1937-11-20: Ayr United 1-1 Celtic, League Division

Match Pictures | Matches: 19371938 | 1937 Pictures

Trivia

  • Joe Carruth nods Celtic ahead after 20 minutes, but with ten minutes to go Matthew Devine does likewise and heads the equaliser.
  • Matt Lynch made his debut for the first team in this match.
  • Of the top clubs in the Scottish First Division only Rangers took full points with Motherwell the leaders and third-placed Celtic drawing.
  • David McCulloch the Scots forward with Brentford scored the only goal in the London team's victory at Grimsby while local rivals Chelsea lost ground with a 2-2 draw to League Champions Manchester City.
  • In the derby between Preston and Blackpool, which the Deepdale side won 2-0, recently transferred Celt Willie Buchan was on the losing side. Another ex-Celt, Frank O’Donnell scored one of Preston's goals and another Scot, George Mutch (ex-Arbroath) got the second.
  • Herr Hitler in a speech in Bavaria reiterated his demand that Germany must have colonies like the other world powers.

Review

Teams

AYR UNITED:
Smith, Dyer, Strain, Taylor, Currie, Mayes, Craig, Dimmer, McGibbon, McCulloch, Devine.
Scorers:
Devine.

CELTIC:
Kennaway, Hogg, Morrison, Lynch, Lyon, Paterson, Delaney, MacDonald, Carruth, Crum, Murphy.
Scorers:
Carruth.

Referee: J. M. Martin (Fife).
Attendance: 10,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Monday, 22nd November 1937, page 5

CELTIC UNLUCKY

While deserving all credit for a plucky defensive display. Ayr United must be accounted lucky to divide the points with Celtic at Somerset Park, Ayr, where fully 10,000 spectators turned out. The Celts moved with better precision than the United, who appeared at times to be very disjointed, and their forwards more often than not fell an easy prey to strong defenders.

It can be said at the outset that McDonald was a success in Buchan's old position and with Delaney made the best wing afield. It was through the latter that Celtic opened the scoring twenty minutes after the start, the winger cleverly beating two opponents before swinging the ball in for Carruth, who was left with nothing to do but nod the ball past Smith.

Midway through the second half McDonald netted with a powerful drive from twenty-five yards range, only to see his effort go for naught as a result of Carruth lying in an offside position. It was McDonald also who, in a last desperate rally in the closing minutes, tested Smith with a raking shot.

Ayr’s equaliser came ten minutes from the end following what was possibly their brightest period. Craig, the newcomer from Royal Albert, who should do well, took the ball up the field, and was unfairly tackled; from the resultant free kick, taken by Taylor, the ball went to McGibbon, and, with Kennaway veering out to intercept, the Ayr centre swung the ball inwards to Devine, who headed into a tenantless goal.

Currie was a do-or-die defender for Ayr, and saved his side time and again while McGibbon alone of the attackers showed any craft. Celts all through had more punch in their attack, and Delaney was in dazzling form, especially in the first half. Their defence was not easily worsted, and Hogg was a tower of strength.

Ayr v Celtic Nov 1937