Aberdeen 1 - 2 Celtic

ABERDEEN JUST FAIL IN GREAT BATTLE FOR SCOTTISH

CELTIC DESERVING OF SUCCESS

GAME FULL OF THRILLS, BUT LITTLE GOOD FOOTBALL

ELEMENT OF LUCK ABOUT EACH OF THREE GOALS

CHANCES MISSED BY BOTH SIDES: CROWD RECORD FOR CUP FINAL

At Hampden Park, Glasgow, on Saturday two teams fought desperately hard but cleanly to gain possession of the coveted Scottish Cup. Celtic won, and are to be congratulated. As the score suggests, there was little between the teams. Aberdeen's failure in this, their first, Scottish Cup final was a big disappointment to enthusiasts in the North-east, but the winners could scarcely be grudged their victory. Celtic were the more consistent and cohesive of two sides, neither of which revealed the football of which they are capable. A record crowd for a Cup final saw a hard, fast, and thrilling game, and, if the finer points were often lacking, this was compensated for to some extent by the keenness of the exchanges. Aberdeen fought a courageous fight, but they disappointed in that they failed to reproduce the team-work and skill which had carried them through the preceding rounds. The Dons can play football of a much better standard, and had they done so at Hampden Park the Scottish Cup would now be resting at Pittodrie for the first time instead of Parkhead for the fifteenth time. Many explanations may be offered for Aberdeen's lack of success, but the most feasible is that they were affected by nerves. It was a big occasion and the team as a whole took a long time to settle down. The Dons never revealed the confidence and craft which has been a feature of their play during the season.

CELTIC LIKELIER LOT

Celtic were not so very much ahead on Aberdeen on play, but they were a more buoyant side and always looked the likelier lot. They were nippier on the ball and more cohesive in their advances. Both teams showed a surprising lack of finishing power. Chances were missed by both sides and none of the three goals scored was of a particularly brilliant nature. Each had an element of luck about it. Celtic were first to get into their stride and might have taken the lead earlier than they did. Play had been ten minutes in progress when they went ahead. McGrory got his head to a free kick by Paterson, but the ball was returned to Buchan. The inside-right shot strongly and Johnstone had to dive sideways to stop the ball. It fell at the feet of Crum and he had nothing to do but slip it into the net. This was a bad blow to Aberdeen hopes, but the crowd had no time to express opinion before the teams were on level terms again. It was Aberdeen's first concerted movement. They swept down from the re-centre, and when McKenzie sent the ball out to the left it glanced off Hogg to Armstrong, who promptly swept it into the net.

NEW CUP FINAL RECORD ATTENDANCE 144500 MONEY DRAWN £11,000

McGrory missed a chance for Celtic when he beat Falloon in a tussle for the ball, but he lost control and Johnstone cleared. Murphy, too, might have done better than shoot past when he beat Cooper in a race for Buchan pass. Celtic's goal had one very narrow escape before the interval. Smart work by Armstrong and Mills saw Kennaway race from his charge to clear. When Beynon gained possession and shot hard and true for goal Kennaway, yards out his goal, was fortunate to clutch the ball as it was about to pass over his head. Celtic again forced the pace at the start of the second half, and first Temple and then Falloon brought off smart clearances from Delaney and McGrory respectively. Aberdeen weathered the Celtic storm, and came away with a splendid rally. For ten minutes they had Celtic defending desperately, and had they displayed more thrust in the matter of finishing during this period they would probably have triumphed. Kennaway's most difficult task, however, was to save a fast rising shot from Beynon. Twice Lang had chances. He sent past from a cross by Beynon, and from a slip by Armstrong he sent direct to Kennaway. Mills was unfortunate with a great touchline effort which Struck the crossbar. Then came a Celtic revival and the winning goal. Falloon and McGrory went for the ball together, but the bounce beat them both, and Buchan fastened on to run on and find the net off the post. This goal came in the twenty-eighth minute.

DESPERATE FIGHT

The Dons fought back desperately, and almost repeated their first half feat of scoring from the re-centre when Lang ran through to send narrowly over. Celtic's reply was two excellent shots by McGrory, which Johnstone held safely. Towards the end the Dons made a last desperate bid avoid defeat, but Celtic hung on to their slender lead. The Aberdeen defence was shaky at times under pressure, and their covering up was not all it might have been. Johnstone played his part in goal and had no chance with the shots that beat him. Cooper found Murphy an elusive opponent, and was sometimes disconcerted by the winger's speed, but worked hard all through. Although opposed to Scotland's right winger in Delaney, Temple emerged from the game with a fair amount of credit. He started none too promisingly, but gradually gained in confidence, and kept his opponent fairly well subdued. Falloon was Aberdeen's No. 1 defender. The Irishman was indefatigable. Time and again he nipped in with fearless abandon to save awkward situations. He gave McGrory few chances. The play of the wing halves was disappointing, and especially does this apply to Thomson, who failed to reveal his true form. The left half did not impress either in defence or attack. Dunlop, on the other flank, was a tireless worker, but was too busy in defence to lend his forwards sufficient support. Beynon was the only member of the attack deserving of full marks. He was both speedy and enterprising, and was ever a source of danger. Had he received more support he might have got goals. Armstrong, too, suffered from lack of support, and, although he worked hard to distribute play, there were occasions when he might have done better to attempt a break through on his own. McKenzie lacked some of his usual forcefulness, albeit he worked hard in an effort to get the line moving with something like its normal cohesion. Perhaps Strauss was missed on the extreme left. Some may hold the opinion that Lang was less effective than Strauss would have been, but it must be admitted that Lang was a wholehearted trier.

MILLS DISAPPOINTS

Mills was disappointing. We saw occasional flashes of subtlety and craft, but, on the whole, he had a poor game. The Celtic defence, too, was inclined to waver under pressure. Kennaway in goal dealt confidently with all that came his way, while Morrison was the more skilful of two resourceful backs. Celtic held an advantage at half-back. In Geatons they had the most effective middleman afield. Lyon at centre-half was strong in defence, and Paterson, too, worked hard. Buchan and Crum, the inside forwards, took the honours in attack. Both were clever on the ball, and their smart distribution was chiefly responsible for Celtic's superiority as an attacking force. Although not so speedy as formally, McGrory retains much of his craft, and it was well for Aberdeen that Falloon took no liberties with him.

Source: Press & Journal, 26th April 1937