Saturday, 2nd August 1890
RANGERS F.C. SPORTS TOURNAMENT
DUMBARTON 2 St.MIRREN 0
Half time: Referee:
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
RANGERS 1 LINTHOUSE 1
Half time: Referee:
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
RANGERS 3 LINTHOUSE 2
Half time: Referee:
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
As part of the Rangers F.C. annual sports tournament a football competition formed the centrepiece of the event. Rangers and Linthouse drew the first match and in the subsequent play-off Rangers won by the odd goal in 5. In the second match Dumbarton defeated St.Mirren 2-0. Due to the necessity of the play-off the final was held over until Saturday 9th August.
Wednesday, 6th August 1890
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
HEART of MIDLOTHIAN 2 HIBERNIAN 0 15,000
Half time: 1-0 Referee: Mr T. Park (President of the SFA)
Recreation Ground, Meggatland, Edinburgh.
The new season began with the first of a series of one -off invitational matches as part of the Edinburgh International Exhibition. In each match a trophy and medals provided by local businesses will be presented to the winners of each match. The opening match played in the evening attracted a tremendous crowd of between 12,000 and 15,000 and Hearts laid out their intentions for the coming season by defeating great rivals Hibs by 2-0. Scott of Hearts opened the scoring after 10 minutes and Jenkinson secured the second mid way through the second half. The winners were later presented with a cup.
LEAGUE COMMITTEE MEETING
A meeting by the League Committee was held to discuss the selection of referees for the forthcoming League season. A decision was taken that the referee list would be drawn mainly from within league clubs and not from the SFA list. The committee also made the stipulation that the club to which the referee belongs shall be responsible for any errors in judgement made by him, and the League will call upon the club to penalise him as such, as well as dealing with him as a body themselves. This decision was approved unanimously.
Cowlairs applied for leave to play their home fixtures at Hibernian Park, home of Glasgow Hibernian. The request was made due to the fact that Gourlay Park, Cowlairs ground, would be unavailable for at least two months due to the construction of a new sewer. George Henderson, the Cowlairs secretary told the committee that they had received the permission of Glasgow Hibernian and that the ground was suitable. After some discussion the request was declined, Third Lanark objecting the strongest as they claimed it would be an encroachment on their preserves. Glasgow Hibernian's ground was situated on the banks of the river Clyde opposite Fleshers Haugh, its main entrance off Rutherglen Road. Several other grounds, including Ibrox Park, home of Rangers, were suggested but no decision could be agreed. This left Cowlairs without a ground for the start of the League season.
Thursday, 7th August 1890
ORDINARY MATCHES (SELECTED)
RENTON 2 METHLAN PARK 2
Half time: 2-1 Referee:
Tontine Park, Renton.
Renton began their season with a warm up game against local rivals Methlan Park. Wilson opened the scoring for the visitors but Renton replied with two goals, one from McCall, to lead 2-1 at half time. Just before the end of the match Methan Park equalised.
Saturday, 9th August 1890
RANGERS F.C. SPORTS TOURNAMENT
RANGERS 3 DUMBARTON 1
Half time: 0-1 Referee:
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
The final of the Rangers F.C. Sports Tournament held over from the previous week saw the hosts win a hard fought match 3-1. The Rangers players were each presented with silver tea sets and the Dumbarton players with carvers.
ORDINARY MATCHES (SELECTED)
HIBERNIAN 1 LINTHOUSE 3
Half time: 1-1 Referee:
Easter Road Park, Edinburgh
LEITH ATHLETIC 0 HEART of MIDLOTHIAN 5 5,000
Half time: 3-0 Referee: Mr Snedden (East of Scotland FA)
Bank Park, Leith
Hibernian suffered their second defeat going down 3-1 to Glasgow side Linthouse. In a match that Hibs were expected to win, especially at home, they were completely outplayed by the visitors who deserved their victory.
Meanwhile Hearts easily brushed aside Leith Athletic.
