| Matches: 1889 | 1890 | 1887-1900 | Forum |
Celtic Games 1889 – St. Bernards
Trivia
- Friendly match played at Logie Green, Edinburgh.
- Before 3,000 spectators.
Review
At Edinburgh the only Association match of note was the meeting of the Celtic and St Bernard’s at Logie Green. The Celtic were strongly represented, but showed very disappointing form.
The St Bernard’s had fully the best of the game, but were very unfortunate, while, on the other hand, the Glasgow men scored three goals, two of which were decidedly lucky points. The Celtic backs played a strong game, but their forwards showed little combination.
Teams
St Bernard’s:-
McIntosh, Methven, A Foyer, Bennett, Hutton, Waterston, A Bishop, J Foyer, H Foyer, T Lamb, C Hull.
Celtic:-
McLaughlin, Reynolds, P Gallagher, T Maley, Kelly, Dowds, Madden, Dunbar, Groves, McCallum, H Gallagher.
Goals:- Dunbar, Groves, Dunbar 85.
Att:- 3,000.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
- Official Site
Pictures
- Match Pictures
From newspaper report from the time.
Report 1
The Scotsman – Monday, 21st October 1889, page 5
St Bernard’s v Celtic – Played at Logie Green before several thousand spectators. The home team won the toss, and Groves started play. The Saints had the first advantage, McLaughlin being called upon to save a good shot. The Celts made efforts to get way, and Madden getting the ball passed to Dunbar, who beat McIntosh easily.
The Celts now took the upper hand, and play was confined to the home territory. At length A. Foyer, by a piece of good tackling, raised the siege, and the game became more open, Hall finishing a run by the home forwards by shooting past. Bishop had a good run down the right, and shot high into goal, McLaughlin just managing to save.
The Celts speedily retaliated, and got a corner, but the home defence baffled the efforts of the Irishmen. Hall and Lamb made a good attempt to make headway, but Reynolds managed to defeat them. Madden now got hold of the ball, and made a great run up the right , outpacing Waterston and A. Foyer, but slackening his pace as he got near the goal-line, Foyer made up the distance between them, and, taking the ball from the Celt, sent it down the field amid applause.
The left wing of the home team took the play up, and the Celts’ keeper just managed to save. The Celts retaliated, and Mclntosh was called upon to defend his charge.
Before half-time Groves got away with one of his runs, and scored a second goal.
The Saints recommenced play in the second half, but a foul ten yards from the centre of the field at once stopped them. Getting the ball again they carried it through the opposing backs, and McLaughlin had to save thrice. The green and white, however, recovered themselves, and making towards the opposing goal, Methven missed his kick and McIntosh saved what looked like a sure goal.
The home team, urged on by the cries of their followers, fought energetically, and held their own against their redoubtable opponents. For some time the play was kept within the Celtic territory, and the rearguard of the visitors had all their work cut out to keep the home forwards back. The Irish forwards again got away, but a foul stopped them, and Bishop returned with a run up the right wing. His pass was, however, injudicious. The old Cowlairs man made up for this mistake soon afterwards by sending a beautiful shot across the goal, but the ball was not caught. Still the Saints continued to press.
All their endeavours, however, seemed to be fated to be thwarted at the critical moment. Yet if they could not score, the members of the team were not the less entitled to great credit for the excellence of their play. The Celts managed to score again towards the end of the game which, therefore, ended:- Celtic, three goals; St Bernard’s, nil.
Report 2
The Celtic paid their first visit of the season to Edinburgh, and met in a friendly encounter with the St Bernard’s at Logie Green. The weather was fine and breezy, and there were fully 3,000 spectators present when the game started.
The Celtic kicked off. The Saints were the first to attack, and McLaughlin had to kick out a likely shot. Madden had a clever run up the right, and passing to Dunbar, who in turn sent in a swift shot, beating McIntosh, the ball passing under the custodian’s foot. The Celtic were altogether disappointing. Groves failing to keep his wings in hand.
The Saints now began to press, and fairly held their opponents for fully quarter of an hour, the Celtic playing a rather disjointed game, but the Saints’ shooting was erratic and lost several likely chances.
Shortly before half-time the Celts got into their opponents’ territory and from an open scrimmage Groves got the ball and dribbled it through the Saints’ goal.
In the second half the ground team began to press, Bishop, who had shown grand form throughout, was prominent in the attack, and in turn the visitors retaliated, and a miss kick by Methven gave Gallagher a clear run. The left winger’s parting shot was, however , stopped by McIntosh.
Long kicking was now the order of the day, very little science being shown on either side. The Saints now had the best of the game, and shot after shot was sent in but only to be turned aside by McLaughlin and the backs. The Saints got a foul against Reynolds for forcible charging, but the free kick was without result.
From a free kick against the Saints, ten yards from the goal, Dunbar scored five minutes from time, the custodian being unable to see the ball owing to growing darkness.
Result – Celtic, three goals; St Bernard’s nil.