A Thomson
Dr Marshall pen
Match Information
Attendance: 50,160
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
Celtic might have won this Glasgow Cup semi-final tie; Rangers might have won. I was glad it was a draw. Why? Because the game was so good in parts that I should like to see the teams take chance next Tuesday, at Ibrox, of giving us a whole ninety minutes of the stuff they served up during certain periods. It was a hard, punishing game, marvellously sporting in the first half, which made me regret that in the second half one or two incidents, which could have been avoided, took place. But the tension was high, and next Tuesday I hope to see the teams more schooled to it. But let us get on with the play. The pitch was playing fast; in fact, everything looked lovely. Celtic were first into their stride. Scarff, evidently taking the view that an early blow was a telling blow, made a quick run in and let fly. The ball travelled away to the tight, making for the net all the time. Bert Thomson was waiting, and just as he jumped to connect, Dawson took his left hand and punched away a grand save, without a doubt. Then a bit of excitement at the other end. McDonald swept the ball across to Nicholson, who ran in and shot. It was a near thing, for the ball juts grazed the bar. With the pace a cracker, the crowd got plenty to keep them on edge. Celtic had the initiative and were forcing the game for all they were worth. A chance fell to Scarff, but he had exhausted himself going through, and the shot went over. Then a bit of Rangers. McDonald stopped a movement between Napier and Scarff and swung in a long shot. Falconer was on the point of catching the ball when English jumped to intercept with his head. They came together, shoulder to Shoulder, and Falconer in turning quickly, knocked his head against the post and was injured. When the excitement had died down, away came the Celtic forwards. The movement led to the opening goal. Wilson placed a free kick, and the ball was returned. Alex Thomson got it nicely to his feet, and being left to study his shot, he took the instep to it, and scooped it towards goal. The ball went in sort of rainbow fashion and dropped into the net a foot or so below the bar. Dawson seemed to be taken by surprise, for he had evidently looked to the men in front of him to cover up, which they did not do. Rangers took this reverse in good spirit, and at once they put themselves on the aggressive. Brown went through to give Fleming an opening, and there was danger when the winger cut in and shot, but Falconer, advancing, smothered the shot a fine save. Two minutes later came the equaliser from a penalty-kick. An attack by Scarff and McGrory was repelled by McAulay, who swept the ball away down to Nicholson. Just as Nicolson was transferring to English, McGonagle bundled the rangers centre off his feet. It was a clear but foolish penalty, for the ball might never have reached English. Would the kick be converted? Who would take it? A lot of people were asking these questions when Marshall stepped forward, carefully placed the ball on the spot, stepped back, and then shot low into the net. Level again. A quick run by the tow Thomsons a shot by Alex, fisted out by Dawson, and a return ground shot by Wilson also saved by Dawson kept the excitement going. Celtic were again going with a clip, and it was only a very fine save by Dawson that averted a score. Scarff centred nicely to McGrory, who jumped, and put all he could into a side-header. It looked to be a counter, but up shot Dawsons hand and over the bar went the ball. Right on top of this, the Rangers left wing swooped down on the Celtic defence. The ball was sent through to English, who jumped high with the intention of heading out to Nicholson. Coming down he came into contact with Cook and was injured so that he had to go off and receive attention. Before the interval, Brown stopped McGrory when the Celtic centre was making a bold bid to position himself for a shot. Then Brown made a dash through, and sent the ball out for Fleming, but Falconer anticipated, and made a splendid save. And so, to the end of a first-half which never flagged, with Celtic the more consistent and steadier as a whole. But for thirty minutes of the second half Rangers were on top without being able to break down the Celtic defence. After six minutes, English and Fleming changed places, and almost immediately Fleming took a pass from McPhail and was going through when he was brought down. I though the referee was going to give a penalty kick. I will say frankly that I considered he would have been justified, but the point was squared later when the referee ignored a push by Gray against McGrory. With the second half some 13 minutes old, Rangers had the greatest chance of the tie to pull a winner. English passed to Marshall, who transferred to Nicholson who, from five yards range, had only Falconer to beat. It looked as easy as falling off a dyke, but Nicholson had to take his right foot to it, and he was all at sea. A life for the Celts! It seemed for a little as if the Celtic defence was going to wobble, but the Rangers forwards could not drive home their advantage and with ten minutes to go, the game took a quick change. Celtic nearly turned things upside down. There was nothing better in the whole match than Dawsons save from McGrory. R Thomson eluded McAulay, went on and centred to McGrory, who headed the ball down. It seemed a certain goal. Everybody, I am sure, thought so except Dawson. He went down like a flash, with his left arm outstretched and just managed to divert the ball round the post. From the corner Dawson had another grand save. This was a happy period for Celtic. They were making their last bid, and it was a good one. But the Ibrox defence stood the test, and once more the half-backs put their forwards on the run, and from a sweet movement between Fleming and McPhail the latter got in a great shot, which was splendidly save by Falconer. Almost the last incident was a header by McGrory following R Thomosons corner-kick. It was a near thing. It was not a notable match for heavy artillery, but these two saves by Dawson will be remembered, and Falconer did everything that could be expected of him. There were four good backs on view, but McGonagle will have to restrain himself for the good of himself. Cook was grand. Gray has never played better it was the best game I have ever seen him play. McAulay is the most improved player I know. He and R Thomson had many lively bouts, and I was delighted to see them playing the game in right sporting style. Of all the half-backs, I liked Brown best. He was forcing the game at every opportunity, and he had always good intention behind his passes. There was no chancy transfer with him. For twenty minutes Wilson was of the same stamp, but he sagged. I was told he was not too well, and from what I know of Peters ability, I was not surprised to hear it. McStay was ever at it, and if not so dominating as I have seen him, he did a lot of invaluable spoiling. Geatons plodded on useful rather than stylish. Meiklejohn, in his old position again, was more venturesome. He came out but was always watchful and his heading could not have been better. McDonald came out well in the second half and his long passes to the wing and centre would have been more dangerous had the forwards been able to work together with better understanding. There was more craft in the Celtic front line, where Alex Thomson excelled. Napier did some bewildering things, but they were not very beneficial. R Thomson, although well countered by McAulay most of the time, showed how dangerous he could be when Celtic were making their last big effort. I still think he is out best outside-right. McGrory took all the watching Meiklejohn could give him, and he was nearly a match-winner. Scarff was lost at outside left, but he played better when he changed to inside. He was not really fit and lacked his usual sharpness. The injuries to English did much to upset the line, but apart from that, Fleming and Nicholson did not pull their weight on the wings. Fleming was more like himself when he went to centre. McPhail and Marshall were often too far back, especially in the first half, and this told against not only English but against the outside wingers. But during the first half-hour of the second half both Marshall and McPhail forced the play well, and Rangers might have won along the left had Nicholson been able to respond to McPhail and Brown. But I am glad it was a draw.
