J Smith 70, 85, 89
Red Cards
Carabine sent off 49
Match Information
Attendance: 27,038
Referee: H Watson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers, on their display at Cathkin, are the luckiest team imaginable to be high and dry in the third round of the cup-ties. All the honours, bar the most important, went to Third Lanark. Indeed, had Third been at full strength forward, with McCulloch in the leadership, we might have had a first-class sensation. Chance after chance cropped up around the Rangers goal during the first half, but there was no one to snap any of them. Simpson was fluking, McDonald had the wind-up against winger Brown, and once at least, Dawson had all the jam when he miss-handled a high ball fifteen yards from goal and found the prescient George Brown covering up. Even more a life came when Blairs body kept a scoring shot from McKenzie from going home. You will gather from this that Third Lanark were doing surprising stuff before the interval. They commanded two-thirds of the play, but in fairness to Rangers it must be said the Ibrox lot had the harder lines at goal. It was doubtful if one of Smiths shots, which caught the inside of the post, was not over the line. That is the tale of the first half, and we were all wondering if Third could keep it up after the interval. A corner in their first run up kindled hopes, but the fire was out in the fourth minute after the restart, when Carabine was ordered off. This was a drastic decision. The linesman called attention to Carabines offence on Smith after a free kick had been awarded against Rangers, and play was restarted with the taking of the kick. A one-sided show now, everyone thought; easier meat for Rangers, and a rare good game spoiled. It was another pleasant surprise to see Third making light of their handicap. Rangers put on the pressure but had to acknowledge failure by transposing Fleming and Smith. A most useful move this for Ibrox, as Smith proceeded to win the game by scoring three goals. It was twenty minutes from time before the Cathkin defence yielded, and even then, it was a scrappy goal, following a corner-kick scramble. Only in the last five minutes was the score further augmented. Smith twice taking advantage of a wearied defence by powerful individual efforts which produced easily-shot goals. Rangers very nearly made the mistake of taking Third too cheaply there is no doubt about that. On this form, they will not go near to winning the Cup, and it is well they should realise it and pull out their big stuff when knock-outs are going. Denmark was the hero of the game, and Rangers change was tribute to him. Blair played a magnificent game, and Brown had always the beating of McDonald in the open. Physical contact is beyond McDonalds idea of football a sound enough theory, but not commendable in a back. Lets hope the chosen Rangers play better in the Scottish League team on Saturday, especially Simpson. But I cannot get away from the impression that Rangers did not treat this as a big occasion, and against more potent opposition I am sure they will be a different team. Taylor was a cool and safe custodian, and the only fault to be found with the others was their lack of snap near goal. Had they reaped the harvest sown in the first half by their enterprising play, they might at least have got a draw to which they were entitled
