A Smith <45
RC Hamilton
J McPherson
Mullen 88
Match Information
Manager: No Permanent Manager
Attendance: unknown - to be confirmed
Referee: Mr Walker (Kilmarnock)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The visit of the Rangers to Paisley proved as expected a great draw, Love Street ground being well packed with spectators. St Mirren are invariably a hot lot to tackle on their own territory, and on Saturday they fully sustained their reputation. The game from a scientific point of view was a rather poor affair, but for determined, fast and energetic play it could hardily have been excelled. In short, it was conducted on the familiar cup-tie lines, with if anything a little more of the cup-tie ferocity thrown in. The spectators however, seemed to be immensely pleased with the manner in which their respective favourites disported themselves, and St Mirren though beaten, were universally admitted to have done well. Physically St Mirren were, if not better, quite as good as the Rangers, and it must have been obvious to the dullest intellect that they had resolved to endeavour to supply with strength what they lacked in skill in comparison with their opponents. Right from the start tackling was of the vigorous and not over-scrupulous kind, the ball was banged ahead, and the forwards rushed impetuously towards goal. This style of action came as no surprise from St Mirren, but when it was seen that the Rangers played the same sort of game many people metaphorically speaking lifted their eye-brows. Judicious kicking, smart placing and short passing are features usually associated with the lay of the ‘Light Blues’, but on this occasion these characteristics were in a very great measure absent. Evidently the Rangers could not help emulating the strong bustling movements of their rivals, and though they succeeded equally as well as St Mirren at that kind of work, it must candidly be confessed that their reputation as a skilful and finished football combination was by no means enhanced. For fully half-an-hour neither side could score, but eventually Hamilton and A Smith got past the St Mirren backs, and Smith had only to place the ball in the net. The interval came with the Rangers leading by a goal, although it should be mentioned Smith scored a grand goal from a foul which the referee disallowed. The second half was not long started when Hamilton slipped the ball past Patrick from a pass by Smith, and the next minute McPherson put on a third goal with a splendid long shot. Ding-dong play continued and at length St Mirren through little Orr scored their first and as it proved their only goal. The Rangers were unquestionably the better team and fully deserved their victory. Several members of the team were seen to distinctly poor advantage. Drummond for instance tackled weakly, and his kicking though powerful, was badly timed and very erratic. At Half-back Mitchell and Gibson were frequently worsted by the St Mirren’s wing lay, and the former by losing his temper, added if anything the deterioration of his play. Forwards, many blunders were perpetrated by Wilkie and Hamilton. As Captain of the team, Hamilton thought fit to try and direct the play from all parts of the field, but the only effect of his efforts to improve the play of his colleagues was to spoil his own. He certainly scored the second goal very cleverly, but apart from that Donald Greenlees St Mirren’s centre-half may be said to have had him quite under his control. The players who succeeded in spite of the rough and tumble character of the game, in showing form of more than average quality were Campbell, Crawford, Neil, A Smith, McPherson and Dickie. The first-named was easily the cleverest forward on the field. St Mirren’s defence was exceedingly difficult to penetrate, Patrick, Binnie and Jackson composing a sound and reliable trio. McAvoy was in a very aggressive mood and certainly had the full measure of Wilkie, but his play was not of a captivating or skilful kind. Greenlees showed fine judgment and made the Rangers centre-forward look very common, but like his associates he kicked too strongly. McBain completed a powerful set of half-backs, and though often beaten by Campbell and McPherson he put in a lot of highly serviceable work. St Mirren’s forwards were very weak near goal and throughout the game Mullen and Anderson made a very poor show. Wyllie and Orr made an effecting wing, but the weakness of the other wing and of Mullen caused much of their play to go for nothing.
