McGrory 15
Dr Marshall 18
Match Information
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
With half-a minute to go Rangers were leading by 2 goals to I, at Ibrox. It looked as if they were booked for the final of the Glasgow Cup, sure and certain. But Celtic were not letting even half-a-minute and a goal beat them, With the end in sight, they put in all they knew a great last, full-blast effort to save the game and they saved it. I am pleased they did it, because I am certain that most of the forty thousand people who were there will admit that Celtic did not deserve to be beaten. It was as at Parkhead on Monday week last a grandly contested first half, and spotlessly clean. The second half blew up for a little, but there was nothing really serious, and I feel like complimenting both sides on the entire show. Considering that Celtic had to go out without McStay and scarf, they put up a great performance, and I should say that it would be a nice compliment to the young players who came in if they were given another chance to see the club into the final. Most teams would have given the game up as lost, but there you are it is a fine thing to see a team that is never beaten until the whistle goes. Rangers did not come out of it scatheless, for Meiklejohn and Brown both sustained accidental ankle injuries. Brown played for over an hour suffering pain, and the captain was limping, so that it looks as if they may have to stand down today. Rain made the ball skid, and this puzzled some of the players, but I thought Celtic mastered it better and, accordingly, had the best of the first half-hour of the second half, after a good, hard, even fast 45. Rangers came away strongly with fifteen minutes to go, got the lead for the first time, and then had to surrender to Celtics finishing burst. Rangers were first into their stride, and for twelve minutes or so they looked like taking charge of things. Brown was keeping McPhail and Morton going, and the pair on the left wing made headway quickly and with pretty football. Falconer had to make a fine save from Brown, and then another from McPhail. He showed splendid confidence and was cheered. Then came a bit of Celtic. In 14 minutes, and from practically their first straight attack, they took the lead. Wilson centred with rare judgment. The ball soared towards the waiting McGrory, and just as it reached him, he and Gray rose to head. McGrory git it, and the ball landed in the net without much force, close to Dawsons right-hand post. Rangers defence was clearly at fault, but they were roused, and when McPhail put English through. Falconer saved well from the centre. Next, Morton raced into the centre, and passed to Archibald, who centred for English to head in, but again Falconer saved. Rangers were putting some bite into their attack, and it was no surprise when they equalised four minutes after McGrorys goal. Brown began the movement with a pass to Meiklejohn, who sent the ball low along to Morton in an inside position. Morton intercepted and shot. Falconer could only knock the ball out when diving at it, and it landed at the feet of Marshall, who took a first-time right-foot shot and netted with a rising ball. After this there were some keen, exciting passages, Bert Thomson, who was changing position a lot, sent a long pass out to Kavanagh, who had a great chance to pass to McGrory, who had gone into position, but the left winger shot himself and was wide of the mark. Bert Thomson was the leader in several dangerous raids, and chances were going, but the shooting was not too good, although several times it was only a desperate intervention by a Rangers defender that saved them. On the stroke of the half-hour, Rangers forwards jumped into their game again. Brown sent a long pass through the centre to English, who raced away and beat Falconer, but the referee called offside, and I think he was right. There was not much in it, but just enough to make all the difference. From then until the interval the game was hard and even, with the Celtic right wing and Wilson showing up specially well. There was a little incident here which caused a hubbub. Bert Thomson and McAulay had been putting up a great, sporting tussle. In trying to keep the Celt from cutting in, the Rangers back slipped and fell, and Thomson fell over his leg. Thomson got up and appealed for a corner kick, but some of the spectators seemed to think he was appealing for a penalty. I thought it was a corner, but in any case, the referee gave a goal-kick. And so, to the interval. Rangers began the second half with something of a flourish, but the Celts got well together, and for a long time the game ran in their favour. It was quite clear that reliance was placed on Bert Thomson, and that was right, for Although McAulay was hanging into him, the winger was never on the move without suggesting danger. McGrory also raised the danger signal and hereabout Simpson did good work with both head and feet. Rangers forwards could not shake themselves loose for some time, but at last they got going, and after some fine passing, Marshall shot hard, and Falconer saved grandly. Another Celtic right-wing swoop and Dawson had to come out and clear from McGrory. There were plenty of likely-looking forward movements. Meiklejohn came near with a stinging drive which Falconer saved brilliantly by putting over for a corner. After Dawson had been made to come out and save again, Celtic scored an off-side goal in 28 minutes. Bert Thomson got a pass from McGrory in an inside position and went smartly through to net. Here again, there was little in it the one offside goal balanced the other. As it thankful for the let-off, Rangers forwards went off in a swarm, and in a close tussle between defence and attack the ball came out to Archibald, who hit hard and low into the net at Falconers right hand. Thirty-eight minutes gone Rangers now seemed safe. The minutes ticked off, but the nearer came the ned the more Celtic threw themselves into a great last effort. It all seemed of no avail when suddenly, with just half-a-minute to go, the dramatic touch was applied. McAulay failed to clear a ball sent from the left, and a throw-in resulted. From this, Bert Thomson crossed beautifully, and McGrory, completely unmarked, met it, and taking instant control, shot into the net from close range. McGrory was hugged, the ball was taken to the centre, kicked-off and there was scarcely time to realise the transformation before the whistle went. Even if there were a few displays of tension, of temper, which made the referee say a word here and there, the game was wonderfully sporting. Dawson came out a lot, and sometimes I thought when it should have been the job of a back or a half-back to take the ball. He may have been playing to plan, but it was sometimes risky. It is all a question of understanding among the defence. Falconer was cool and clever he anticipated well and seems to be his old self again. All the backs had good periods although McAulay, with a knee injury, and Brown roaming in the second half, found the strain severe. Gray was on the stretch at times, but he came through it well. Both Cook and McGonagle were plucky, solid defenders, who rose grandly to the occasion when the pinch came. In the first half, Meiklejohn and Brown were strong, forcing players, but Wilson was most consistent; he had the touch for the skidding ball. Geatons and Simpson played their parts, and Hughes earned his spurs. Morton was the real Allan in the first twenty minutes, and then McPhail was also going well. They came back to their game in the last stages. Archibald could have been doing with more of the ball. He showed this when he was getting it in the second half. His goal was a snappy affair. Marshall worked very hard, bit not always did he manage to carry out his plans. Rangers forwards were too much left-wing in the first half, and it was only in the last fifteen minutes that they opened out. English usually was working on his lonesome, and yet he showed some fine touches. I thought Bert Thomson the best of all the forwards, a master of the skidding ball. What did I say before? he is the best of our outside rights, and he played the game all the time. He had a good partner in Alex of the same surname, and McGrory was always there just the sort of pull a game out of the fire. Napier and Kavanagh were not so good as the right, but they did not let the side down. And so today again, on the same scene
