Blessington
Turnbull >45, xx
Match Information
Manager: No Permanent Manager
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Mr Robertson (Partick Thistle)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
This tie, the final for the Glasgow Cup, which resulted in a draw the previous week, one goal each was replayed on Cathkin Park on Saturday afternoon before a large crowd, considering the high charge of admission. The weather was dull and threatening, and the ground was heavy owing to recent rain. The arrangements thanks to the Third Lanark executive were all that could have been desired. The Rangers team showed two alterations, while Ferguson played for the Celtic, Madden falling out. Drummond again won the toss, and elected to play with the wind. King kicked off, before some 15,000 spectators. After some preliminary passes, Turnbull got away, and by some really pretty play the Rangers right wing beat Doyle, Low eventually sending past. A tricky piece of tackling by Russell gave his left wing a chance, the little man on the outside going well. For a time the Rangers were hard pressed, King bringing the attack to a close by shooting past. Low again was on the way, and with the half’s beaten McPherson had a great chance, but kicked too far ahead, and Doyle cleared. McMahon got cleverly through, and parting to Blessington, that player, when suspiciously like offside, gave Dickie a warmer, which he just managed to punt out. A header from Turnbull caused the Celtic some anxiety, but McArthur cleared, while a little later tow fouls in front of his charge were got rid of. A great run by McMahon, in which he tricked Hyslop, brought the Celts round Dickie, Drummond just getting on Divers when the right-winger was about to shoot. An accident to Turnbull stopped the game for a short time, and the centre forward had to leave the field. Fouls were now pretty frequent, the Celts being penalised twice in quick succession for tripping. Blessington missed an open goal, McMahon being responsible for taking the ball up. With a little look at the other end McPherson might have scored, a fine low shot missing by inches. The treacherous nature of the ground was responsible for a lot of mistakes, it being a hard task to get a good footing. Offside against Low lost the Rangers a good chance, and then Turnbull who had returned, just shot over the bar, McPherson following with a similar attempt shortly after. The Celts however got the first score, and an easy goal it was. The left wing carried the ball half the length of the field, King joined in, and a nice cross pass to Blessington enabled the last-named player to beat Dickie with a screw shot. Low and Miller transferred the play, the inside man laying a perfect feeding game, although the trifle slack in shooting. In fact the Rangers non-success was due to a sad want of smartness when near goal, the quick picking up of their opponents being a delightful contrast. A corner off Doyle nearly brought the equaliser, McArthur saving with two Rangers against him. Gibson returned the ball, which was eventually sent past. Drummond stopped Blessington cleverly, and from his kick Smith fastened on, beat Meechan, but finished with a shot, which went past. Hyslop was not doing too well in his strange position, and the clever pair opposed to him had matters pretty easy. Ferguson’s centre gave Divers a rare opportunity, a corner resulting. This was cleared, and Low essayed a breakaway, but despite their clever football, the Rangers forwards could not make much headway. McCreadie was playing a fine game, and he had extra work to do on account of his team’s weakness at right back. There can be no doubt that the dogged tackling and good feeding by the Celtic middle line was in a great measure the secret of the success of their forwards. Smith spoiled a fine run by a reckless shot, and try as they liked, the Rangers seemed unable to get a decent shot McArthur’s way. One of the best bits of play in the whole game came from Miller. Kelly dispossessed him of the ball, but he followed and got it back, and in conjunction with Smith, completely baffled the Celts defence, his shot however being cleared by McArthur. Away went Divers and Blessington, a corner rewarding their efforts, King missing a fairly easy chance from Ferguson’s place kick. It was now the Celts turn to get the fouls, three in quick succession being awarded them. Just on halftime McArthur affected a grand save from Miller, but had to give away a corner. This was cleared, Russell being prominent, and then some grand tackling by Kelly gave his forwards a chance. At a critical moment Drummond fouled Blessington, but the succeeding foul kick was easily got rid of. Before the whistle blew a most exciting scrimmage took place round McArthur, and on the goal being cleared the whistle blew for halftime, the Celtic leading by one goal to nothing.
With a goal lead and the wind in their favour, the Celtic started the second half with exceedingly bright prospects. After some midfield play the Rangers left had a good run, and after Miller had shot in, Turnbull got his head on the ball and equalised the game, the cheering at this success being extraordinary. A minute later McPherson almost got another goal, the Celtic citadel having a very narrow escape. This was not good enough for Parkhead, the forwards coming away with a great sprint, Dickie running out and saving with Kink on top of him. Again Dickie had to save, this time from McMahon, while Hyslop shortly after stopped a dangerous raid by McMahon and Divers. The Celtic play at this point certainly deserved a goal, an=d they had hard luck in not scoring. A charge in the exciting proceedings came about when a Rangers player put the ball over the uncovered stand, the rest being welcome after being kept at such high tension. A foul close in gave the Rangers another chance, but Doyle got the ball out of danger. Back it came, and McArthur had to save from Smith. Another foul kept the Celts defending, and on King trying to break through Gibson very cleverly stopped him. There is no question that on the play this half the Rangers, so far were the better team, the front line playing with great spirit. McMahon had to leave the field, an injury to his leg being the cause. Handicapped as they were the Parkhead forwards were not done with, and Ferguson missed a rare opening from a run on the right wing. Drummond stopped Divers in fine style, and the opposing right wing scamper past Doyle and tested McArthur with a beauty, but the little custodian saved brilliantly. Another run by the right wing brought about the desired goal. Miller was the mainspring of the attack, the old Sunderland man drawing out the backs and parting at the proper moment to Turnbull. The Centre helped it on, and one of the left wing pair put the Rangers in the lead for the first time in the game. A foul at midfield well placed by Doyle, gave the Celts a look in, Drummond putting the ball out of danger. Low again getting around Doyle, made tracks for McArthur, only to find Battles on the spot. Of course when judging the teams it must be remembered that the Celts were only playing ten men, and in addition the wind was not so strong as in the first half. King repeated Miller’s performance in the first half by beating the whole Rangers defence but he put on a very tame finish. If for nothing else Low has warned fame by the way in which he repeatedly tricked Doyle in the first half, and he was sure thorn in San’s side. A well-placed corner by Ferguson almost brought the equaliser, Dickie saving from among the crowd. King had a good run, and hard luck with his shot, a fast one striking the side of the net. The Rangers play in this half was a revelation, the whole team going with a dash, which brought havoc in the opposing ranks. McCreadie was punting in rare fashion, but at close quarters King was just a bit too good for him. A foul against McPherson brought the Celts round Dickie, king just shooting over. The whole five Rangers forwards had a grand piece of passing, Turnbull just missing the mark. No further scoring took place the Result being – Rangers 2 goals: Celtic 1 goal.
