QPR (1) – Hull City (1) – 'Francis Puts Rangers on Terms after Fine Goal by McSeveney'
09/30/2024 09:45 AM
League Division 3
Team: Drinkwater, Baker, Ingham, Keen, Rutter, Angell, McClelland, Bedford, Francis (G), Towers, Barber
Attendance: 9,950
On 30th September 1961, Rangers took on Hull City at Loftus Road. Brian Taylor's match report later appeared in the Sports Mail:
'An early raid by City was checked because Chilton was trapped offside and for a while both attacks tested out the oppositions' defence, without a great deal of success.
Both defences looked solid in the face of some neat attacking football, but for quite a while the attacks had to contend themselves with long-range shots. Clarke putting one in for the Tigers and Towers replying for Rangers.
A drive by McClelland went behind the goal after his centre had been headed clear, and then Towers inspired two moves which brought more chances for the outside-right.
First, he set up a fine chance by driving through the inside-left position in a quick burst and suddenly, changing direction across-field. McClelland's drive from just outside the area grazed the bar as it went over.
Next, Towers burst down the left-wing and swung the ball across from the dead-ball line. Fisher palmed it out and it went straight to the right-winger, but Garvey stepped in with his tackle before McClelland could try a shot.
In the 15th minute, McSeveney had a great chance to put the Tigers in front. A high lob, by McMillan, was punched out by Drinkwater, but it went loose to McSeveney, who had all the goal to shoot at from only about 15 yards out. His drive hit the underside of the crossbar and came back into play.
Next Bulless sent Chilton through with a perfect pass and the centre-forward hammered the ball in from a narrow angle, and all Drinkwater could do was to palm it across goal.
With Clarke rushing in, Rutter passed back to the keeper only a yard from the goal-line. The keeper, however, just grabbed the ball as Clarke darted in.
Rangers hit back with a couple of quick corners, but it wasn't long before the Tigers' quick, well-planned attacks were pinning Rangers down again.
Bulless got in a good drive after neat approach-work by the right-wing triangle, but Drinkwater had positioned himself well to take Bulless's shot near the foot of the post.
After this, it became Rangers' turn to drive City back for a while, outside-right McClelland revealing bursts of speed which were proving a real embarrassment to the Tigers' defence.
From one of these, McClelland set up a fine chance for Francis but the centre-forward failed to control the ball when only four-yards off City's line, and Davidson stepped in to put the ball behind for a corner.
The Tigers won their first corner after 35 minutes and Drinkwater did well to hold a nasty, curling flag-kick from McSeveney.
A header by Bedford from a centre by Towers nearly caught Fisher on the wrong foot, and he dropped the ball, but there was no-one on hand to force it home.
Almost the same thing happened at the other end after a great run by Crickmore. Drinkwater pushed out the left-winger’s centre and, before Chilton and Clarke could get to the ball, Ingham stepped in to clear.
The Tigers had given every bit as much as they got in this hard, but skillful game, and with a little more accuracy around the goalmouth, could have had a handy lead at half-time.
Although Rangers had not looked quite so attractive in midfield, they too had their moments in front of goal and, on balance, it was just that honours were even at half-time.
Just after the re-start. McSeveney's first-time drive at the end of an attractive City raid and almost caught Drinkwater by surprise.
The keeper, however, flung himself full-length and saved one-handed, but he had no chance after 49 minutes when McSeveney put City ahead.
A beautiful left-wing move between McMillan, Crickmore and Chilton that started just inside City's half, ended with Chilton swinging over a perfect centre and McSeveney heading it home as Drinkwater came out to try and cut out the pass.
Rangers might have equalised in their very first raid after this, for they were awarded a free kick out on the left-wing, and when Barber swung the ball across, Fisher missed it and it went straight to Towers, whose header went over the bar!
Soon afterwards, Rangers' inside-left missed another great chance. McClelland, Francis and Keen worked the ball down the right-wing, and City's defence checked the move, but then a bad bounce and ricochet left Francis all on his own with the ball at his feet.
He swung it across goal and Fisher palmed the ball on to the post. It went straight to Towers when it came out but, once more, the inside-left headed over the bar.
QPR equalised on 70 minutes with a rather fortunate goal. Keen, Rangers' right-half, setting himself for a power-drive at goal, completely mis-kicked and the ball trickled to Bedford, who touched it on to Francis, who to me, looked offside. But the referee and linesman let the centre-forward’s goal stand.'
Rangers went on to win 4-2 at Newport County the following week.
Steve Russell
