Gillan 60
Match Information
Attendance: 50000
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Match Trivia
Boys, youve got me in a happy mood this morning. Yes, Ive seen a Rangers-Celtic game that made me proud I am a Scot. A game that had swing and ping. A game that justified the hold these clubs have on the affections of at least half the population of Glasgow. The result doesnt matter unless to those fatheads who see in such meetings a battle for religious supremacy! I thought Rangers should have won. Seldon, have I seen them play so strongly and really well in parts with so little return. Celtic, on the other hand, by their very fighting spirit and sudden, unexpected moves, would have been grossly illtreated by a defeat. Rangers might have been two goals ahead at the interval. In the second half things were about even. Yet Celtic won. See what I mean? Yes, it was one of those games. Celts are never more dangerous than when pushed up against the ropes. The goal that decided the game came from a move that was swamped and over-shadowed by many others more finely threaded. Fifteen minutes after the interval, Kelly got the ball about midfield near the touchline. He swung it across-field where Crum and Woodburn both sought it. The ball broke towards the right and Holi there was little Gillan steaming up with the freedom of Ibrox in front and all around him. Jenkins rushed out, but the wee chap shot past him. Dougie Gray tried to do the splits to keep the ball from crossing the line, but his toes was just that split second short. Next minute Crum sent Murphy through. It looked a better change than Gillan had taken. But the winger tried to carry the ball round Jenkins only to see the big keeper get his hand to the ball and shove it over the bye-line. From then on it was a tearing battle. Rangers threw everything into it bar Arthur Dixon, but Celts held out. The result will do Celtic more good than Rangers harm. Ive felt for some time that Celtics greatest enemy was themselves. Things werent coming off and they became so darned sorry for themselves. On this form, its the other fellows who should be sorry! Yet the fondest memory of the fame was a first half incident. A Thornton-Venters move so flashingly brilliant that one almost felt annoyed at Johnstone, the Celtic keeper whose classic and spectacular save lifted Venters cracking shot on to and along the crossbar. Johnstone was a hero for Celtic in this first half. Twice he saved from Thornton and again from Symon when Celtics candle was spluttering. Hogg too was at his beat. But McCulloch seemed happiest when he shoved the ball out of play. Paterson and McDonald too some time to warm up, and although often near top form, never quite reached the level of the opposing wing halves, Bolt and Symon. The Celt who knocked me back a fortnight was Waddell. In his earlier games he was obviously finding the place. Now, he is making the other fellow lose it! Quiet, methodical and clean as a doctors hands, he absolutely refused to be upset by any Rangers set-up. Crum was easily Celts best forwards. Wily all the time. The others joined in when required but were individually subdued. As for Rangers, the defence was magnificent all through. Woodburn was inclined to play hand-ball periodically when out of position, but put in a lot of splendid work. The wing-halfs were trenchantly purposeful from the start and were insulted by the defeat. The only forward who completely pleased me was Hamilton, the ex-Aberdonian. He worked like a nigger and often got niggardly response. Waddell, Thornton and Johnstone played in the chorus, but never seemed likely to try a solo run. As for Venters, he faded out completely. I noticed that he and McDonald acted as if each had discovered the other had been eating onions. At ant rate, there was never any threat of the old trouble. Which is maybe one of the reasons the game did us proud
