S Archibald
Gillies
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: William Bell (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Paisley folks had some reason to be disgruntled at the finish of yesterday’s game. They had so much of the play that a three-goal margin was all out of proportion. But, if Rangers could take their chances, and they couldn’t take theirs, what can be said? There was talk of offside goals, and I haven’t the slightest doubt in my own mind that George Henderson should have been pulled up before he scores that fourth goal. But that goal had nothing to do with the deciding of the game. In the calm reflection of this Sunday-morning I am sure those who saw the game will agree with me that bad goalkeeping played the biggest part in bringing about the defeat of the Love Street team. I don’t wish to be severe on the young lad, Yuille. He had played well at Ibrox against the formidable foemen who wear the light blue jerseys. He was worthy his trial, but I am bound to say that John Bradford would have saved, at the very least, two of the goals. You cannot blame the Rangers for St Mirren’s misfortunes, and while the Love Street people are going through a bad time with injured and ill players, one must not forget that Cairns was away from the other side, that probably had as much to do with the difference between the two teams as anything. Chalmers was almost as good as Cairns might have been, and the Saints’ reserves, lacking experience, did not do quite so well. It was a good game to watch. There was needle in it all the time, and if, as might have been, Evans had scored for his side just after the interval, it might even have been better. He had a great chance to beat Robb but failed at the easiest of opportunities. Early on there was little bit of nagging between Henderson and Findlay, bit it soon subsided, although on one occasion the St Mirren back was talked to by the referee after a free kick had been give against the Ranger. I suppose it would be a friendly word of advice, but these things are difficult to understand from the terraces – or even from the intelligence department, the Press box. Rangers look like League champions again. They were not at their best yesterday. Yet, good enough to win by three goals. Their greatest opponent could not but gainsay that there is the best talent in the country on their side. Fortune favours the favourites, which is not quite the quotation, but holds a degree of truth. But if goalkeepers had been reversed, would there not have been a different score at the finish? St Mirren are not a bad team, and the directors are determined to hold it together. They could part with players, but they won’t. Money is required at Love Street, but their revenue is not to come from the sale of players. So, I was told. When Bradford returns to the side there will be a greater confidence all round. Inside three minutes Rangers’ following got a fright. McCrae chased a ball up the centre, and when a dozen yards from goal, met it with his right foot. McCandless dashed over just in time, and getting a leg in, managed to block the ball and clear. Then came a goal, and it was the result of pertinacity on the part of Archibald. St Mirren forwards were attacking and Meiklejohn banged a ball well up the field. The Paisley defence was at midfield, and it was a case of the faster wins between Archibald and Newbigging. The left back was an also run, and the Ibrox winger, tearing along shot on the run a low diagonal ball. Yuille dived for it, got it, and lost it, his hands being unable to put a stop to the squirming sphere. St Mirren forwards were going at it for all their worth, and Willie Summers was giving them grand support. And young McCrae – well, if he wasn’t a battering ram, he was the next thing to it. Thomson forced a corner, and Robb had to knock over the bar for another to keep McCrae from doing damage. Thomson took the flag-kick again, and Gillies being on the spot for it, nodded it into the net. Ten minutes – two goals. Alan Morton came into the picture for the first time. He tricked Morrison and flicked the ball to Chalmers. The ex-Queen’s Parker went on with it, and sent the ball along the ground, and Henderson running on between Findlay and Newbigging. George got there first this time, and he slammed the ball into the net, with Yuille only guessing at its whereabouts. The excitement was intense, and the play was as fast as ever. After half-an-hour Rangers put on their third goal – a ready-made one for Henderson. Chalmers did the spade work, and shot, almost from the goal-line, midway between the corner-flag and the post. Yuille got it on the ground, but again he let it out of his hands, and the onrushing Henderson had no difficulty in placing it in the net. Rangers were hardly value their two-goal lead, but they had taken their chances, and there you are. Two minutes of the second half had gone when St Mirren had an excellent chance of reducing the leeway. A ball from the right found Evans standing two yards from goal with the net staring wide in front of him. He had not even Robb to beat, but he allowed the ball to bounce between his legs, and the chance was missed. Play for the most part was in Rangers’ territory, and it was seldom Henderson and is colleagues could make headway. Findlay was at the top of his form, and he saw that Morton got little opportunity. But when the Ibrox front line did get neat the opposition goal they showed the other fellows a little in the art if finishing. No time lost with them. Perhaps their dangerous proclivities were realised by Findlay and Newbigging for in the closing minutes they sought shelter in the offside refuge, but this was of no use when five minutes from the end, Archibald and Henderson came down the centre of the field. Findlay and his partner closed in, but Archibald slipped it to Henderson, and the centre driving from about twenty yards out, completed his hat-trick. I have already indicated what goalkeeping in the game meant. Willie Robb was reliable all the time. Everything he did was clean and clever – but he hadn’t a great deal to do. Yet there was one ball in the second half going away from him, and he threw himself to clutch it cleverly. I will say no more than this regarding Yuille. He is a young man, and he need not be discouraged; there aren’t many goalkeepers who haven’t had a bad day – the very best of them. All the backs were moderate. There were times when each did things that were clever, and then mistakes would follow. The best of people do make mistakes, and much depends on whether they are vital or not as to how the delinquents are judged. Taking the quartette perhaps McCandless was best because of his judgement. But Findlay stopped Alan Morton. Of that there is no doubt. Yet when the little left-winger did take it into his head to go on, he was successful, because he worked with Chalmers to give Henderson two fine goals. Little fault could be found with Manderson and Newbigging. No half-back did better than Willie Summers. The Burnbank man was a defender and attacker and played a grand game. At times he went through his own forwards in an endeavour to break down the Ibrox defence. Arthur Dixon was his usual self, which means that he spread himself all over to keep back the foe. St Mirren have a very promising young half-back in Morrison, for whom I will predict a future. Barclay, however, did not just touch the standard expected, although he improved as the game advanced. I have seen Meiklejohn more prominent, but Craig continues to make progress in the Muirhead position. There was no comparison between the forwards. Clever in many things they did, the Paisley quintette had no power to break down a defence such as the Rangers had. The speed of Archibald got him the first goal, even if the goalkeeper did blunder. Seeing Chalmers for the second time, he combined well with Morton, and Henderson was there to take any chances that was going. Cunningham did splendidly until the game was won, and then he rested in a half-back position. Gillies, I thought the best of the Paisely forwards, and he did not get the response from Thomson that outside left usually gives. The latter was slower than usual in getting the ball over; McCrae was a worrying little leader, but not too well supported. Whitelaw slow and Evand hesitating, sums up the right wing.
