Kinnear 17
A Venters 40
Carruth 74
Match Information
Attendance: 118,567
Referee: A Henderson (Kirkcaldy)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Is that the League championship finished? That was the question at the end if the match at Ibrox Stadium as the Rangers and Celtic players trooped off the field with the great crowd of almost 120,000 still buzzing with the excitement of a contest that thrilled and delighted from first kick to last. It was a punishing game for the speed of play never slowed down and the tackling was ever so keen, as it always is in these Old Firm encounters. Rangers were the better balanced team, their forwards held together by Venters being more cohesive in their work than the other line which presented a strange appearance, being without Divers and Crum (in addition to McDonald), while Murphy was at inside left. Paterson also was an absentee so that it will be admitted that this very much under strength Celtic team did well to hold their opponents to a goal. In the opening minutes it appeared as if Rangers would prevail by a comfortable margin, but as the match progressed Celtic, putting plenty of spirit inti their work improved, and I didnt think I am wrong in saying that it was touch and go in the closing stages on their saving a point. To me the two big men of the game were Venters and Geatons. The Rangers man at times gave the impression of having a double on the field so much ground did he cover, so much was he in the thick of it. Geatons in defence and attack was equally powerful and no man did more than he to try and save the game for Celtic. Late in the second half the Celtic forwards got to within scoring distance, but they just couldnt negotiate the ball into shooting position, or alternatively, when they did, they were that little fraction too slow. It was then that Geatons came right up among his mates to drive the ball towards Dawson. One of his shots hit the crossbar with Dawson, rising late, surprised by the suddenness of the effort. Jerry, too, was caught napping ten minutes after the start when Carruth, following a corner kick hooked a left foot one from sixteen yards. The leather crashed against the crossbar with Dawson standing still apparently of the opinion that the leather was sailing over the woodwork to safety. The game was productive of many exciting goal incidents as play swung, sometimes with amazing rapidity, from one end to the other. It almost seemed as if the fates had destined that if Dawson troubled one second Kennaway was to be served out the same way the next, or vice versa. Perhaps it was only in the natural sequence of things, so fast was play, so quickly had a defender to turn, that there should be some miskicking, and Hogg and Shaw on occasion, caused their team supporters heart-jumps by fluking their clearance. But whatever mistakes were made one readily forgives. Think if the tension that surrounds the game; think of over 100,000 people keyed to a high pitch of excitement; think of the electric-like atmosphere, and you will understand. Rangers as I have said, started off as if it was only a question of time before they had secured a commanding lead in goals, and in the first three minutes, Kinnear rounding Hogg, shot hard for Kennaway to save. Next a run by Thornton who tricked Lyon but was grassed by Morrison on veering to the right. Then that drive by Carruth that hit the wood-work followed in quick succession by solo moved by Venters and Delaney. Incident upon incident until seventeen minutes had gone when Hogg near to the midfield line was caught on the turn and the ball passed him to Kinnear. The outside left hared away and from about fifteen yards when friend and foe were lined up in front of Kennaway expecting a cross he drove hard and true away to the keepers left hand post. It was a bonny goal. Thornton was an awkward customer for Lyon, but though the pivot was beaten several times by the centre in the course of the game it must not be forgotten that Lyon had to cover a tremendous lot of ground, for long sweeping balls with which Rangers made headway found gaps in the right of the Celtic defence because Lynch was not just mobile enough. The centres quick thinking and trickiness led to the second goal six minutes before the interval. A ball sent forward to him he flicked with his left foot, and it skidded past Lyon who had come in to tackle. Venters had anticipated the move and running forward found himself in splendid isolation with the ball. As he shot Kennaway advanced, but although the keeper succeeded in touching the leather he was more or less helpless in preventing it going to the net. Celtic came out for the second half a very determined set, and they started right away on spirited attacks. There were claims for a penalty when Delaney was brought down by Symon and had to retire for repairs. Later the outside-right had again to go to the line for attention. They looked in turn to score or lose a goal as Rangers countered with strong dangerous looking raids that might have resulted in anything happening. The game simply sizzled, and when, with fifteen minutes to go, Celtic scored there were roars of encouragement to go on and get another. The point was netted by Carruth who, in the second half had gone to the centre-forward position. Either Murphy or Watters I am not really sure which got possession just inside Rangers half. Carruth made towards the inside left position, and Delaney came tearing across the field to the middle of the eighteen yards line. He signalled on the man in possession either Murphy or Watters to pass. His appeal was answered and the outside-right, tackled, slipped to Carruth who sent it low just inside Dawsons right hand post. Rangers, for the briefest of spells, fell back on the defensive, but suddenly let go again, and Kennaway was once more in action. Then it was Dawson who had to look lively. The game finished as it started, see-saw, with each eleven in turn likely to score, so that there was about the match that glorious uncertainty that left us quite breathless when the referee blew the final whistle. It would take much more space than I am allowed to detail only a few of the many exciting incidents. Suffice it to say thanks for the memory of a great game.
