A trophy finally rested in cabinet at Celtic Park, bragging rights were well and truly with the green half of Glasgow and history was made. Celtic had demolished Rangers 7-1, a record score between the rival teams and a record result in a UK cup final. What’s more, the 7-1 day at Hampden in the sun, came just weeks after the Hoops had beaten Rangers at Ibrox for the first time in 22 years. Things could not have been better.
A week after that high, it was back to the bread and butter of the league campaign with a trip to Cathkin Park, in the shadow of Hampden!
Celtic would of course face Third Lanark and had a slightly unsettling build up to the fixture due to Ayr United making enquiries for the transfer of Neil Mochan. Mochan was not for sale, unsurprisingly, considering that he had just scored a brace in the League Cup final! There was also an absentee in Jim Donnelly, who missed out due to flu.
Cathkin’s biggest game for years saw 30,000 people in attendance. Celtic started the game on the front foot, but the home side responded well. Despite good chances at both ends it remained goal-less at half time. The Hoops played neat passing football and in the 60th minute they had their reward.
A foul on Tully just outside the box saw him quickly release the resulting free kick to Collins whose shot flew into the net. Celtic should have added a second through Wilson, when he got on to a McPhail cross, yet shot wide from a position reported as “under the bar.” The Bhoys had a penalty 14 minutes from time but Fernie couldn’t replicate Celtic’s seventh goal the week before, as this time his penalty kick was straight at Robertson. Bobby Collins spared his blushes though, when he added a second not long before the final whistle.
The Evening Times ran the headline: PRECISION TELLS – Poor shooting spoiled many Thirds chances.
This indicates that the game wasn’t a foregone conclusion, but Celtic had come away with maximum points, showing no signs of a post cup final hangover.
Liam Kelly
