SCOTTISH CUP FINAL
MORTON'S FIRST VICTORY
A Poor Game
Morton defeated Rangers on Saturday by 1 goal to 0 in the forty-fourth final tie of the Scottish Cup competition, played at Hampden Park, the first-named club thereby gaining possession of the Cup for the first time in their career. The superiority of Rangers throughout the season in the League competition pointed to their success at Hampden Park, and it was known that the Ibrox club were particularly anxious to secure the Scottish Cup in this their jubilee year. The success of the Glasgow club was generally expected, and when Morton took the field without their noted centre-forward, French, popular opinion in that respect was strengthened. Rangers' ultimate failure was accordingly a genuine surprise, and the manner in which it was brought about added to an already prevalent conviction that a sort of fatality attaches to the Ibrox club's quest of the National Cup, which they have not won for 19 years. A strong wind was a disturbing factor on Saturday, but neither that nor a somewhat slippery turf was responsible for one of the poorest and least creditable displays of football ever seen in a Scottish Cup final. The opening play favoured Rangers, though they faced the wind, and they ought to have gone ahead after five minutes, when their outside left shot hard against the goalpost -- the first of a series of lucky escapes that Morton profited by during the game. Morton got the first goal, however, twelve minutes after play had started, a somewhat easily earned point, which, as events proved, settled the destination of the Cup for the season.
Rangers' Defence at Fault
Rangers' defence were grievously at fault in the downfall of their goal, the backs both making for the ball in hesitating manner, and M'Candless finally and foolishly attempting to pass back to his goalkeeper, who in a scrambling sort of way succeeded in grasping the ball, but was penalized for over-carrying. The free kick from 27 yards out was admirably taken by Gourlay, Morton's right half-back, whose fast and unerring shot got into the net close under the crossbar. A period of vigorous play followed, and Morton's goal was the more frequently in danger, and the only disturbing factor to Rangers' wellwishers was the obvious want of understanding between the backs, who were repeatedly at a loss how to meet the rushing tactics of their opponents. Archibald and Morton on the extreme wings were outstanding for Rangers, but the destructive methods of Morton's defenders when the ball reached the goal area negatived all the scheming of the Ibrox attack. At the end of half an hour Cunningham, Rangers' captain, left the field with a fractured jaw, and did not return, Rangers playing to the end with ten men. Play, never attractive, naturally deteriorated, and the game was little better than a scramble till the interval. For a short period after the resumption matters took a turn for the better, and Morton showed more method in attack than they had done previously. Their inside forwards were clever and enterprising, and twice Robb, the Rangers goalkeeper, only saved his charge by rushing out and tackling opposing forwards. Rangers gradually wore down their opponents, however, and initiated a long period of pressure that yielded only barren corners and numerous free kicks. Three times Morton's goal escaped marvelously. Edwards, after saving with fine skill shots at close range from Archibald and Morton, failed to reach a ball from Meiklejohn that passed over his head, but M'Intyre got into the vacant goal to head clear. Again Cairns and Henderson got past the Morton goalkeeper, but were hustled aside in the goalmouth by frantic defenders, and then followed a point blank shot from Rangers' outside left -- Morton -- that accidentally rebounded from a defender standing on the goal line.
Morton's Stars
Occasional rushes by the Morton centre and extreme wingers kept matters exciting, but the almost constant interruptions of play for infringements, and on account of accidents to players, were discreditable. Rangers worked with desperation to save the game, and were extraordinarily unlucky in failing to do so. As a display of football the game will rank as one of the poorest on record, also as one of the roughest. The loss of their captain was undoubtedly a tremendous handicap to Rangers, and in all probability cost them the Cup. Their four forwards played with admirable courage and with praiseworthy restraint under trying circumstances, and it was only in the closing ten minutes that they gave way to desperation and descended to methods that were neither profitable nor dignified. Edwards, the Morton goalkeeper, had most credit in his side's victory, as, notwithstanding the occasions referred to, when his charge survived by mere chance, the custodian saved brilliantly at times. Gourlay came next in order of merit for the winners, as, apart from his cleverly taken goal, his ripe experience and judgment were of inestimable value to colleagues inclined to lose their heads. Morton's victory was largely attributable to the daring and strenuous work of their defence, whose unconventional methods of tackling, however, did not commend itself to the majority of the spectators, and necessitated the interference of the referee to an extent that spoiled the game.
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GREENOCK MORTON, 1; RANGERS, 0
At Hampden Park, Glasgow. Estimated attendance, 75,000. Drawings at gate (inclusive of tax), £3400. Teams:--
Rangers -- Robb; Manderson and M'Candless; Meiklejohn, Dixon, and Muirhead; Archibald and Cunningham; Henderson; Cairns and Morton.
Morton -- Edwards; M'Intyre and R. Brown; Gourlay, Wright and M'Gregor; M'Nab and M'Kay; Buchanan; A. Brown and M'Minn.
Referee -- T. Dougray (Bellshill).
Greenock on winning the toss for choice of ends elected to book the assistance of a strong blustering wind. Despite this advantage the Renfrewshire team had to fall back in the first half-minute when Archibald, Henderson, and Morton broke through. The Rangers' centre forward cleverly side-slipped to A. L. Morton, who played a fast shot on to the upright, low down. Greenock then made ground on the right, and, from a corner kick, Robb was brought out to save, after which play travelled rapidly to the other end. Wright held off Cairns, but Cunningham followed up to attempt a surprise shot, which Edwards saved during a brisk melee. Play deviated in interesting fashion, and both goals were assailed in turn. The shooting, however, was never first class, probably owing to the keenness of the tackling. The Morton half backs were a strong destructive force, and Gourlay kept A. L. Morton from indulging in any of his noted crosses. When twelve minutes had gone a free kick to the Cappielow team was taken by Gourlay a foot outside the eighteen yards line. Rangers' defence was lined up in front of the goal, but the right half-back succeeded in scoring with a fast angular drive which rose and landed the ball high up at the corner of the net behind Robb, who never attempted to hold the shot, such was its velocity. Following this, Cunningham of Rangers was injured in a tackle, and the Ibrox side were deprived of their skipper's assistance for the rest of the game. Handicapped thus in their attack, Rangers never evolved a successful front attack, and, although the quartette got close in on Edwards on several occasions, the absence of a studied shot was evident.
In the second half, and with the wind now against them, Greenock's inside forwards kept playing up to Rangers' defence, and once M'Kay came close to adding another goal when he flicked the ball on to the post from a pass by M'Nab. A raceaway by Archibald and a long speedy drive by the Rangers' right winger forced Edwards to dive at the ball, which was just held on the line. The goalkeeper was slightly injured in the following charge from Cairns, and Rangers were turned from the free kick awarded. From now until the end Rangers forced a succession of corners, but, continuing to anticipate most of the crosses in Edwards' direction, M'Intyre and R. Brown prevented the Ibrox attack from securing a steadily aimed shot.
Glasgow Herald, April 17, 1922, page 4.
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