Wednesday, 13th August 1890
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
LEITH ATHLETIC 3 St.BERNARD’S 1 7,000
Half time: 2-1 Referee: Mr T. Park (President of the SFA)
Recreation Ground, Meggatland, Edinburgh
In the second of the Edinburgh International Exhibition matches, city rivals faced each other with Leith Athletic coming out on top by 3-1. Anderson opened the scoring for Leith mid-way through the first half and shortly afterwords they added a second. St.Bernard’s cut the deficit when Taylor scored just before half time. Just before the end of the match Leith Athletic scored their third. The winners were presented with a cup donated by the Evening Dispatch.
Saturday, 16th August 1890
LEAGUE FIXTURES ROUND 1
CAMBUSLANG 8 VALE of LEVEN 2 Untraced,H.Gourlay,Plenderleith(4), McLeod,Cowan
Low,J.Gourlay
Half time: 5-0 Referee:
Cambuslang: Ross, Smith, Collins, Russell, Jackson, John Buchanan, Low, Brown, Plenderleith, H.Gourlay, J. Gourlay
Vale of Leven: McCallum, McKenzie, Bell, Cormick, W. Graham, A. Graham, Buchanan, Cowan, McLeod, McIntyre, Paterson
CELTIC 1 RENTON 4 10,000
H.Gallacher Cameron,McCall,Brown,Untraced
Half time: 1-3 Referee: Mr Hally (Cowlairs)
Celtic: McLaren, Reynolds, McKeown, P. Gallacher, Kelly, Dowds, H. Gallacher, Naughton, Madden, Groves, Crossan
Renton: Gow, McLean, Campbell, James Brown, H. Gardner, McNair, Hendry, Duncan, McArthur, J. McCall, J. Cameron
DUMBARTON 1 COWLAIRS 1
Taylor Own Goal
Half time: 1-1 Referee: T.Robertson (Queen of the South Wanderers)
Dumbarton: McLeod, Watson, Hannah, McMillan, Boyle, Keir, Taylor, W. Henderson, Mair, Hutcheson, Bell
Cowlairs: Duff, McLeod, McCartney, McPherson, Masterton, Campbell, Binks, Dickson, Dempsey, Baker, Mathieson
RANGERS 5 HEART of MIDLOTHIAN 2 3,500
Own Goal(2), H. McCreadie, Kerr Begbie,Taylor
J. McPherson
Half time: 1-2 Referee: Mr Graham (Renton)
Rangers: Reid, Gow, J. Muir, A. McCreddie, Marshall, Mitchell, Wylie, Kerr, H. McCreddie, J. McPherson, Hislop
Heart of Midlothian: McKay, Roberts, Adams, Hill, McPherson, Begbie, Taylor, Mason, Jamieson, Baird, Scott
League Table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GA | ||
1.
|
Cambuslang |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
2
|
2
|
4.000
|
2.
|
Renton |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
4.000
|
3.
|
Rangers |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
2.500
|
4.
|
Cowlairs |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1.000
|
5.
|
Dumbarton |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1.000
|
6.
|
Heart of Midlothian |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
0.400
|
7.
|
Celtic |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
0.250
|
8.
|
Vale of Leven |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
8
|
0
|
0.250
|
9.
|
Abercorn |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
10.
|
St.Mirren |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
11.
|
Third Lanark |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
The first ever Scottish League kicked off with the first four fixtures of the season and the games produced plenty of goals, excitement and a few shocks.
It rained goals at Whitefield Park, Cambuslang, in what was the biggest shock of the day as the home team utterly hammered Vale of Leven by 8-2. Vale kicked off but Cambuslang immediately gained possession and mounted a series of attacks so it was no surprise when they took an early lead. After that the floodgates opened and four further goals were scored before half time. Hugh Gourlay, Plenderleith, Lowe and Plenderleith again were the men on target. In the second half Plenderleith made it 6-0 and became the first player to score a league hat-trick and soon he scored his own fourth and Cambuslang’s seventh. At 7-0 down, the Vale at last roused themselves and managed to pull two goals back through McLeod and Cowan. James Gourlay scored Cambuslang’s eighth just before the end.
