| Matches: 1888 1889 1890 | 1887-1900 |
Celtic Games 1889 – Dumbarton
Trivia
- Scottish Cup Tie played at Boghead Park, Dumbarton
- Before 6,000 spectators.
- Johny Madden (Dumbarton) turned out for Celtic in their inaugural match but returned to Dumbarton, and in this match was playing for Dumbarton.
- He will later rejoin Celtic.
Review
The Scotsman – Monday, 14th January 1889, page 11
Dumbarton v Celtic – Probably the largest crowd that ever assembled at Dumbarton was present at Boghead on Saturday to witness the semi-final tie of the Scottish Cup between the above clubs.
Dumbarton kicked off, and looked for a little as if they would score; but in about five minutes the Celts carried the ball to the Dumbarton goal, and scored. From this time onwards it was seen that Dumbarton’s chances were small. The beautiful passing of the Celts was a matter of general admiration, whilst their swiftness and general agility were superior to Dumbarton. The back division of the home team, however, was very strong, and Bell at goal did his part well. At half-time the Celts had scored twice.
In the second half the strangers again had the best of the play, and before long had added two more goals to their score. All hopes of Dumbarton even making a draw were at an end. The Celts began to take their opponents cheaply, and once especially passed from one to another to the bewilderment of their opponents. However Dumbarton played most pluckily, and just before the close scored a goal.
Result:- Celtic, four goals; Dumbarton, one.
Teams
Celtic:-
John Kelly, Gallagher, McKeown, W Maley, Jas Kelly, McLaren, McCallum, Dunbar, Groves, T Maley, Coleman.
Goals:- Groves (2), Dunbar (2).
Dumbarton:-
James Bell, D Stewart, J Hannah, Leitch Keir, G Dewar, J McMillan, J Madden, D Lapsley, John Bell, J Chapman, R Aitken.
Goal:- Madden.
Att:- 6,000.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
From newspaper reports from the time.
Report 1
At Dumbarton the Celts proved too strong for the local team, and won rather easily by four goals to one, the losing side obtaining their only point just at the call of time. A great deal had been said during the week about Dumbarton’s half-back trio being able to “smash up” the combination of the Irishmen.
Dumbarton are admittedly very strong at the half-back, but to those who saw the form of the Celts against the Corinthians, the idea of even Dumbarton being able to upset the calculations of the East-End team seemed ridiculous. And so it turned out that the clever, quick, and decisive play of the Celtic fairly overpowered their formidable rivals.
For Dumbarton, Dewar and Leitch Keir did some clever things, but the former could not keep up to the pace of Groves, who had one grand run the whole length of the field, passing all opposition, and finishing up by scoring a goal.
Groves is every week showing himself to be the best centre forward in Scotland. Kelly, at centre half-back, played a better game on Saturday than he has done this season, while McLaren and McKeown were also instrumental in checking time after time the determined runs made by the Dumbarton forwards.
There was a great crowd present, probably the largest witnessed in Dumbarton for years.
The Final tie for the National Trophy will be played on neutral ground – either Hampden Park or Ibrox – between the 3rd LRV and the Celtic on the 2nd February. From the form which both teams are showing at present, the tie promises to be most exciting, and will certainly be worth going a long way to witness.
Report 2
Dumbarton and Celtic played off their tie at Boghead, in the presence of 6,000 spectators. Dumbarton kicked off. The ball was well followed up, and Bell dribbled well up and shot, and Kelly, the Celtic custodian, had to use his hands. A fine piece of passing by the Celtic forwards gave them a chance, but Stewart proved a barrier.
Shortly afterwards, however, the Celts scored.
Owing to repeated throw-ins McCallum was allowed away on the right, but the ball was eventually taken by Stewart, and the Dumbarton forwards made a rush for goal, but Kelly, at half-back, cleared his lines most effectively. The game being fast, play was soon at the other end, where Ralph Aitken put in some good work, a fine long shot of his being turned out in the nick of time by McKeown.
The Dumbarton goal was again besieged, but Leitch Keir came in at the right moment and averted the downfall of his goal. Play continued for some little time in front of the Celtic goal, but Dumbarton was unfortunate in scoring. McMillan, the Dumbarton right-half, now put in some most effective work, and a corner following. Langley sent in a beauty, which was, unfortunately for Dumbarton, put over the bar.
Dumbarton continued to play up hard, and at this stage of the game had, if anything, the best of the game, and struggled hard to put on an equalising goal.
At the other end Bell was badly pressed, and a very hot shot being sent into him he had to save. Dumbarton again got away, and Chapman sent in a lovely shot, which struck one of the players, and was saved from going through.
Thirty-three minutes from the start the Celtic appeared to have scored by a swift shot from McCallum, but a free kick was given instead. Play again raged round Kelly at the Celtic goal, and one or two likely shots were sent in, but he was lucky in getting them all away.
Four minutes from half-time the Celtic commenced a combined rush on the Dumbarton goal, and getting past the backs, Bell was unable to stay the rush, and a second goal was scored for the Celts.
Bell, in the front rank of the Dumbarton team, now had a capital chance to score, but shot too high.
Half-time now arrived, the score standing – Celtic, 2 goals; Dumbarton, 0.
The Celtic started the second half, but the Dumbarton halves returned the ball, and lingered near the Celtic goal for a minute or two. Kelly at centre half, put in some good work for the Celtic, while on the Dumbarton side his famous rival, Dewar, was doing equally well. By neat passing the Celtic got away but Dewar returned.
Groves got on the ball, however, and a magnificent race for the Dumbarton goal took place between him and Dewar. The race was long and exciting, but the great speed of Groves enabled him to outdistance his rival by a foot or so, and the Celt shot for the opening, beating Bell, and scoring a third goal for the Celts, 17 minutes after the second half was started.
Soon after this the Celtic were again in front of the Dumbarton goal, but a fouls against them relieved Dumbarton in time. A foul against Madden let the Celtic in again, and a fourth goal for the Celtic was put on by Dunbar. This was an easily taken goal, and should not have been lost by Dumbarton.
At the Celtic goal madden put in a splendid shot, which Kelly had to send over the bar at the expense of a corner. This advantage proved useless to the losing team however, and the Celts were at the other end in a twinkling, but a bad shot sent the ball once more out of play.
A fierce scrimmage took place at the Celtic goal, and it looked as if the ball must go through; but the fates were against Dumbarton, and the ball came out of the scrimmage. The game was practically over, and the only hope Dumbarton had was that they might score. They played flukily, and Madden tried twice to score, but failed. He had another try a few minutes before time was called, and on this occasion he was successful.
The result was – Celtic, 4 goals; Dumbarton, 1 goal.