McGrory 8, 23
Morton pen 35
Smith 65
Match Information
Attendance: 40,012
Referee: A. H. Leishman (Falkirk)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Lady luck has a curious way of handling out her smiles and frowns, as Celtic have learned to their cost. Only a few short weeks ago, on the same Hampden sward, the fickle Goddess of Fortune practically gifted them with the Scottish Cup. Yesterday, the tables were turned, with the result that the green-and-white brigade had to admit defeat in a game which they never should have lost. Only two corners separated the great rivals at the finish of two hours strenuous football, but they were enough. Whether these corners would have been gained had Cook not been off the field is a point which will provoke argument for many a day, but I have the feeling that Celtic at full strength, would have won through. Throughout the piece they were the sweeter-moving company. They shot oftener and they shot harder. But for some wonderful work by Hamilton in the Ibrox goal, extra time would never have been necessary. Celtic were unlucky, too, in not being granted a penalty midway through the second half. Bert Thomson had laid the ball on for McGrory, who had nothing to do but walk it into the net, when Meiklejohn tripped him up in glaring fashion. It was an even more obvious foul than that which gained Rangers their penalty goal, yet Mr Leishman allowed the game to proceed. Had Celtic got that penalty they would probably have win looking round. As it was, however, Rangers profited by their escape to go on and level the scores. But if Meiklejohns tripping of McGrory was unjustifiable, what are we to say of McPhails tackle which sent Cook to the pavilion for the remainder of the game. There was absolutely no excuse for it, but it was merely another incident like many which had gone before. Right from the beginning there was far too much boot in the game, and in fairness it must be admitted that most of it came from the Ibrox lot, although Celtic especially in the latter stages were far from blameless. As a consequence, the game as a spectacle was largely ruined. What combined play there was came almost entirely from the Parkhead vanguard. McGrory was in irrepressible mood, and more than once, it took three defenders to subdue his high jinks. Bert Thomson also hit the high spots at times, but in McAulay, he found a back who refused to be intimidated, and at the finish the couple could well cry quits. Apart from these two, it was seldom we saw anything other than mediocre from the Parkhead forwards, for which an early injury to Napier may have been partly responsible. They lacked the support which they can usually count on from their supporting half-backs, of whom McStay was the only one to reproduce his best form. Behind them, Cook and McGonagle made a sturdy pair, the former being easily the finest defender on the field until he met with the injury which put him out of the game. Thomson, in goal, was safe, but on yesterdays showing he had to take a second place to Tom Hamilton. The Rangers keeper was superb in the second half. Nothing came amiss to him, and one great double save, when he palmed a rocket-like McGrory header against the cross-bar and then clutched and cleared in great style, fully earned all the applause it received. Gray had a comparatively easy afternoon, but McAuley stood up grandly to the cavorting of the Thomson pair. Brown alone in the middle line had a successful game. He was the finest half-back on the field, and it was fitting that Rangers equalising goal should come from his leading-up work. McDonald, on the other wing, never rose above mediocrity, while Meiklejohn was lucky more than once in not having his methods punished more drastically. In an Ibrox forward line which failed lamentably to click Smith was the pick of the bunch. This lad has all the cleverness required, and his pluck is undoubted. If he could only produce that vital extra yard of speed he would, I am sure, ring the bell oftener than any other man in his position in Scotland today. It is obvious, however, that some of the Ibrox older hands are feeling the strain of three years almost incessant football. Morton obviously would have been happier somewhere else where the going was easier, while neither Archibald nor McPhail seemed capable of producing a single spark of devil. As a line it was a mere shadow of its former self. The opening exchanges of the game showed early promise of fireworks to follow. Territorially, there was little between the teams, but Celts were infinitely the more dangerous lot at close quarters. Rangers were just a wee bit inclined to overdo the reposeful stuff, but their aplomb got a bad shattering when Bert Thomson broke away on the right. The Celtic winger tricked McAulay easily and sent over a centre which Meiklejohn could only head out to Hughes. Back came the ball to A Thomson and thence to McGrory who promptly nodded it backwards into the corner of the net. Rangers strove hard to reduce the deficit, bit slowness in the goal area spoiled most of their chances, and it was left to McGrory to put his team further ahead from a splendidly-judged Napier pass. Smith, who had been striving gallantly but without much success at the other end, at last got reward. A goal seemed certain when McGonagle brought the centre down, but Alan Morton made sure with his spot kick. Celtic looked like going ahead in the second half, but it was Rangers who scored again, Smith heading the ball over Thomsons hands into the net. Then came the injury to Cook, and Celtic were left to do battle with ten men until time was called with both teams level. In the extra time, the weakness in defence was too much for them. Napier fell back to lend a hand, but his absence disorganised the front line who never once got properly moving. With corners counting vitally, both teams seemed content to rely more on defence than on attack, with the consequence that the game completely fizzled out. Rangers got the honour eventually by three corners to one, but few will deny that Celtic, at least deserved sympathy
