W Reid 5, 6
Gallacher <45
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: J Bell (Dundee)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I expected to see the boyish forward combination the Celts put into the field display tricky foot-craft. I was at Cathkin Park earlier in the week, when they showed a promise of even greater skill. In the interval two young players were introduced to the side. The result was a triumph for the Parkhead directors who unearthed such brilliant talent. A Celtic team without Johnstone, McMenemy and Quinn did not seen strong enough to baffle the side that represented the Rangers, but the buoyant perseverance of the forwards turned the scale after an opening chapter of nerves that would have staggered most teams. The grit of a team that looked beaten when the game was but six minutes old was remarkable. The Celtic backs opened a bit shaky against the wind. It was the first appearance of Dodds in the ties. He had been resting an injured ankle. Profiting by his slip Alex Smith squared the ball perfectly to Reid. The Ibrox centre with an open goal promptly flashed the ball past Shaw, who got no chance to show his capabilities. It was the London goalkeeper’s maiden appearance at Celtic Park. His chagrin can be imagined when Reid broke his defence a minute later with a snap shot from about 25 yards range. The Rangers crowd were flushed with enthusiasm. The breeze helped the ‘Light Blues’, who kept their position much better than the Celts, and for a time looked like a winning team. Shaw got opportunities in plenty to show his skill. Nothing came amiss. He proved his worth and helped to steady a defence that kept on improving and became bolder as they held their men. The forwards began to baffle the Rangers’ half-backs and backs. They dribbled straight into their men, got among their feet, and showed wonderful pluck. By and by the ever-vigilant Gallagher scored a clever goal. It proved the turning point of the game. At half-time the Rangers led by 2-1. A transition occurred in the arrangement of the Ibrox team. Logan went into full back, Bowie to left half, and Gordon was a foraging forwarder – provided he could run. As a winger he was handicapped, and it might have been better for his side had he remained in the pavilion. Only a minute had elapsed when Connolly worked clean through the Rangers defence and scored a clever goal. The Celts now took the game in hand. There was no holding back their trustful, persevering young forwards. Not a man showed the white feather. The Rangers’ defence got demoralised with the returning attacks of their baffling opponents. They commenced to rough it, and their play suffered. Twice Loney almost snatched a winning goal. Once the cross-bar saved the Rangers. Hempsey tipped the other ball over the bar. After numerous narrow escape, the Rangers goal fell a third time to Connolly. This well-merited success sealed the fate of the Rangers. The recovery of the winners, after being a couple of goals to the bad, was the best feature of the game. The display of the team proved what a wealth of reserves talent is at the command of the club. Shaw, McNair, Loney, Young (in the second half), and McMaster were strong in defence. The left half from Dumbarton Harp is a catch. His grit, placing, headwork and confidence proved him a sterling defender. In attack his co-operation with his late club mate Hill, was well carried out. Hill delighted by his all-round cleverness and pluck as much as any of his colleagues in front. None bettered Gallagher, who was all over the attack, and frequently helped the half-backs. Connolly’s exhibition in the centre was convincing of his cleverness. Browning again proved he is a better support than leader. McAtee was the best wing forward on the field. The reckless play of the Rangers in the second half led to their undoing. Some good reputations got a rude shock. Ormonde never played worse. Bowie as a half-back was not strong enough for McAtee. Brown, Galt, Hempsey and Logan for an hour were bulwarks of a defence that suffered through Gordon’s mishap. After half an hour the Ibrox forwards faded out of the picture. Their eclipse was complete.