Celtic kicked off against Renton with the wind in their faces and were forced to play with left-half Jimmy McLaren in goal. Renton took immediate control and scored within the first minute of the match. Cameron had the honour of scoring the first ever league goal. Both teams mounted several attacks with Crossan of Celtic coming closest with a shot just over the bar. After Groves had a shot saved by Gow, Renton countered and scored a second goal through McCall. From this point on Renton were well on top and it was no surprise when James Brown scored their third after 30 minutes. Celtic responded and pulled one back through H. Gallacher on 35 minutes. In the second half, with the wind behind them, Celtic played better but Renton held firm as Gow pulled off a string of fine saves. With ten minutes remaining, Renton scored a fourth goal to secure a rather comfortable win.
Dumbarton opened their league campaign at Boghead Park against Cowlairs and despite heavy rain and strong wind there was a good turnout of supporters. Dumbarton made a good start and made the home fans happy when they took the lead after 15 minutes through Taylor. Cowlairs responded and shortly later a mistake by the Dumbarton goalkeeper, McLeod, allowed them to equalise. From that point onwards it was all Dumbarton and the Cowlairs goal took a pounding but the Springburn men put up a stout defence and held firm. For just about the whole of the second half Dumbarton were camped in the Cowlairs half but when chances arose they found Gow, the visitors goalkeeper, unbeatable. Dumbarton did get the ball across the line late on but it was ruled out for offside. In a game Dumbarton were expected to win they had to settle for a draw.
Heart of Midlothian kicked off against Rangers in front of a reasonable crowd at Ibrox Park and made a good start putting pressure on the home team in the first 20 minutes. However in a rare breakaway Kerr of Rangers shot at goal, which in attempting to head clear, Adams the Hearts defender only succeeded in heading into his own goal. Hearts immediately responded to this setback and a minute later equalised with a goal through Begbie. Hearts took a deserved lead on 30 minutes through Taylor and that ended the first half scoring. In the second half Rangers had the wind behind them and mounted pressure on the Hearts goal and in 65 minutes got their reward when H. McCreadie equalised. Five minutes later Hearts conceded a second own goal, this time from Roberts, to put Rangers ahead. This appeared to knock the stuffing out of Hearts and in the dying minutes conceded a further two goals. Kerr then J.McPherson the men on target for Rangers.
ORDINARY MATCHES (SELECTED)
HURLFORD 5 CLYDE 8
Half time: 3-4 Referee:
Station Park, Hurlford
HIBERNIAN 1 AIRDRIEONIANS 1
Half time: 1-1 Referee:
Easter Road Park, Edinburgh
St.BERNARD’S 3 MOTHERWELL 1
Half time: 1-0 Referee:
Logie Green, Edinburgh
A good crowd witnessed a 13-goal thriller at Hurlford where Clyde emerged 8-5 winners. Hibernian were surprisingly held at home by Linthouse and St.Bernard’s won comfortably at home to Motherwell.
Tuesday, 19th August 1890
SFA MEETING – THE JAMES McCALL MATTER
The Scottish Football Association held their first meeting of the season and a good turnout of members was reported. The first item was the merging of the Business sub committee with the Professional sub committee and a new sub committee was formed to be known as the Business and Professional sub committee. Member appointments to the International committee for coming season were also agreed.
A number of clubs were struck from the SFA membership list for not paying their annual subscription, these were: - Lindertis, Aberdeen Rovers, Our Boys (Blairgowrie) and Dunfermline. Application from the Aberdeen Football Association to affiliate to the SFA was approved. Two clubs applied for membership, Kirriemuir and Shanghai Engineers. Doubt was raised concerning Kirriemuir due to the fact they did not have a private ground however after some debate they were voted in. Shanghai Engineers application was rejected as the intimated by letter that they did not wish to take part in the Scottish Cup.
