Dr Marshall 12
Scarff 35
Match Information
Attendance: 35,647
Referee: W Bell (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Unprecedented scenes were witness at Hampden Park yesterday, when rangers and Celtic, after two hours of hard football were level in goals and corners and had to toss for possession of the Glasgow Charity Cup on the field of play. Willie Bell, the referee, called the two captains, Meiklejohn and McStay together on the touchline, and in full view of the 35,000 present the Rangers captain guessed the spin of the coin correctly. Hats off, then to the Rangers on equalling Celtic’s grand record of winning the honours four of Scottish football. True it is that luck played its part in the winning of yesterday’s thriller, but no one will grudge the Rangers the victory. The surprise of the day was Celtic’s tough resistance to the champions. Like grim death they held on to their rivals, and a ding-dong struggle it was. Rangers scored first in the first half, and Celtic equalised. In the second half Rangers again went on the lead, and it looked all odds on their hanging out when Celts scored in the very last minute of the game. Sensation, I should say so! Then came extra time, with everything equal and its attendants’ thrills. First Rangers tried hard to get on the lead, and then in the closing minutes Celtic came away in all their old-time glory, and only the brilliance of Tom Hamilton in goal saved the day for Ibrox. On the whole play did not reach a high standard, but both sides were keen, and the stuff served up was typical of the ‘Old Firm’. Rangers’ forwards were a shade disappointing, but otherwise the team was up to scratch. In a hard-working half-back line, I though George Brown stood out by himself, while Tom Hamilton in goal was at his very best. Bob Hamilton was the better of two fair backs, while in front McPhail before his injury and Nicholson before changing places with McPhail were best. Celtic’s grand rallies will remain long in the memory of those who witnessed the game. That last-minute goal of Napier’s and that closing rally will be memories to cherish. Truly, Celtic must ne commiserated with for being beaten in the way they were. In the Parkhead team the men I liked best were John Thomson, a glorious keeper; McGonagle, the best back on the field; and Peter Wilson, Celtic’s star half-back. But the whole defence played well even to the injured Geatons. In front, like the rangers, Celts were hardly so prominent. Tierney created a good impression on the wing and displayed some subtle touches. Napier’s shooting was splendid, and Scarff made a good substitute for McGrory. It was Rangers’ lucky day, for they won the toss on no less than three occasions – at the start, at full tine and for the cup. Rangers won the toss and played with the wind first half, but Celtic played the prettier football at the start. Alec Thomson and Cook being particularly noticeable. With more punch in the middle Celts might have made a very surprise start. As it was, it was touch and go with Scarff heading a goal from a Tierney corner. Hamilton fisted the ball over the bar and from the next corner Alec Thomson shot wildly over. Rangers warmed up to it after this, and after some clever play Nicholson had a fine cross shot deflected for a cornet. Then 12 minutes after the start Celtic defence blundered in a very silly way. McStay foolishly passed back to McGonagle and McGonagle more foolishly slammed the ball back to the keeper, who had to leave his goal to prevent a corner. His clearance went to Archibald who centred, and Marshall with a grounder scored a glorious goal for Rangers. By the time the shot was fired Thomson was back in his charge, but he had no chance with the shot. Celtic fought back with spirit, but their skill only took them so far, when it came to a shot at Tom Hamilton Celtic were not of much account. This was the forerunner of Celtic’s equaliser, which came 32 minutes after the start. And a fine goal it was too! Tierney got possession in his own half and slipped past both Brown and Buchanan. Running on he passed in the Scarff, who resisted a tackle by Meiklejohn and shot past Hamilton into the net. The keeper touched the ball but could not stop it. Rangers tried hard to reassert themselves, but Thomson in Celtic’s goal, confidently dealt with all that came his way. Just before the interval there was an unfortunate accident. Cook and McPhail rose to head a ball, came into collision and collapsed on the greensward. Blood spouted from the young Celt’s forehead, while McPhail for several moments lay motionless. Eventually Cook was able to resume, but McPhail had to be carried off between the arms of Trainers Kerr and Cameron. The teams had hardly restarted their 11-10 fight when the half-time whistle went. Rangers restarted well, but Celtic were first to get in touch with goal, Napier slinging in a long one which Tom Hamilton stopped and saved at the second attempt. After five minutes had gone, McPhail, to the huge delight of the crowd, reappeared, and took up the outside-left berth. Celtic continued to press, and Hamilton was glad to give away another corner from a shot from the left. This was followed by hot Rangers’ stuff, and a cross by Brown was narrowly headed over the bar by Fleming. At the other end a bounce of the ball beat Meiklejohn, and Scarff ran through only Hamilton to beat. The centre’s shot was a good one, but the keeper saved the shot brilliantly with a one-handed punch. Just prior to this Celts had made a team change, Geatons being injured and going to outside-left. The injured McPhail got possession and cut in and drew the defence before passing to Fleming, who was lying right in front of goal. The centre shot hard and straight at Thomson, but the speed carried the ball into goal. This was a crushing blow for Celtic, and Rangers took up a strong offensive. Rangers should have put the issue well beyond doubt when Thomson was caught out of his goal after a corner, but Fleming skied. They also had a great chance when from a free kick taken by Brown, McPhail hit the outside of the netting. In the closing minutes Celtic put in a great spurt, and Tom Hamilton had to clutch a hard high ball from Napier. But the game was not yet lost and won. In the very last second of the game Napier connected with a header from Buchanan and slashed the ball past Hamilton into the net. The score stood 2 goals each and 4 corners each. The Rangers tried hard in the first period of extra time, but Thomson had to look lively with one header of Fleming’s to keep Celtic’s slate clean. Right up to the end of the first 15 minutes neither corner not goal had disturbed the equality. Celtic were nearest to a score in the first minute of the last quarter, when Scarff broke through and was held up on the line. After this Rangers improved, and once Thomson had to fly across his goal to prevent a corner kick. Then came another Rangers chance. Fleming, breaking away down the wing, centred to the unmarked McPhail. Had Bob been 100 per cent fir, there is no doubt where ethe ball would have been - in the net. But he hesitated and gave the Celts time to cover his tracks. Napier replied with a, long grounder, and evert Rangers’ heart froze before T Hamilton got it safely in his clutches. Celtic were so heartened by this success that they peppered Hamilton with shots, but they found the keeper in grand form. He pulled the Rangers out of a very difficult position.
