| Match Pictures | Matches: 1958 – 1959 | 1958-59 Pictures |
Trivia
- The right back switch came with John Donnelly making way for Duncan MacKay; Willie Fernie was moved back to right half to strengthen both defense and attacking options; the forward line was completely modifed bar the left side of Divers and Auld. In came John Higgins for his first game for some time after successive knee injuries; inside of him was Mike Jackson and Alec Byrne was restored to centre forward. Bertie Peacock had not recovered from his ankle injury.
- Charlie Tully duly won another Irish cap against Spain on 16th October. Ireland were beaten 6-2 by the hosts in Madrid. Bertie Peacock never travelled being ruled out with his ankle injury.
- Celtic Reserves played Airdrie Resereves at Celtic Park in an important game for those recovering from injury. Fallon, Evans and McVittie all played. The line up was Haffey, Meechan, Fallon, Crerand, Evans, Clark, McVittie, Colrain, Conway, Wilson, Murphy.
- The government introduced the 'pay-as-you-earn' pension for all to be taken from National Insurance contributions and set apart as part of a government pension on retirement.
Review
John Higgins was welcomed back into a somewhat changed side following the defeat to Falkirk, but it was a Higgins with a strapped left knee. He played distinctly and confidently but the brunt of the attacking fell to Divers, Byrne and Jackson. McNeill and Mochan were outstanding in defense. Celtic scored the first through Fernie after an opening spell of intensive pressure. Fernie side-stepped two players before shooting low and hard from 20 yds. The second goal came not long before the interval when Byrne latched onto an Airdrie mistake and put the ball away. Twenty minutes into the second half and Divers was fouled on the edge of the area. Eric Smith scored direct from the free kick high and hard into the goal. A minute later and McNeill sliced a clearance to give Airdrie an own goal. Six minutes from time Divers won the race for a loose ball and slotted it away into an empty net.
Overrall Celtic were faster in attack and more resolute in defense and fought for the ball.
Teams
Airdrie:
Wallace; Neil, Miller; Quinn, Baillie, Johnstone; Sharkey, McGill, Black, Rankin, Ormond.
Scorers: McNeill og (66)
Celtic:
Beattie; MacKay, Mochan; Fernie, McNeill, Smith; Higgins, Jackson, Byrne, Divers, Auld.
Scorers: Fernie (6), Byrne (41), Smith (65), Divers (84)
Referee: H Phillips (Wishaw)
Attendance: 16,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
