1931-12-05: Celtic 5-0 Third Lanark, League Division 1

Match Pictures | Matches: 19311932 | 1931 Pictures

Trivia

  • The absence of regular outside-left Joe Breslin is noted as Thirds miss chances. Despite the score Willie Waugh, the Thirds goalkeeper (on loan from Hearts) was reported to have had a good game with many fine saves, such was the dominance of McGrory fed by Alec Thomson.
  • The league positions are Motherwell, Rangers, Aberdeen and Celtic on 35, 33, 28, and 27 points respectively, with Rangers and Celtic having played 20, Aberdeen played 22, and Motherwell played 21.
  • In England, high-scoring league leaders Everton who had gone nine games unbeaten were brought down to earth with a bump by West Ham United who beat them 4-2 in London. Jimmy Ruffell, the Hammers' left-winger scored three goals in twelve minutes.
  • Mr Gandhi left London on Saturday on his return home to India via Paris, Switzerland; and Rome. In a farewell message to the British, people he said that they should believe him when ho said that if it fell to his lot to fight them he should be engaged in a fight never out of hatred but most surely out of love. Hence he was determined to make every effort to continue co-operation so far as it was consistent with national self-respect.

Review

Teams

CELTIC:
Kennaway, Morrison, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Geatons, R. Thomson, A. Thomson, McGrory, Scarff, Napier.
Scorers:
McGrory, (3); Napier, (2).

THIRD LANARK:
Waugh, Simpson, Carabine, Moreland, J. Clark, McLellan, Lynas, Jack, Dewar, McKenzie, Harvey.
Scorers:

Referee: J. Thomson (Hamilton).
Attendance: 16,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Monday, 7th December 1931, page 6

THIRD LANARK'S BAD FALL

Third Lanark were unfortunate in not being able to field their full strength against the Celtic at Parkhead, Glasgow. Warden and Breslin were both unfit. The latter was badly missed at outside left, as early in the game, before the Celtic had scored, Harvey, his deputy, was presented with an opening which Breslin would probably have put to good account. Nothing, however, came of it.

A goal then would certainly have been of great assistance to the team from Cathkin, who at that time had quite as much of the play as the Celtic. But no sooner had McGrory scored for the latter in the thirteenth minute than the visitors began to show signs of distress.

Third Lanark's forwards had little cohesion, and they got little assistance from their halves once the Celtic began to apply a pressure.

After a weak start the Celtic played a game which was something like that which they displayed at the beginning of the season, and but for a fondness for attempting to walk the ball through, must have crossed over with a larger margin.

McGrory added a second goal in thirty-eight minutes, and Napier got a third about quarter of an hour after the interval from inside left, where he had gone owing to an injury to Geatons, Scarff dropping back to left-half. McGrory secured another three minutes Iater, and Napier finished the scoring.

Third Lanark tested Kennaway several times, but the Canadian proved an agile keeper, and could not be beaten. The inside forwards failed badly and gave Dewar no support. The centre-forward and Lynas were the only dangerous attackers.

Waugh might have saved the last goal, but had many brilliant, saves. The backs were plucky, but were often out of position. Clark and Moreland, and the latter was the finest half-back on view, were prominent, but had too much work thrust upon them.

The Celtic's defence was sound. Morrison filled Cook's position with distinction, and McStay did well in subduing Dewar. McGrory was always a menace, to the Cathkin defence, and his three goals marked a good afternoon's work, in which he was greatly assisted by A. Thomson.

R. Thomson spoiled much good play by his own fondness for the ball, and Napier's goals just about sum up his work.

The attendance would be about 16,000.

Celtic v Third Lanark Dec 1931