Rangers draw with Hamilton

Press, 23 March 1981, Page 17

Rangers draw with Hamilton

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Rangers, mainly because of the outstanding efforts of their goal-keeper, Mike Fulham got their first Rothmans Soccer League point of the season when they drew, 1-1, with Hamilton at Rangers Park yesterday.

With both teams at the bottom of the points table, there was little prospect of the match providing a bright spectacle. And so it proved. The hard, bumpy ground and swirling breeze did not help. But Hamilton overcame these problems better than Rangers and could consider itself unlucky riot to have had its first win. Time and again, Fuiham saved Rangers. His handling from crosses was excellent, apd he dealt admirably with the man-- long-range drives hit at him.

But while Rangers can be happy with a hard-earned point, there must still be worries in their camp. Too often, a 50-50 ball would be

won by a Hamilton player,, too often a promising position would be lost through wasted possession, and far too often the Hamilton players were given plenty of time and room to control the match. , , While Fulham stood head and shoulders above his teammates, Hamilton’s special hero was its stocky midfielder, Paul Gemmell. His workrate was exceptional! he scored a fine goal, and could rate himself particularly unfortunate not to have had a second from a cracking volley. . Rangers had to wait until 17 minutes into its fourth match for its first goal. But when it came it was a good one. Hamilton’s defenders twice up-ended John Maguire and Paul Glasson with tough challenges. From the second, Glasson who did not have a happy match, found John Brand with his free-kick, and the: big striker rose well above the defence to head into the top of the net. Seven minutes later, Brarid

I turned sharply and drove his shot narrowly, wide. These two efforts apart, Rangers did not create enough to seriously threaten the Hamilton goal. In the thirty-first minute, Gemmell brought Hamilton level with a fine 24-metre drice. Then Graeme Fleming drove the ball wide, and Peter Hoebergen hammered a left foot shot which Fulham held well, from 30 metres. Shortly before the interval, Laurie Fawcett floated a cross behind the Rangers defence and Gemmell stole in at the far post superbly, only to volley the ball over the bar.

The second half was virtually all Hamilton. Only rarely did Rangers break free and look dangerous. However, Rangers did finish up with the best scoring chance of the match. Fifteen minutes from the end, Paul Glasson was clear with the ball, but his lob over the Hamilton goal-keeper, Jim Barry, rolled wide.

However, had Glasson scored and given Rangers a win,

it would have been an injusttice. Hamilton deserved a point if no'tmore. But it was not without its faults.

Too many long balls over the defence were comfortably dealt with, and with the exceptions of Gemmell and John McDermid, who produced some lovely touches, ’there was much indiscreet passing, which could have cost Hamilton dearly against a stronger side.

Hamilton was given too many opportunities to line up shots.. They rarely had much pressure placed on them. MeDermid hit a good shot which Fulham held, but the best came from Gemmell. Midway through the second half, his fierce volley from 25 metres was too hot for Fulham, but he gamely pushed the ball on to a post, then grabbed the rebound.

For Rangers,' apart from Fulham, Brian Chisholm had a useful match on the right flank, John Stevens in the centre of the midfield laid off some good balls, while Tony Steer, back at right full-back had a solid game.