The most controversial piece of business was the matter of the James McCall benefit match that was played on the 31st May 1890. The match was played between Celtic and Old Renton at Celtic Park. The Old Renton team was made up of mostly guest players who formerly played for Renton. Some of these players now played in England on a professional basis and it also included James Kelly, now with Celtic. The president of the SFA, Mr Park (Cambuslang) stated that prior to the match, Renton contacted him to ask whether the game was legal or otherwise. Mr Park stated that the match was contrary to SFA rules; no benefit match could be played except in the case of sickness or accident. Despite this advice the match went ahead anyway, Mr Park asked that the meeting uphold his decision.
Mr Kirkwood (Third Lanark) opened the debate stating that Mr Park had been hasty in his ruling, that he should have referred the matter to the relevant committee. He felt the match was legal and that any player who had done so much service to Scottish football, such as James McCall, should deserve consideration. Mr Sliman (Battlefield) disagreed with that view and said the match was an insult to the President. This comment was greeted with an enthusiastic round of applause. Sliman then put forward a motion: “That the Association uphold the Presidents decision regarding the decision.” Mr Sludden seconded this and the motion was passed by 15 votes to 5.
Mr Currie (Dunblane) proposed that McCall be suspended for two months whilst Mr Campbell (Treasurer) proposed that the matter be remitted to the Business and Professional committee; that Messrs Mccall and Kelly along with Renton and Celtic be present at the meeting for examination. Mr McLean (Ayr) proposed that the full committee decide on the affair. In the end it was agreed “that this matter of professionalism regarding McCall be left to the Business and Professional sub committee and that Messrs McCall and Kelly be cited along with Celtic and Renton to appear; this committee to have full power to deal with the matter.”
The meeting conclude with the first round draw of the Scottish Cup. The League clubs were drawn in the following ties: -
ABERCORN v Irvine
Arthurlie v St.MIRREN
Battlefield v THIRD LANARK
CAMBUSLANG v Glasgow Wanderers
CELTIC v RANGERS
COWLAIRS v Airdrieonians
HEART of MIDLOTHIAN V Raith Rovers
Kilsyth Wanderers v RENTON
Smithstone Hibernians v DUMBARTON
Stenhousemuir v VALE of LEVEN
Wednesday, 20th August 1890
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
DUMBARTON 3 LEITH ATHLETIC 1 6,000
Half time: 0-1 Referee: Mr J. R. McDowell (Secretary of the SFA)
Recreation Ground, Meggatland, Edinburgh
In the third match of the Edinburgh International Tournament Dumbarton were comfortable 3-1 winners over Leith Athletic. The match influenced by the strong wind that blew in Leith’s favour first half and Dumbarton’s second half. The winners received a silver cup presented by an anonymous donor, Dumbarton’s players also received medals.
