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Celtic Games 1888 - St. Bernards

The Scotsman - Monday, 5th November 1888, page 5
Celtic v St Bernards – These teams met at Powderhall in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup Competition, and, despite the unfavourable weather, fully six thousand spectators were present, many journeying from Glasgow. The game all through was a capital display of scientific football, but the Celts fairly had the whip hand of their opponents, and ran out winners by four goals to one. The Celtic team was the same as published, but as Neilson was found to be ineligible for the Saints the veteran Ballie stepped into the arena. The Celts, who appeared in the familiar green jerseys, lost the toss, and kicked off at 3.10. The right wing of the Saints carried the ball over the line. The Celtic retaliated, M’Callum being conspicuous with a clever run. From this an abortive corner resulted. The Irishmen kept peppering away at their opponents’ goal, Dunbar and M’Callum being always prominent. After some clever work by Ballie and Lowe, the strangers were forced to concede a corner, but it was badly placed. Knox and Corson had a good opening, just after Knox passed neatly to Corson and the latter had the goal at his mercy; but to the disgust of the Saints’ supporters he sent the ball wide. The St Bernards continued to play up with surprising activity until a foul against Ritchie gave the Irish players relief. Ritchie tried a long shot, but it went spinning over the bar; and, indeed, the Saints’ efforts in front of goal were simply execrable. Groves had now his first run, dashing through his opponents in his own neat style until Reid brought him to bay. Some further neat dribbling by M’Callum gained his side a corner, and just after M’Laren all but lowered the Saints’ colours with a neat shot. From a throw-in the Celtic looked dangerous, but Ross cleared in the most approved fashion. Groves was prominent with a characteristic run, and passing in the nick of time to M’Callum, the latter easily beat M’Intosh who left his charge. Off-side was successfully claimed. The game was then thirty minutes old. The Saints retaliated, and Dorkin sent in a stinger which struck the cross-bar, the spectators cheering wildly under the impression that a goal had been recorded. This was hard lines for the home team, as the shot reserved a better fate. Corson had a run all by himself nearly the length of the field, and M’Keown was compelled to sent the leather into touch. Groves was over and over again conspicuous with his tricky play, but the whole Glasgow forwards exhibited combination of the highest order. Their excellent play gave them another corner, which was well placed by Coleman, but nothing resulted. T. Maley had a clever run up the left, and a foul against the Saints followed, which proved fruitless. Just on have-time the same player landed the second point, beating M’Intosh cleverly. After a brief interval, the game was restarted, the visitors now having the wind with them. The Saints, however, were the first to show up, Corson being responsible for some good work. Ritchie made a blunder in dallying too long with the ball, the result being that the home goal had a narrow shave. The Saints repelled the advances of the Celts for a time, but Kelly was well-nigh impassable, “well-played Kelly”, being an expression of frequent occurrence. Dunbar and Coleman gave Groves a chance, which, though easy enough, he failed to avail himself of. A foul, right in the Saints’ goal-mouth, gave their opponents some anxious moments, but Hutton got the sphere away. M’Laren tried some long shooting, but Groves was first was the first of this period to record a point, a neat shot going past M’Intosh. The Celtic still continued to have much the best of the game, and Groves forced his opponents to give him another corner – T. Maley placing nicely , though unsuccessfully. Lowe was deservedly cheered for a capital run, but the superior passing of the “wearers of the green” completely baffled their opponents. The game for a time continued to be somewhat uninteresting, the West country players being much too good for the Saints. The latter, however, at last rose to the occasion, and after some good combined play Corson beat Dunning with a really first-class shot. This success was hailed with loud and prolonged cheering from the home contingent. This unexpected reverse fairly roused the Celtic, and Groves, after a deer-like run over came all opposition, and landed the fourth point for his team. Several shots were sent at M’Intosh, all of which he fisted out beautifully. Ballie astonished everybody by running right through all his opponents, even Kelly being beaten, but the veteran had not the requisite speed to finish with. No further scoring took place, and, when the referee’s whistle sounded, the result was as above.


McCallum
Groves(2)
T. Maley