Delaney 33
B McPhail 41
McGrory 87
Match Information
Attendance: 43,162
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Talk as they like about the evil of the old firm monopoly in football, but Celts and Rangers showed us at Hampden yesterday that they still serve up a game incomparable in playing spirit and spectating thrill. This match will stand out in my memory as easily one of the most enjoyable Ive seen all the season. Though the result shows Celts as clear winners, and undoubtedly, they merited their success, the game was not like that. Celts two decisive goals were snatched in the last five minutes and immediately before that it was anybodys game. While no one can say it was a football classic, the play was remarkably good under the conditions and circumstances. The blazing sun was scarcely tempered by the breeze from the East, but Boreas was quite a factor in the play owing to the lightness of the ball and the hard pitch. And the players, for obvious reasons of keen rivalry, were keyed up to vibrating point. As expected, the light conditions better suited the more youthful Celts, and they proved themselves superior in mobility. There was always the suggestion of a comparative drag in Rangers movement, though they could develop danger in fewer moves. Celts held the trump cards in their wing forwards, Delaney and Murphy, with Delaney the ace. The outside right takes the headlines with his hat-trick, but Murphy maintained the balance of the line and it was his thoughtful cross that produced the opening goal. This follows the brightest piece of football in the game. Lyon began it by pushing the ball through to Crum, who gave to McGrory. The centre kept Rangers defence on the run by passing to Murphy, whos cross was met in front of the post by Delaney giving Dawson no chance of anticipation. This was after thirty-three minutes, and Rangers equalised five minutes from half-time. Kennaway failed to punch away Turnbulls flag kick sufficiently and the ball went to Venters only ten yards out. He promptly shot, but the ball hit Morrison and rolled to McPhail, who smashed it through from close range. It was in the nature of this see-saw game that Rangers should take the lead nineteen minutes after the restart. Lyon pushed Smith, and Meiklejohn sent the free kick across goal. McPhail lunged for the ball with his head and confused Celts defenders, who left Turnbull with a clear shooting avenue he made brilliant use of with a fierce oblique volley. Celts were peels again a minute later, McGrory and Delaney challenged two Rangers defenders for possession practically under the bar and Delaney nodded the ball through. Delaney completed his hat-trick five minutes from time, his roving instinct making him follow up a loose sort of ball and shoot high past Dawson from an angle. McGrory clinched victory two minutes from time by forcing through a Delaney cross. Neither defence was a hundred per cent with the capricious ball, but this helped the excitement. When Celts looked like running away with the game in the early stages, Meiklejohns genius in positional play stood out, making one regret we are not rearing his kind now. Rangers were not so even in attack. Venters had to retrieve too much and make the hurried pass too often. Ross had very bad luck when he shot against the bar in the second half, but that was offset by a Buchan drive which touched the post early on. Yet one is inclined to congratulate rather than criticise all the players for their whole-hearted spirit and in serving up such a enjoyable game. I can pay them no greater compliment than say that they sent the surprisingly big crowd of 54,000 away sorry senior football was finished until August. It takes something to do that in the month of May.