Saturday, 23rd August 1890
LEAGUE FIXTURES ROUND 2
CAMBUSLANG 2 RANGERS 6
Russell,Plenderleith Gow,McPherson(3),Wylie,Kerr
Half time: 1-3 Referee:
Cambuslang: Ross, Smith, Collins, Russell, Jackson, John Buchanan, Low, Brown, Plenderleith, H.Gourlay, McFarlane
Rangers: McKenzie, Gow, Muir, A. McCreadie, Marshall, Mitchell, Wylie, Kerr, H. Mcreadie, McPherson, Hislop
COWLAIRS 3 VALE of LEVEN 2 2,000
Untraced(2),Dickson Sinclair(og),Untraced
Half time: 1-1 Referee: Mr P.M.McLachlan (Third Lanark)
Played at Celtic Park, Glasgow
Cowlairs: Duff, Sinclair, McLeod, Masterton, Kennedy, McPherson, Bishop, Binks, Dempsey, Dickson, Mathieson
Vale of Leven: Wilson, McKenzie, Murray, Cormack, Paterson, Sharp, Cowan, Buchanan, McLeod, McMillan, Bruce
HEART of MIDLOTHIAN 0 CELTIC 5 8,000
Madden(2),Groves(2),Dowds
Half time: 0-3 Referee: Mr Robertson (5th KRV)
Heart of Midlothian: McKay, Adams, Foyers, Begbie, McPherson, Hill, Taylor, Mason, Jenkinson, Scott, Baird
Celtic: Bell, McKeown, Reynolds, W.Maley, Kelly, McLaren, Madden, Dowds, Groves, Dunbar, Crossan
RENTON 2 St.MIRREN 2
Cameron,Hendry Douglas,Dunlop
Half time: 0-2 Referee:
Renton: Gow, Campbell, McLean, McNair, Gardner, Brown, McCall, Cameron, McArthur, Duncan, Hendry
St.Mirren: Deans, A.McBain, Hunter, E.McBain, Jones, Prentice, Wallace, Dunlop, Douglas, McAuley, Morrison
THIRD LANARK 1 DUMBARTON 3 6,000
McIntosh Bell,Taylor,McMillan
Half time: 1-1 Referee: Mr Cameron (Rangers)
Third Lanark: Downie, Scott, Dewar, McFarlane, Love, Lochhead, McIntosh, Thomson, Lapsley, Burke, Johnstone
Dumbarton: McLeod, Watson, Hannah, McMillan, Boyle, Keir, Taylor, Galbraith, Mair, Bell, McNaught
League Table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GA | ||
1.
|
Rangers |
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
4
|
4
|
2.750
|
2.
|
Renton |
2
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
2.000
|
3.
|
Dumbarton |
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
2.000
|
4.
|
Cowlairs |
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
1.333
|
5.
|
Celtic |
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
1.500
|
6.
|
Cambuslang |
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
1.250
|
7.
|
St.Mirren |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1.000
|
8.
|
Vale of Leven |
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
11
|
0
|
0.364
|
9.
|
Third Lanark |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0.333
|
10.
|
Heart of Midlothian |
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
10
|
0
|
0.200
|
11.
|
Abercorn |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
The second round of league fixtures produced fewer surprises than the first but Cowlairs defeat of Vale of Leven was unexpected.
Cambuslang made one change from their excellent start to their league campaign with McFarlane replacing James Gourlay on the left wing. Rangers, who also made a winning start, elected to replace Reid with McKenzie in goal. It looked like Cambuslang’s form would continue when Russell put the home team a goal ahead after just 5 minutes but Rangers hit back after 15 minutes when Gow levelled. Rangers took the lead after 35 minutes through McPherson and a minute later the same player made it 3-1. A few minutes after the restart, McPherson, for his hat trick, put Rangers 4-1 ahead and at this point the Glasgow side were cruising. However not long after a speculative shot from Russell was dropped by McKenzie and that gave Plenderleith an easy tap-in to make it 4-2. A revival never materialised and on 78 minutes Wylie scored Rangers 5th goal and near the end Kerr scored a 6th.
With Gourlay Park out of commission, Cowlairs borrowed Celtic Park for their home match against Vale of Leven. They made three changes from the team that held Dumbarton; Sinclair replaced McCarntney, Kennedy replaced Campbell and Bishop replaced Baker. Vale of Leven, still smarting from their hammering by Cambuslang made wholesale changes to their line-up. Wilson replaced McCallum in goal whilst Murray, Sharp, McMillan and Bruce replaced Bell, W. Graham, A. Graham and McIntyre respectively. Cowlairs took the lead after just one minute and thereafter found themselves under heavy pressure from Vale. Not long before half time the pressure eventually paid off and Vale equalised courtesy of a Sinclair own goal. Mid way through the second half Vale went ahead from a scrimmage but within 2 minutes of that, Cowlairs equalised through Dickson. The game was heading for a draw when with virtually the last kick ball Cowlairs scored the winning goal.
