow, and indeed in the defence generally there was a lack od alertness and good positioning. Forward there were no stars. Tennant was a trier and Caskie gave glimpses only of his true form
