Match ended 0-0
Match Information
Attendance: 33,000
Referee: G.W. Hamilton (Kilbirnie)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
A victory gained by a margin of corners kicks may not be entirely satisfactory. But in the case of the Rangers’ success in the semi-final of the Glasgow Charity Cup at Hampden Park there should be little heartburning on either side. Rangers might easily have won by one, two or even three goals, but anyhow, they won, and they are satisfied. Celtic, recognizing, as they are bound to do, that they got off lightly, should be thankful that only corners were registered against them. I put the goal failure of Rangers down to their weakness at centre forward. Here McDiarmid quite failed to come up to the standard of two splendid wings. He had chances – easy ones at that – to make his mark but couldn’t. Celtic on the other hand, had their attack impaired by Connolly’s inexperience. The lad was eager to a fault, and tried hard, but he fell a victim to the tactical superiority of McCandless. Rangers were the better-balanced team. They gave the impression of power in the combination between half-backs and forwards which was lacking in the corresponding Celtic divisions. Height and strength were factors which told on the heavy ground and in a game that tested the stamina of the men to the uttermost. A fairish breeze favoured the Celts in the first half, but the Ibrox confederacy were first to get hold of a combined game. Both McNair and Dodds were brought into action by the speedy, dribbling runs of Archibald and Morton, but the defence was sound, and it was some time before Shaw found himself in danger. McDiarmid and Muirhead tried to bore through together and were held up a few yards from goal. Then McNair hauled up McDiarmid, after Muirhead had slipped through a pretty pass. Things were looking extremely bright for the Ibrox side when Cassidy brought his line along, and when Dixon miskicked to concede a corner there was great cheering, which was repeated with growing fervour whenever either team gained one. After the Celts had kept the game round about Robb for a time, Morton raced away and forced McNair to give away the equalising corner. The kick was beautifully placed, and Muirhead made a fine attempt to head a goal. This began a sultry period for the Celts, for Morton and Archibald seemed able to make ground with ease; the Celts’ wing half-back could not hold them hereabouts at all. What Gilchrist and McStay could do, however, was to recover quickly, and they usually managed to get back in time to assist in stalling off the final Rangers’ thrusts. It was a teethy contest now, with the Rangers’ wings forcing play strongly. Shaw had difficulty with a centre from Archibald, which he gripped just under the bar, while a low, fast shot by Cairns was stopped by McNair a few yards in front of the goalkeeper. But the Celtic forward were soon taking a hand in the business again. The three inside forwards went quickly in on Robb, and Gallagher let go a great shot. Robb threw himself to the right, low down, and just when the ball was crossing the line, he got his clenched fist to it and punted out. Celts made a vigorous claim for a goal, but the referee refused it after consulting a linesman. It was a near thing, certainly but the referee was in an excellent position to judge. From this point to the interval, it was a Trojan struggle, with the players obviously on the stretch, and keeping the play fast despite the heavy going. Rangers, at the cross-over, had a lead on corners of five to four, and in the first minute of the second half they increased their little lot to six. Archibald’s flag-kick was perfectly placed, and Muirhead met the ball with his head, and just missed scoring by a trifle. Next minute Robb, in saving from Gallagher, following a free kick, was lamed, but the danger was cleared, and the game then took a decided turn in the Ibrox boys’ favour. For fully half an hour Robb was never tested, while Shaw was twice lucky to escape loss – when a Muirhead header hit the bar, and when McDiarmid missed an absolutely open goal. Shaw, on this latter occasion, stood to watch the Rangers centre net the ball, for he was hopelessly out of reach. By this time Rangers were leading by 9 corners to 5, and still pressing, they brough their bunch to 10 before time was called. The extra half-hour showed bellows to mend. In the first quarter Cassidy had one fine chance when the Rangers defence was scattered, but he hesitated to shoot, and Manderson cleared. McCandless conceded a corner, and made the totals 10-6, where they remained, for the remainder of the game was a succession of midfield exchanges. Rangers were content to hold what they had, and though the Celtis fought it out to the end, their forwards were not strong enough either to bend or break the Ibrox defence. Except for that great save of Robb’s in the first half, he was comparatively idle. Shaw was the busier man, and he was splendidly safe. It was at half-back and forward that Rangers held a clear advantage. They were quicker, stronger, and more studied at half. Nicholson has never done better. He subdued Gallagher and placed the ball well to Morton and Cairns. Dixon was splendid in defence, and Meiklejohn a valuable support to his right winger. Cringan was the best of the Celtic trio, for Gilchrist and McStay were took often outplayed by the Rangers wings. The two Ibrox extreme men were in their best form, and Cairns had some credit for that. There was skill in the Celtic attack, but the line was overweighted, and had not sufficient driving force. £1352 was taken at the gates, and £279 at the stand, representing an attendance of 33,000.