Hearts made two changes to the team that lost to Rangers last week; Foyers replaced Roberts and Jenkinson replaced Jamieson. Celtic reacting to their defeat to Renton made four changes. New signing from Mauchline, Jamie Bell, replaced McLaren in goal who reverted to his normal left half position in place of Hugh Gallacher, Willie Maley replaced Pat Gallacher at right half with Dunbar replacing Naughton up front. Hearts had most of the early play but Celtic took the lead after 11 minutes when a shot from Madden went in off the bar. A short time later Dowds suffered a bad injury when he was accidentally kicked in the face and had to leave the field. For the 15 or so minutes that Celtic played with 10 men, Hearts could make no headway and when Dowds did return with a heavily bandaged head Madden scored again to put Celtic two up. Just before half time Groves scored Celtic’s third. The second half was all too easily for Celtic, Groves scored a fourth mid way through and Dowds added a fifth 15 minutes from time.
Renton were unchanged for the visit of St.Mirren who were playing their first league game of the season. Renton started brightly forcing Deans to make saves from Cameron and McCall but the Saints gradually got into the game and succeeded in taking the lead in 30 minutes with a Douglas effort. Ten minutes later Dunlop put St.Mirren two up and deserved their half time lead. In the second half, Renton redoubled their efforts and pulled one back within a minute of the restart. St.Mirren held out until just before the end when Renton’s Hendry grabbed the equaliser.
Third Lanark opened their campaign against Dumbarton and had much of the early play. Dumbarton made two changes from the draw with Cowlairs with Galbraith in for Henderson and McNaught replacing Hutcheson. After 30 minutes play Dumbarton took the lead through Bell but Thirds fought back to equalise two minutes later through McIntosh. In the second half Taylor put Dumbarton ahead on the hour and not long after McMillan made it 3-1. The game thereafter descended into some questionable play that saw the referee intervene several times with a few players lucky to stay on the field. When the game finally settled down again both teams had chances to score but the match ended with Dumbarton 3-1 winners.
ORDINARY MATCHES (SELECTED)
ABERCORN 4 HIBERNIAN 1 1,500
Half time: 1-1 Referee:
Underwood Park, Paisley
CLYDE 7 ARTHURLIE 2
Half time: 2-2 Referee:
Barrowfield Park, Glasgow
FALKIRK 5 QUEEN’S PARK 10 3,000
Half time: 3-3 Referee:
Brockville Park, Falkirk
OUR BOYS (DUNDEE) 5 St.BERNARD’S 4
Half time 4-2 Referee:
West Craigie Park, Dundee
Still no joy for Hibernian as they crash 4-1 to Abercorn. Clyde overpower Arthurlie by 7 goals to 2. Plenty of goals for the money as Falkirk open their season with a 10-5 defeat to Queen’s Park and Our Boys shade a 9 goal thriller over St.Bernard’s in Dundee.
Wednesday, 27th August 1890
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
QUEEN’S PARK 9 HIBERNIAN 0 10,000
Half time: 3-0 Referee: Mr R. F. Harrison (Ayrshire Football Assoc)
Recreation Ground, Meggatland, Edinburgh
In the fourth match of the series Hibs suffered a humiliating 9-goal defeat to Queen’s Park. They held out for the first 20 minutes and then the floodgates opened. The miserable start to the season for Hibernian continues with still no wins. Meanwhile Queen’s Park’s start to the season sees them rattle in 19 goals in two games.
