1934-03-03: St Mirren 2-0 Celtic, Scottish Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 19331934 | 1934 Pictures

Trivia

  • Jimmy McGregor and John Latimer scored St Mirren's goals in this match, which was notable for the fact that Peter McGonagle and Peter Wilson of Celtic and Jimmy Knox of St. Mirren all failed to score from penalty-kicks.
  • Finding the semi-finalists was the main football business on Saturday, for Cup competitions were in progress on both sides of the Border. Only in England was the object properly accomplished, and Aston Villa, Manchester City, Leicester City, and Portsmouth will go on to the second last step of the competition. In Scotland there was one draw to leave the element of doubt. The eventual winner of the Albion Rovers v Motherwell tie however, will have as follows, Rangers, St Mirren, and St Johnstone. Keen contests were seen in all the matches, and some surprises. Most unexpected was the defeat of Celtic, the Scottish Cup holders, by St Mirren.
  • The Scotsman reports that Celtic fans travelling by train to the St Mirren game were ambushed by a gang of between 40-50 armed men at Bridgeton Cross railway station. The men had stood quietly on the platform at the train station and when the Paisley bound train arrived the mob rushed the train and opened the doors to five compartments and indiscriminately attacked the passengers, most of whom were wearing Celtic colours. The gang whose weapons included hammers, hatchets and knives, then broke off the attack when the train bound for Ibrox for the cup tie between Rangers and Aberdeen arrived. One man was taken to hospital and one man arrested. [See Match Pictures for article on this and the court sequel]

Review

Teams

SAINT MIRREN:
McCloy, Hay, Ancell, Gebbie, Wilson, Miller, Knox, Latimer, McCrae, McGregor, Phillips.
Scorers:
McGregor, Latimer.

CELTIC:
Kennaway, Hogg, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Geatons, Crum, A. Thomson, McGrory, F. O’Donnell, , H. O’Donnell.
Scorers:

Referee: M. C. Hutton (Glasgow).
Attendance: 33,434

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Monday, 5th March 1934, page 15

CELTIC BEATEN BY ST. MIRREN

A real Cup-tie game was provided by the meeting of St Mirren and the Celtic at Love Street, Paisley, the play proceeding at a great rate throughout, and keeping the spectators keyed up from start to finish.

The Celtic had by far the major portion of the play, but their work at close quarter was generally poor, and they even failed to score from two penalty kicks. They thus contrived to their own defeat, though at the same time credit must be accorded to the St Mirren defence, who tackled so quickly that the Celtic forwards were never allowed any time to play their shots.

Hay and Ancell were in specially fine form at full-back for the Paisley side, their kicking being strong and accurate, and their tackling almost invariably successful. They were well supported by an untiring line of half-backs, amongst whom Wilson perhaps took the honours for the manner in which he held McGrory, the Celtic centre-forward. In the forward line, Latimer, at inside-right, was most prominent, though all moved ahead fast and were never loth to have a try for goal. McCloy, in goal, was safe in all he did.

In a Celtic side who played disappointingly, McStay, at centre-half, and Hogg and McGonagle at full-back, were the only men to play to form, though McGrory was a keen leader of the forwards, and, with adequate support may have changed the fortunes of the day. No one had the skill necessary to draw the St Mirren defence away from him.

Kennaway made several good saves in goal, but he was at fault when St Mirren scored their second point, as he missed the ball in attempting to punch clear from a corner-kick, and Latimer shot into an empty net.

Wilson and Geatons were below par in the wing half-back positions, neither having his usual poise and quickness after a long absence from the field.

In the forward line, both wings were inclined to play too closely, and the policy failed against the ready tackling and smart recovery work of the St Mirren defenders.

The first goal was scored in twelve minutes, McGregor beating Kennaway with a fast ground shot, following good play on St Mirren's right wing.

Just on half-time McGonagle failed to score from a penalty kick awarded to Celtic when McGrory was brought down in the act of shooting.

The second half had was in progress for eleven minutes when Wilson also failed with a penalty kick, McCloy effecting a brilliant save on this occasion; and then, in seventeen minutes, Latimer increased St Mirren's lead.

A little later a third penalty kick was awarded, this time to St Mirren, but Knox made a poor attempt to score, his shot going straight to Kennaway.

The Celtic attacked hotly in the closing stages, but failed to break down St Mirren’s heroic defence. The attendance was 33,454; and the drawings amounted to £1273, exclusive of money taken at the grand stand and Entertainment Tax.

St Mirren v Celtic Mar 1934