G Henderson >90
Match Information
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Extra time had to be played at Parkhead yesterday ere the Rangers and Celtic were separated in the semi-final round of the Glasgow Charity Cup competition. The Rangers just got through to the final after a hard game. In the later period it appeared as if the issue would have to be decided by corner-kicks. On the fast ground the struggle was contested with unyielding resistance, but there was always just that slight margin of greater aggressiveness on the part of the Light Blues to suggest that they would emerge successful. The Rangers were several corners ahead when a simple move by Cringan, about ten minutes short of the two stirring hours of play, decided the result. The Celtic captain made to pass back the ball to McNail about forty yards from goal. The pass fell short. Henderson pounced on to the ball like a shot and made the most of the opportunity by running straight into goal. Shaw left his goal to meet the Ibrox centre forward. There was no better chance for him to avert the inevitable goal. Ere he could reach his opponent Henderson drove the ball into the net. Thus, the Rangers added to their League championship and Glasgow Cup honours by qualifying to meet Queen’s Park in another final. The hear, a ball that bumped, and a fair breeze influenced the game and tired most of the players long before the contest ended, and it was just as well there was a goal in it, for the shooting was lamentable deficient on both sides. There were only two or three direct shots in the two hours of struggling endeavour, and the best shot fell to Cunningham about the time when Henderson scored. It was a low, hard ball that curled off the goalkeeper’s hands. For an end-of-season game the football was very good. The poverty of the shooting was attributable in great measure to the stubborn valour of the backs. The celts were without Willie McStay, who took French leave and departed for Philadelphia the previous day, to the dismay of the officials. Hilley made a plucky show at left back alongside Alec McNair, who outrivalled all the other backs, alike for subtlety at close quarters, and for strength of kicking in the open. McNair was cheered time and again for his brilliant work against Alan Morton, who emerged the most skilful forward on the field. The ground suited the flying Ibrox left winger, whose neat trapping of the ball was executed in the best style. The loss of McStay on the Celtic side was balanced by the absence of Muirhead on the other. Johnston made an effective substitute, although he had neither the speed nor the polish if the international left half. He had also the hottest wing pair to face. If anything, the Rangers were a better moving company in attack. Cunningham was second only to Morton in the scheme of offensiveness, his wide passing opening up the play when it was most wanted. Nearing the end Cairns brightened the attack with delightful passing in conjunction with Morton. Over a prolonged contest the half-backs had the most gruelling ordeal. Dixon excelled among the Rangers trio for hard graft and defensive co-operation with the backs, who needed his aid most of the time. Meiklejohn appeared to his best advantage against a tricky pair like McLean and Connelly, but Johnston was never quite comfortable against McAtee, whose strong wing play, and centres were probably the most attractive feature of a Celtic attack that never quite touched the standard of the Scottish Cup final. Gallagher was a keen forager, and he took a tremendous amount of watching. Cassidy seemed a trifle slower than usual and appeared irritated at hot getting the best out of his shots. Cassidy could not complain of the support he got from the half-backs, for Cringan was delightfully unsparing with his passes, and magnificent in his close tackling of Henderson. The wing half-backs, J McStay and MacFarlane, have seldom been more worried, but on the whole, they did well in an uncommonly trying game. Reid acquitted himself with distinct credit. The young Ibrox back lunged more into his opponents than Manderson and kicked a longer ball. His kicking was sure and steady. Late in the game he was badly shaken up in contact with McAtee, but he risked injury by his fearless daring. The rival goalkeepers, Robb and Shaw, were most tried by close-in touched from the wingers. The big crowd enjoyed the struggle to the end.