Saturday, 30th August 1890
LEAGUE FIXTURES ROUND 3
CELTIC 5 CAMBUSLANG 2 4,000 Dowds(3),Crossan(2) Plenderleith(2)
Half time: 0-1 Referee:
Celtic: Bell, Reynolds, McKeown, P. Gallacher, W. Maley, Dowds, Crossan, H. Galacher, Groves, Dunbar, Madden
Cambuslang: Ross, Smith, Cuthbert, Russell, Guy, John Buchanan, Low, Brown, Plenderleith H. Gourlay, Cockburn
DUMBARTON 3 HEART of MIDLOTHIAN 1 5,000
Taylor,Bell,Mair McPherson
Half time: 1-1 Referee: Mr Kennedy (Third Lanark)
Dumbarton: McLeod, Watson, Hannah, McDonald, Boyle, Kerr, Taylor, Galbraith, Mair, McNaught, Bell
Heart of Midlothian: Fairbairn, Adams, Goodfellow, Begbie, McPherson, Hill, Taylor, Mason, Scott, Fleming, Baird
RANGERS 4 RENTON 1 8,000
Untraced,McPherson,Hislop,Kerr Cameron
Half time: 2-0 Referee: Mr J Halley
Rangers: Reid, Gow, Muir, A. McCreadie, Marshall, Mitchell, Wylie, Kerr, H. McCreadie, McPherson, Hislop
Renton: Gow, McLean, Campbell, Brown, Gardner, McNair, Hendry, Duncan, McArthur, McCall, Cameron
St.MIRREN 5 COWLAIRS 2 3,000
Morrison(2),Douglas(3) Dempsey(2)
Half time: 2-1 Referee: Mr T Maley (Celtic)
St.Mirren: Deans, Hunter, A. McBain, Prentice, Jones, E. McBain, Morrison, McAuley, McFarlane, Douglas, Dunlop
Cowlairs: Duff, Sinclair, McLeod, Masterton, Kennedy. McPherson, Bishop, Binks, Dempsey, Henderson, Dickson
VALE of LEVEN 2 ABERCORN 1
Bruce,McNicoll Raeside
Half time: 1-0 Referee: Mr Robertson (5th KRV)
Vale of Leven: Wilson, Murray, McKenzie, Sharp, McNicoll, McLeod, Bruce, McMillan, Rankin, Buchanan, Cowan
Abercorn: Duff, Cuthbertson, Bisland, Reid, Bowie, Johnstone, Bonnar, Buchanan, Raeside, Nicoll, Murdoch
League Table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GA | ||
1.
|
Rangers |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
5
|
6
|
3.000
|
2.
|
Dumbarton |
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
7
|
3
|
5
|
2.333
|
3.
|
Celtic |
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
11
|
6
|
4
|
1.833
|
4.
|
St.Mirren |
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
1.750
|
5.
|
Renton |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
7
|
7
|
3
|
1.000
|
6.
|
Cowlairs |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
8
|
3
|
0.750
|
7.
|
Cambuslang |
1
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
12
|
13
|
2
|
0.923
|
8.
|
Vale of Leven |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
6
|
12
|
2
|
0.500
|
9.
|
Abercorn |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0.500
|
10.
|
Third Lanark |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0.333
|
11.
|
Heart of Midlothian |
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
13
|
0
|
0.231
|
After 3 rounds only one team has a 100% record. Rangers have seen an unexpected surge of form and top the League from Dumbarton. Hearts on the other hand, tipped to do well struggle for form with 3 defeats out of 3.
Celtic still can’t get a settled team or formation and were hampered further with injuries to Kelly and McLaren, Pat and Hugh Gallacher the replacements. Groves was forced to play carrying an injury. Cambuslang made changes from the previous game with Cuthbert replacing Collins, Guy replacing Jackson and Cockburn in for McFarlane. Celtic were unsteady and unsure during most of the first half and it was no surprise when Cambuslang took the lead through Plenderleith on 35 minutes. They could have had more but Bell in the Celtic goal was in fine form. In the second half Celtic improved slightly and Dowds equalised on the hour. Things looked destined to be a draw until a crazy last 7 minutes saw Celtic score 4 goals, Dowds and Crossan both with a brace. Plenderleith scored for Cambuslang with the last kick of the ball.
