A Venters 28
Gillick 65
Match Information
Attendance: 83,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
There are games that live in ones memory. Vivid impressions of pulsating exchanges; extraordinary incidents; gripping goal-scoring efforts these linger long in the mind, ready to be recalled when the letter-to-the-editor man asks about them ten-twenty-thirty-forty, ay, and fifty years after. Into that category comes yesterdays amazing match at Ibrox. Incidents in constructive play hundreds! Incidents that I should like to forget and cannot two. Nor will Willie McGonagle forget them. The Celtic full-back will have to thole his assize before the SFA Referee Committee some time this month. I therefore can merely say that he appeared to commit an infringement against Smith, was warned; and later in the game wheeled, picked up the ball and threw it at McPhail, who had fallen to a sitting position in the penalty area. McGonagle limped off the field following Referee Craigmyles gesture of dismissal. So much from McGonagle. Now about Napier. Charlie had been very quiet in the first half hour. After Venters had opened the scoring the Celtic inside-left gave himself a shake, as the saying goes, and at length appeared in the limelight. His keenness threatened danger to the Light Blues, but that keenness led to his own retiral from the field just before half-time and as it transpired from the match. That was a galling New Years gift for Celtic. Not that I think theyd have won even if Napier had been on again after the interval. I give them credit for a great late effort that produced a goal. But when eleven played eleven Rangers exerted command most of the time. I had it in my mind that Delaney and Crum of Celtic would worry McDonald, that theyd make position either for themselves or McGrory, and that the centre would round Simpson into shooting position. Nothing of that kind occurred. McDonald conceded not a yard. Simpson over-towered McGrory, and Kennedy and Gray kept Napier and Hugh ODonnell in almost complete subjection. The sparkling stiff was fizzed out by Rangers front rank. Gillick had his finger on the syphon lever. At outside-right he played in and out, sometimes beating McGonagle, sometimes passing in to Venters, sometimes chancing a shot. Had Venters in the opening stages been a fifth of a second quicker in anticipation Gillicks moves, Rangers would have held a comfortable lead long before half-time. As it was, they took almost half-an-hour to open the count. Though Gillick did the leading-up work and Venters scored. I must mention Jimmy Smith here. He had distributed the ball more effectively than I have ever seen him do. He had made a mistake when he softly hooked a ball that he should have left to Venters. But on this occasion, he did leave it to his inside-right, and Kennaway was well beaten by a knee-high shot past his right hand. We all hoped that Napier would come back in the second half. It was not to be. Charlie was in the dressing room getting attention from his trainer. Not many minutes after the resumption McGonagle committed his first serious infringement. And I was as afraid as many other near me that the rough stuff would develop. Smiths dashes when Kennaway was in possession incensed a few of the Celts. Then, bringing relief, came Gillicks fine goal. A mathematically timed flick by Venters gave the winger his chance. A run on, a shot, a dive by Kennaway and the game appeared to be all over, in Rangers favour. Very much all over a minute or two later when McGonagle angrily threw the ball at McPhail and had to bow to marching orders. But you never know what a Rangers-Celtic clash will produce. That wonderful Parkhead spirit inspired the Green-and-White brigade. Four minutes from the end, Simpson conceded a penalty. Paterson took the kick and scored. But Rangers defence was not again to be caught so easily. They held out fairly confidently to the end. Kennaway had a very bust day. Rangers were in shooting mood, and Joe had to stop lively to stop efforts by Gillick, Venters, Smith and McPhail. Yes, even McPhail was on the target at time, much more accurately than usual. But Nicholson how can I account for his unprofitable biffs across goal or his innocuous shooting into the side-net or past? Willie missed another great chance of making outside left his regular job in the Ibrox team. Hogg and McGonagle, strange to say, had not mush more to do than Gray and Bob McDonald. I attribute that to the other McDonalds assiduous defence and enterprising attack. Jimmy Simpson, a great defender, excelled McDonald only in heading from the McGrory vicinity. But I give Celtics pivot the laurels on account of his very intelligent forcing play. Neither Kennedy nor Brown; neither Dawson nor Paterson played to top standard. Yet not nor of the halfs failed. They all of them had a hefty job on hand. They have no reason to criticise themselves. I have indicated that Gillick had a guid New Year. Possibly I shall be told that McGonagles absence, and Napiers made open position for him. Ill agree. But even in the first half the winger took the eye. Venters, Smith a McPhail cam also accept the praise that is earned by keenness and ability. Delaney and Crum were by no means up to the standard they touched in the Queens Park game. Not, at anyrate, till near the ned. McGrory worked as if flag and cup and still more guerdons were at stake. But Simpson mastered him. Hugh ODonnell, missing Napier in the second half, wandered to the right, striving ineffectively, as it happened to help his right wing. Celtic will not readily forget this unfortunate day. McGonagle sent-off after 78 minutes
