1891-10-03: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic, League

Trivia

• Hibernian goalkeeper Charles Kelly played was a loan replacement for Tom Duff.
• Duff suffered rheumatics after being soaked in the game last week in non-stop torrential rain against Dumbarton.
• Celtic had a harder nut to crack in St Mirren than they expected, and the result of 2 goals to 1 against the Paisley team – may be taken as an indication that the Saints are improving in their general play.

Review

The Scotsman – Monday, 5th October 1891, page 9

St Mirren v Celtic – At Paisley. There was a very large attendance, special trains from Glasgow conveying large numbers of supporters of the Celtic. Fifteen minutes late, the strangers kicked off against a slight wind. For the first ten minutes they were pressed, but at length Madden got away, and beating back all opposition a smart bit of play between Douglas and Dunlop resulted in the latter player sending the ball high over the bar. After this the Celts for a time kept up the pressure, but the home half-backs and backs kept them well off. Encouraged from the outside, the strangers made some headway. A clever run by Madden and Coleman brought them up to Fleming, and a smart pass from the former player resulted in M’Callum scoring the first point. From the centre kick the Celtic again pressed, and after Fleming had turned aside several swift shots McCallum notched a second goal. Four corners fell to the lot of the home team, yet from none of these was anything effected, and half-time sounded with the score standing – Celtic, two goals; St Mirren, nothing. The home team resumed hostilities, and were the first aggressors. Crowding round Kelly, first Dunlop and then Douglas sent in swift shots, but neither of them, however, took effect. Not to be denied, the home team came down again, and a fine pass from Easton resulted in Hamilton scoring for St Mirren. The play now became very fast on both sides, Madden, Coleman, and Campbell for the Celtic, and Wylie, Easton, and Hamilton for the St Mirren, putting in splendid work. At call of time, however, the score stood – Celtic, two goals; St Mirren, one.

Teams

St Mirren:-
Fleming, J McFarlane, R McFarlane, McCartney, Brown, McBain, Hamilton, Wylie, Douglas, Dunlop, Easton.

Goal:- Hamilton.

Celtic:-
Kelly, Reynolds, Doyle, Gallagher, Kelly, Brady, McCallum, Madden, T Maley, Coleman, Campbell.

Goals:- McCallum, McCallum 44.

Ref:-

Att:-

Articles

• Match Report (See Below)
• Manager Interview

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Stats

League Table after 3rd October 1891
Team	P	W	D	L	F	Ag	Pts
Heart of Midlothian	9	7	1	1	33	18	15
Celtic	7	6	0	1	23	8	12
Dumbarton	8	6	0	2	27	9	12
Leith Athletic	9	6	0	3	28	16	12
Abercorn	8	3	1	4	15	24	7
Renton	7	3	1	3	12	15	7
Third Lanark	6	3	1	2	9	10	7
Rangers	7	3	0	4	20	16	6
Cambuslang	7	1	2	4	7	14	4
Clyde	6	2	0	4	20	24	4
St Mirren	8	1	2	5	15	23	4
Vale of Leven	8	0	0	8	9	41	0

Articles

Match Report

From a Newspaper Report at the time

These two teams met on Saturday at Westmarch, Paisley, in their League fixture. This was the first meeting of the teams this season.
At first the ground team promised, but gained nothing. The Celtic broke away, and came swarming round the Saints’ goal.
Fleming at a trying time slipped and fell, and McCallum had no difficulty in notching the first goal for the Celtic. From the centre kick the home team came down on Kelly. The Saints again pressed, and might have been more successful had a little more confidence in front of goal. Easton and Dunlop were being especially effective, whilst the half-back play of McCartney, Brown and McBain was as good as that of the opposing trio.
A corner for the Celtic produced close work in front of Fleming, and in the close quarters McCallum slipped the ball between Fleming’s legs. Half time was immediately afterwards called, the Celts at the interval leading by 2 goals to 0.
With the resumption of the second half the Celts were quickly at the ground teams’ goal. J McFarlane shook them off. Following this, a clever run was made by Hamilton and Wylie and Kelly had to use his hands to turn back the final shot from the latter.
A well-sustained attack of St Mirren met with the success it deserved. Crowding in front of Kelly, Wylie made a fine pass, which Hamilton converted into a goal. This success of the ground team was vociferously cheered. It had a rather reverse effect on the Celtic. They played more forcibly than scientifically for a tie, but the little excitement soon wore off.
On the whole, the match was a grand one. The Saints played so well that had it not been for the brilliant back play they had to face they would have scored. Doyle and Reynolds were so safe in tackling and powerful in kicking that it was difficult to master them.
All the same, the St Mirren pleased their supporters by the form they were showing, and the match was altogether the finest seen at Westmarch this season.
A splendid game ended – Celtic, 2 goals; St Mirren, 1 goal.