Dumbarton made just one change from the team that beat Third Lanark, McDonald in for McMillan at right half. Hearts lost goalkeeper McKay to Middlesbrough the previous day, Fairbairn came in as his replacement. Two other changes saw Goodfellow in for Foyers and Fleming replacing Jenkinson. The good turnout at Boghead saw a fast and exciting game with both goalkeepers in excellent form to keep out the shots. After 20 minutes, Hearts broke the deadlock through McPherson with a shot in off the bar. Dumbarton protested the ball had gone over, not under, the bar but the goal stood. Taylor equalised for Dumbarton on 42 minutes. Hearts were much improved from previous games but eventually crumbled when Bell gave Dumbarton the lead after an hour with Mair scoring a third sometime later. Hearts were unlucky as the referee had a poor game with Dumbarton scoring two suspiciously offside goals that he let stand.
Reid came back in goal for McKenzie and that was the only change to the Rangers team. Renton were once again unchanged. Ibrox saw a large crowd turn up for this much-anticipated match and Rangers put Renton under pressure right from the kick off. Gow in the Renton goal prevented what seemed a certain goal from McPherson in the opening minutes but could do nothing to prevent the goal from a scrimmage after 20 minutes. Renton were playing well but had no luck in front of goal and McPherson grabbed Rangers’ second goal just before half time. Hislop then made it 3-0 a minute after the restart and on 67 minutes Kerr made it 4-0. The score line was cruel on Renton as their play did not deserve such a margin, however they did pull one back on 70 minutes through Cameron. Sadly the game then descended into an ugly roughness that the referee did not keep in check.
St.Mirren faced a confident Cowlairs with McFarlane in for Wallace the only change from last week. Cowlairs also made one change with Henderson replacing Mathieson. St.Mirren got off to the perfect start when Morrison put them ahead after just 3 minutes. Play then became a midfield battle with no team having the upper hand until Dempsey broke through and equalised for Cowlairs. Just on the stroke of half time Douglas gave St.Mirren the lead once again but the Springburn men fought back and Dempsey again equalised. With 20 minutes to go, McFarlane was forced to retire through injury and St.Mirren saw out the remaining time with 10 men. The game was heading for a draw when inexplicably Cowlairs collapsed in the last 5 minutes. Douglas put St.Mirren ahead for the third time with a goal in 85 minutes and a minute later grabbed his hat trick. Morrison completed the scoring in the 89th minute.
Abercorn at last made their League debut and faced an off form Vale of Leven at Alexandria. The Vale made two changes from last week with McNicol in for Murray and Rankin replacing Paterson. The game was fairly even until midway through the first half when Vale took the lead from a tremendous Bruce free kick. It remained that way until half time with neither team securing the upper hand. Vale at last found some form against a stubborn Abercorn and went 2-0 ahead with a fine goal from McNicol. Vale played out the remaining time with a clear lead but with 5 minutes to go, Raeside pulled one back for Abercorn. Vale held on for their first win and a welcome relief for their fans.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
THIRD LANARK 2 OUR BOYS (DUNDEE) 0 3,000
Half time: 0-1 Referee:
Recreation Ground, Meggatland, Edinburgh
Third Lanark to advantage of a Saturday off from league duty to play the 5th match in the Edinburgh International Exhibition Tournament and faced the Dundee team, Our Boys. The Warriors emerged winners after a hard fought match winning 2-1 after being one goal doing at half time.
ORDINARY MATCHES (SELECTED)
QUEEN’S PARK 3 CLYDE 2 5,000
Half time: 2-1 Referee:
Hampden Park, Glasgow
St.BERNARD’S 3 HIBERNIAN 1 2,000
Half time: 2-2 Referee:
Logie Green, Edinburgh
Queen’s Park continue to show great form with another win whilst Hibernian lose once again, this time to Edinburgh rivals St.Bernard’s. Clearly things are not right down Easter Road way.
