English (2)
Dr Marshall
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: H Watson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Did this surprise you? Why should it? Didnt Third Lanark come near holding up Motherwell and havent they been giving a taste of their quality at Cathkin in some more recent games? Nothing more rousing or exhilarating has been seen on the Crosshill ground for a long time. It was quick change, get-at-it, non-stop all the time, and the 30,000 crowd fairly revelled in the excitement of the battle. The break went against Rangers. They should have been in the lead early, but never once did they get in front. Thies Lanark were chokeful of fight. Their first goal inspired them with confidence, their second made them steadier than ever, and though giving signs sometimes of wavering they held on, and after being brought level at 3-3 snapped the winning goal to send their followers frantic with delight. I congratulate Third Lanark on rising so well to a big occasion. Rangers deserve a good deal of sympathy, for though the turn of the luck ran unfavourably for them, and they had to fight against the collar, they never were rattled, but kept beating up against the odds, and on play, should at least, have shared the points. Rangers opened as if everything would be east going. Their forwards moved sweetly, and they repeatedly worked in on the Third Lanark goal with all the appearance of carrying it by assault. McPhail had one glorious chance from a range of a few yards, but merely shot into Waughs hands. As the play was going in the first fifteen minutes, it looked as if Third Lanark were in for a stormy passage, but Simpson and Warden stuck to their guns manfully, and Carabine was a tenacious defender. The breeze was against Third Lanark, and something had to be allowed for that. If their goal had narrow escapes, the defence thrived on it. It was some time before their forwards could come into action, but once Breslin got on the ran and began sweeping the ball into the centre, we could see the danger to the Rangers goal. Some sharp Rangers attack, and a claim for a penalty when English was brought down, was followed by a Breslin dash. The ball ran out, and was thrown in. McKenzie touched it to Bresin, who quickly centred, and Lynas, unmarked, headed into the net high up. Hamilton had no chance with this one. So here we had something of a sensation with 22 minutes gone. Rangers came on again, and forced the game strongly, but could not find a way past Waugh. All the time, the Cathkin forwards were raiding in spirited style, and once Hamilton had difficulty with a shot from Jack, the ball squirming off his hands for a corner. In some more forcing play by the Ibrox forwards, Waugh brought off a great save from a header by Marshall, following Meiklejohns free-kick. Another likely raid by Third Lanark, a good save by Hamilton from Lynas, and then corners for Rangers and more brilliant saving by Waugh. The crowd hummed. We had got to within four minutes from the interval when Third Lanark struck home again. Jack Worked the ball through drew the defence, and then lobbed it to Dewar, who smartly headed into the net. This was great going for Third Lanark, but almost before the cheers had died down Morton with the ball at his feet, scampered down the wing, then pushed it inward, and English, with the prettiest judgment, sent it into the corner of the net. So, it was 2-1 for Cathkin at the interval, and they had wind and sun behind them in the second half. In the opening minutes after the turn, McPhail and English, from a few yards out, each failed in front of goal. These were costly misses, for a few minutes later Rangers were another goal down. Dewar went after a stray ball, worked out to the right, deceived McAulay, and turned to send it into the centre, McKenzie saw the chance, ran in and headed into the net. Did the welkin ring? Yes, it rang to some tune. But Rangers, with all their rebuffs, remained cool and collected. Within two minutes, the forwards went through in a body, Archibald centred. Waugh punched out, and Marshall meeting the ball as it fell, shot home. More Rangers driving attack, and the Third Lanark defence staggered. Archibald, who was romping strongly, centred and English went up to head the equaliser. Now it seemed as if Rangers at last would get in front, but an injury to McPhail weakened the attack for a time. Still, they kept coming on, and once English was through and looked like a scorer when Clarke got across to spoil him. It was a raging, tearing tussle now. Third Lanarks defence steadied up, Warden and Carabine were great men and Waugh came to the rescue more than once. Clarke played his part by Swinging the ball down the field, and Cathkins forwards came bang into it again. Rangers half-backs had their work cut out. It seemed as if everybody was beaten when Dewar worked in from the by-line, where Hamilton had failed to get hold of the ball. The Cathkin centre was slow in shooting at a gaping goal and Simpson got across in time to get the ball on his leg of which it deflected on to Gray. It was a marvellous escape. Quickly after this, Marshall went through and lobbed the ball to Morton, who headed, close in but back Simpson came to the rescue by heading over the bar for a corner. Then the winning goal with nine minutes to go. Lynas, who had been slashing the ball into the centre in proper style, got it across in the air. Dewar, again unmarked, had his back to the Rangers goal, but he chanced his luck with his head, and with a quick movement sent the ball away into the corner of the net well out of Hamiltons reach. Even then Rangers did not accept defeat. They struggled on to the end, but the home defence was giving nothing away, and a great shout proclaimed the victory of third Lanark. It was a right good sporting match, I enjoyed it. Third Lanark went about the business in the right way. They were fill of beans, and their good luck in the early stages put life into them. Waugh was a gallant goalkeeper. His only mistake was hen he fisted out to Marshall, who scored. He was hampered, however, and in any case, he stopped many likely scoring shots. Warden was a great little back the best on the ground. His anticipation was specially good. Simpson came through a difficult test with credit, but he should give his goalkeeper more room. Carabine was the real grafter all through and had a great share in the teams success. After coming through a bad time Clarke came on strongly, and his lusty kicking not only cleared his lines but let his own forwards in. Harvey had pluck and he stuck in well against a strong Rangers right wing. There was not the cohesion in the home front line that Rangers forwards possessed, but they were full of running, and could get there. The wings kept well up with Dewar and were always on hand to take advantage of any openings going. Swing the ball was their motto, and results justified the means. Dewar took his goals cleverly, and always required a lot of watching. It was not a good day for the Rangers defence, for although none played really badly, there was sometimes failure to cover up quickly enough. The marking was consequently at fault. The sun trouble Hamilton in the second half, for it was coming more into his eyes as the game went on. Gray and McAulay did not hit if off with their usual sureness in the second half. Only Meiklejohn, of the half-backs was consistently his old self a good fighting captain. Simpson found Dewar difficult because the Cathkin centre changed position. Bot too much could be looked for form Craig, and it is only true to say that the absence of Brown affected the Rangers play, although the forwards were good enough to have won the match with their ordinary shooting. I thought English a wonderfully clever centre, closely watched as he was. Archibald crossed some beautiful balls, and he was unlucky in the second half when, after cutting in for position to shoot, he was thrown off the ball. Marshall was a driving force, untiring and fast in going away with the ball. McPhail and Morton played some fine football in the first half, and goals should have come of it, but the finishing touch was lacking. But every dog has its day
