McGrory 3
McInally 33
Match Information
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: D Calder (Rutherglen)
Matchday: Friday
Match Trivia
I have often said that one never knows what is going to happen in the ‘Old Firm’ clashes, and after yesterday’s topsy-turvy show, I shall continue to be prepared for anything. Why, at the internal, it looked like a ten to one chance on Celtic collaring the points with something to spare. They were then leading by a couple of goals; and yet, before the finish, they were being hard pressed to avoid defeat. It became a pulsating second half once the rangers got into something like working order, but over the piece, it was Celtic’s day. Their display in the first forty-five almost pulverised the ‘Light Blues’. In the third minute McGrory ‘headed’ past Robb from a clever Adam McLean cross, and right on to the cross-over the Ibrox chaps had their backs to the wall. Thirty-four minutes had gone ere McInally smashed a second one home, and a wonderful goal this was. Tommy got the ball rather awkwardly from the left, but quickly brought it under control, wrought his way to the right, and gave Robb no chance. His shot, from an acute angle, struck Meiklejohn on the knee and flew out of the custodian’s reach. This was the crowning effort of a delightful exhibition of football by the entire Celtic confederacy. Throughout the first half the Ibrox lot were straggling. Davie Meiklejohn’s injured leg gave way almost in the first minute. This, of course, had its effect on his fellows, and particularly on young Gray, who was left to face alone the cleverest duo afield. The Aberdonian stood up gamely, but he was not able to curb the machine-like movements of Celtic’s two left-wing Macs – McLean and McInally. On the other side of the field Thomson gradually got the bulge on Muirhead – when Alex was not going through on his own, he was making the road clear for Connolly, and as usual, Pat was a mixture of good and indifferent, yet some of his crosses were perfection itself. This right-wing pair gave Hamilton a hot time, and Arthur Dixon, who lay farther back, in fact - found McCrory ever a live force. In the earlier portion there was no comparison between the teams. Celtic’s forward quintette gave us some real dainty stuff – on the other hand, the Rangers’ attack could make nothing of the Parkhead middle division. For turning round only a couple of goals in arrears, the ‘Light Blues’ brigade were indebted to Robb and the men immediately in front of him. There was little in the opening minutes after the change of ends to suggest the coming transformation. Ten minutes in his own place, then Meiklejohn went to the outside-left berth forward, and Morton and Cairns took turns of operating in the left half-back position. Muirhead wrought at the right end of the middle string, and with these changes the ‘Light Blues’ gradually began to sparkle. In the seventeenth minute Cunningham ‘booted’ a ball from the left past Shevlin. The shot was as unexpected as the goal. Then a ‘shocker’ – two minutes later! Muirhead picked up a loose ball from Archibald and banged it goalwards. En route it was slightly deflected by Alan Morton, and Shevlin was beaten again. These goals proved an exhilarating tonic for the Rangers. They were as different team now; there was life in their every movement and with Celts laying aside their embroidery we saw something like a real ‘old firm’ battle. The ball was seldom more than a minute or two at either end. McInally rattled in a terrific and rising shot which Robb brilliantly held; again, big Willie turned aside in masterly fashion a ‘smasher’ from McLean. Shevlin also was kept busy, and a ‘header’ from Henderson landed on the top of the net. It was a grand final dust-up to an Old Form meeting that threatened at one time to send the majority of the 57,000 crowd away none too well pleased. At no time did the Light Blues approach the standard of play shown by Celtic in the earlier period. Thomson and McInally, master tacticians, spread the play with splendid effect. Tommy was unselfish in his attention to McLean, and right well did wee Adam respond. Meiklejohn’s condition no doubt eased the path of the left-wing pair, but there was no gainsaying their skill and understanding. Thomson’s dash was an asset. Some of Alex’s individual bursts were among the finest things in the game. McGrory was tireless yet he was afforded few openings so closely did Dixon follow his footsteps. With Henderson it was something similar. George, while full of running, was not nearly so well played to as the Celt. Yet he might have scored in the early minutes of the second half. But he hesitated, and Willie McStay snipped the ball away. Cunningham could get nothing to go the way he wanted most of the time – Andra’s goal however, made up for a lot. With Archibald, as with the others, it was late on before he opened out. Wilson gave Morton little rope; indeed, Alan’s best work I would say was as a half-back. Carins was a terrible hard grafter. It was largely through Tommy’s tireless efforts that the Ibrox attack got worked into something like shape. Of the middle lines the Celtic trio were ever so much the better purveyors, and their work was reflected in the sweet movements of their colleagues in front. None was more effective than Peter Wilson. Dixon as I have said, kept a strict watch on McGrory; Muirhead was moody. Tommy started well, lost touch for a spell, and after popping on the equalising goal came again and sparkled till the finish. Considering the amount of work thrust upon them, the Rangers’ backs did remarkably well. Both made mistakes – who didn’t on this rain-washed pitch? But Hamilton and Gray never flinched. William McStay and Hilley had a much easier task. Shevlin was a spectator by comparison with Robb, yet he lost as many goals. Robb had no earthly chance with either scoring ball. If his judgment in leaving his goal at times was faulty, he brought off many very fine saves
