| Match Pictures | Matches: 1930 – 1931 | 1931 Pictures |
Trivia
- This cup tie was not the one-sided affair of a few days earlier between the two teams and at Bayview Park, East Fife held their own. It was perhaps appropriate that Alex Thomson was one of Celtic's best men as he hails from Buckhaven a mere mile away from the ground. Bo'ness-born Danny Liddle Phil Weir and J. Wilson, the goalscorer, were the pick of the Methil forwards.
- Saturday saw a "massacre of the innocents” in the Scottish Cup competition. Few of the smaller clubs survived to fight the second round ties, and it is rather an oddity that of the four non-League clubs left, three are Edinburgh teams. There was a spate of scoring. In the 32 ties, 145 goals were scored by the home clubs, and against them only 48.
- With only one exception every home team in the English League competition won on Saturday, the exception and the outstanding result was the defeat of Arsenal by Sunderland at Highbury, which meant that the champions, Sheffield Wednesday, went to the top of the League table. The Wednesday now lead by two points, but have played three more games.
- In a speech to the Indian Legislative Assembly in New Delhi, Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, condemned the increase in violent acts of terrorism, which he said “have deeply stained the fair name of India.”
Review
Teams
EAST FIFE:
Bernard, Duncan, Moyes, Langton, Casciani, McCurley, J. Wilson, Lowry, Weir, McGachie, Liddle.
Scorers:
J. Wilson.
CELTIC:
J. Thomson, Cook, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Geatons, R. Thomson, A. Thomson, McGrory, Scarff, Napier.
Scorers:
Napier, Scarff.
Referee: T. Small (Dundee).
Attendance: 9,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
The Scotsman – Monday, 19th January 1931, page 5
CELTIC HAVE TO FIGHT HARD
According to form, Celtic should have beaten East Fife easily at Methil, especially after the crushing defeat they gave the Methil men in a League game at Parkhead the previous Saturday.
It turned out, however, that they had to fight hard to get into the next round, and they only got the leading goal when there was less than five minutes to go.
They certainly deserved their 2-1 win, and had the bulk of the play, but their forwards became poor marksmen against a dour defence.
The Fifers were in trouble nearly all the first half, and it was only great tackling by Duncan and Moyes and good saving by Bernard that prevented the visitors from taking a good lead.
McGrory, who started well enough, and was always harassing the defenders, should never have missed one glorious opportunity. He struck the crossbar of an empty goal from five yards out, and this seemed to give the Methil men a little heart, for they started to worry John Thomson.
The first time they were pulled up for a foul, but when Cook and the goalkeeper had a misunderstanding a few minutes before the interval both Weir and Wilson got right through, and the latter scored.
Celtic were a long time in getting any result from their good play in the second half, while the Fifers had improved, but Napier whipped in a surprise shot to score, and near the end R. Thomson followed up to net a shot from Scarff which had been saved by Bernard at full length.
Celtic were a well-balanced lot, and had a steadiness at half-back which was lacking in the Fife side, but their clever forwards were inclined to work too closely together when they got near goal.
Scarff and A. Thomson were their best, while Langton at right-half and Duncan at centre-half in place of the injured Shaw worked hard for the home men. Liddell, who got few chances, was best of the disjointed Fife forwards, but Bernard and his backs were in great form.
The crowd was approximately 9,000, and the drawings £500.
