1938-06-03: Celtic 1-0 Heart of Midlothian, Empire Exhibition Cup SF

Match Pictures | Matches: 19371938 | 1938 Pictures

Trivia

  • Canadian "Joe" Kennaway stars for Celtic to take them to the final, but the referee Dr W. A. Barton from Derby incurrs the wrath of the Hearts players especially his countryman outside-right Jimmy Briscoe, who was twice given off-side. Johnny Crum got the winner 20 minutes from time with a shot that Willie Waugh touched, but could not keep out. Tommy Walker was not his usual self.
  • Tournament Background and Matches: Empire Exhibition Cup
  • Ex-Selling-Plater Rockfel made all the running to win the Oaks by four lengths.
  • 15 day holiday in Dinard Hotel Brittany for £7. 8s. 0d. Price includes ticket from London, tips.
  • Great Britain have a narrow lead over the USA in the Walker Cup at St. Andrews.

Review

Teams

CELTIC:
Kennaway, Hogg, Morrison, Geatons, Lyon, Paterson, Lynch, MacDonald, Crum, Divers, Murphy.
Scorers:
Crum.

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN:
Waugh, Anderson, McClure, Harvey, Dykes, Miller, Briscoe, Walker, Black, Robson, Warren.
Scorers:

Referee: Dr. W. A. Barton (Derby).
Attendance: 48,027

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Saturday, 4th June 1938, page 21

FOOTBALL

CELTIC AGAIN BEAT HEARTS

GLASGOW TEAM FORTUNATE

BEST GAME OF SERIES

Celtic entered the final of the Empire Exhibition football tournament by defeating Heart of Midlothian 1-0, before 48,000 spectators, at Ibrox Park, Glasgow, last night.

It was an old story repeated so far as Celtic-Hearts encounters go. The Edinburgh men played very well up to a point, and did everything except score.

Celtic were extremely fortunate, but finished strongly after Hearts had become dispirited with their non-success. Indeed, Celtic’s luck was truly remarkable. Kennaway's boldness led him into many errors, yet the shots all went his way.

While the result was scarcely a fair reflex of the whole run of play, it was the best game of the series so far, marred perhaps by unsatisfactory control, at stages. Sliding tackles and jostling were frequent offences, while Kennaway was at times more like a determined Rugby three-quarter in his running with the ball, which was undoubtedly a "carrying" offence.

These things were upsetting, particularly to the unfortunate Edinburgh team, and before the end they had to give best to steadier opponents, whose team play improved as time went on.

HEARTS' CHANGE

Hearts had to make a change because of an injury to Biggs, and although their tactics in making three positional changes was questionable, they brought success, Black proving a ready leader, and Robson, a sound inside forward support. Harvey perhaps disappointed at right half back, and in front of him Walker did not have a good game at all.

All the others did well particularly Dykes and Waugh, the latter making several brilliant saves in the closing minutes. Celtic had best service from an alert forward line in which McDonald was the guiding force and the strongest marksman.

In the rear lines, the backs did all that was required of them yet it was Kennaway's good fortune that turned the game.

Hearts made a great start and were unlucky not to take the lead in two minutes when a header by Black sent the ball against the cross-bar with Kennaway completely defeated.

Kennaway was also fortunate on two or three subsequent occasions in gathering Hearts' passes that were over-strong.

MORE BAD LUCK

Hearts' bad luck continued to an unusual degree when Briscoe netted with a fine left foot drive only for the referee to disallow the point because Walker was standing in an offside position.

The rulings by the officials in charge which have been the subject of criticism throughout the tournament, produced yet another strange item when Briscoe was flagged offside although outwith the field of play at the time.

Two goals in the opening minutes would have been no more than Hearts had worked for. Celtic's defensive successes in these early stages were really "fluky."

At this time even Anderson had advanced twice to aid in the attack. A marvellous save by Kennaway from a Black header marked Hearts' next series of attacks.

Black's headwork, in fact, was a great feature, and the reason why Lyon was being beaten so frequently. Sliding tackles defied some of the wingers' best combined efforts.

THE WINNING GOAL

Celtic gained the advantage of the breeze for the second half, and subjected Hearts to such pressure that the Tynecastle side frequently lost position. However, a clearing run by Anderson provided a fine chance for Black, but the centre's shot cannoned against the advancing Kennaway.

Next piece of bad luck was when Black opened the way for Briscoe who was whistled offside, although the linesman, running nearby, did not appear to concur.

Yet Celtic had obtained a grip on the game, and it was all in the run of things that Hearts' goal should fall twenty minutes from the end while Warren had just finished appealing for a penalty kick.

Clever passing carried the ball to Hearts' goal and Crum managed to get his foot to it, and it trickled just beyond Waugh's reach to find the net.

Hearts had another claim for a penalty kick refused, but Celtic were now on top, playing really well and keeping Hearts on the run.

Waugh twice saved brilliantly from McDonald and again from Lynch and Divers. The goalkeeper alone stood against further losses.

Celtic—Kennaway; Hogg and Morrison; Geatons, Lyon, and Paterson; Lynch, McDonald, Crum, Divers and Murphy. Hearts—Waugh; Anderson and M'Clure; Harvey, Dykes, and Miller; Briscoe, Walker, Black, Robson, and Warren. Referee—Dr W. A. Barton, Derby.

Celtic v Hearts EE Jun 1938
Match Report (unknown source)