McCandless og 20
McInally 70
Match Information
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: G.W. Hamilton (Kilbirnie)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The Glasgow Charity Cup competition worked out for a popular final, and nothing finer could have been fielded than Celts and Rangers with Hampden the venue. There was a great crowd. Celts won, and in so doing retained the trophy. It was quite a good game, without at any time being brilliant. Rangers disappointed again. Never at any time did they shape like Cup-winners, or even as League champions. Celts’ first goal, lucky in a degree, did not quite take the heart out of the Govan lot, but it certainly tended much to the ultimate result. Celts deserved their victory. From goal out they carried the craft, the balance, and the push, and they were admittedly the better eleven. There were few reputations bettered on the side of the Rangers; even Cunningham did not touch standard. Celtic, after all, had an easy passage, and that with a side changed at the last moment. There were no square pegs in round holes in the Parkhead side. Right from the start the game proved a scorcher. Rangers went with the wind, and Robb had first to handle. First to settle were the Parkhead boys, but when Rangers got set, they moved solidly. Twice Cunningham had the ball placed, but on both occasions, he lofted the leather. Rangers raised the siege on the siege on the left, where Alan Morton outpaced the opposition very nicely, but the keenness of the tackling prevented his getting across many acceptable centres. Celts’ tactics were quite good – heady in their movements, and a pass back generally found them safe. That this does not always come off was exemplified when McFarlane passed back, and Shaw was beaten to the wide, but fortunately the ball took the base of the upright. The excitement in the game was manifest when Andy Cunningham fairly missed what was meant for a shot. Shaw held from Manderson, but still the Celtic were pretty well in the game, but it came as a distinct surprise when Celts drew first blood, after twenty-two minutes ‘play. Gallagher previously had meandered through the Ibrox defence and was pulled up illegally. McInally took the kick from the twenty-five-yard line. He shot. The ball was safe for Robb, but it touched McCandless and shifted its course for a net-finder just in the scoring side of the post. Nothing that the Light Blues could do came off. They had lovely flag kicks, which only enhanced Shaw’s abilities. But the Celts were all there. Crafty, cunning and sure, the defence and attack equally dependable. We had a great effort from Cunningham when he took a free kick from forty yards and let belt. Shaw again effected a great save at the post. From Morton’s cross it looked a cert on Henderson’s getting through, but again Charlie rose triumphant, and at this juncture it looked as if Shaw was invincible. It was remarkable how easily the Celts got out of many tight corners, but the fact is the ‘Govanites’ were uncertain, and easily beaten in a tackle. We had glimpses of form from Cunningham, but his form was not sustained. There was no flag-end play about this last challenge game of the season. Both sides were desperately keen to win. One of the best Govan movements of the day was engineered by Muirhead, carried on by Cairns, but alas and alack! Mulled by Henderson. McFarlane fitted into the Celtic picture very nicely at left half, and never at any time during the first half were Celts far out of the running. Just on the interval McLean wandered the Govan defence, and put over, for Cassidy to clinch, which he did, but alas! McInally got offside, so there was nothing doing. Celtic’s luck in the goal scored was about the only difference ‘twixt the side on the first-half show, but Celtic had the goal verdict at the turn. At the start of the second half McStay’s hefty work did not find favour with the referee. Play was principally in Celtic territory, never a shot finding the keeper. Cairns had one great burst, outwitting man after man, but it all went for nothing. With the play going against the Celts, it was significant that Shaw never looked like losing a goal. Alan Morton spurted, but the opposition of Gilchrist was indeed formidable, and Shaw was always dependable when a shot was going. Tempers in this game of keen exchanges ruffled, and Gallagher received a warming The celts’ only shot this half was Adam McLean, but he was wide of the mark, as was Pratt when an opportunity came to him on the run. Fifteen minutes from time Rangers’ chance had gone for good, as McInally applied the death blow. It was just a further proof of the opportunism of the Celtic van. McLean crossed over, Pratt returned the ball, and McInally got his deadly foot on for a drive, and Robb for the second time was down and out. Rangers never gave in. They had the ball positioned more than once for a simple push home, but the precise foot was awanting. Play to the finish was quiet and uneventful, and Celtic’s margin of two goals speaks for all that counts in the game. If we take the winners first, McInally must rank as the A1 man, by reason of his double count which settled the issue. If the first was pure luck, there were no flies about the second, and apart from that he was always a trier, a shot, and a distributor. Shaw was masterly, and in the first half he was the one man who kept the Rangers out. Joe Dodds, we know, and he was just the old dependable player of old. Murphy played for McNair, who was spectating, and he played his part well, Gilchrist was the better half, and all through the piece was consistent. Forwards, it was unity that carried the day – none brilliant, but all tries, who knew their way about. McLean, Gallagher and McInally were all worthy of mention. For Rangers’ defeat Robb can in no way be blamed. He had simply no chance with the goals, contributed to by an uneven defence. Manderson was the better of the two. The middlemen did not touch form, and latterly fell off badly led, bettered their reputation. The forceful work brought into play was much to be regretted, and many of the tactics should have been well out with the scope of such famous players engaged. The attendance touched 55,000, and the money drawn, exclusive of tax, was £2642 16s 3d
