1892-11-05: Celtic 5-0 Heart of Midlothian, League

Matches: 1892 | 1893 | 1887-1900 | Forum

The Scotsman – Monday, 7th November 1892, page 10

Celtic v Heart of Midlothian – Quite an exceptional amount of interest centred in the return contest between these teams, which took place at Parkhead, Glasgow, on the new ground of the Celtic Club. Fully 10,000 spectators witnessed the game, including a considerable number from Edinburgh, who had journeyed [word illegible] with the special trains which the North British Railway had provided for the purpose. Though the weather was fine, the ground was soft and treacherous, and altogether unsuited to the Tynecastle players, who had to retire defeated by five goals to none. An accident to Hill, which eventually necessitated his retiring from the game altogether, also considerably handicapped the Eastern men. At the same time there could be no doubt of the capabilities of the winners, who at every point of the game showed themselves to be superior to their opponents. The first match between the teams, it may be interesting to recall, resulted in a victory for the Hearts by three goals to one; so that on Saturday the Irishmen had ample revenge. Shortly after three the visitors, led by Begbie, stepped into the field, and the reception they received said a good deal for the impartiality of the crowd. Their rivals, headed by Kelly, soon followed, and as no time was lost in preliminaries the game was soon in motion. The Celts had won the toss, but as the wind blew across the field there was little advantage in this respect. At first the visitors had the advantage, but wild shooting, combined with the excellent defence of their opponents prevented disaster to the Parkhead men. The Celts, on the other hand, warmed to their work as the game proceeded, and the defensive powers of the Hearts were severely tested. For a time the Irishmen were kept at bay until Campbell with a swift low shot, opened the scoring amid terrific cheering from all parts of the field. Keeping at it with extraordinary determination, the Celts again pressed severely, and Fairbairn somewhat foolishly leaving his charge, Davidson rushed in and scored the second goal for the home team amid another demonstration from the followers of the club. This second reverse had the effect of wakening up the Eastern men to the necessities of the occasion, and but for some clever play on the part of Reynolds, they must have scored. Nearing half-time, the Celts broke away as a body, with the result that Mulvey, with a clever effort defeated Fairbairn for a third time. It was just afterwards that Hill met with his accident, and had to retire. His friends, however, succeeded in keeping their lines intact to half-time, when the score stood:- Celtic, three; Hearts, nothing. On a resumption, the Hearts, as in the first half, had rather the best of matters, but their advantage was but short-lived. The Celts again beat down all opposition, and Campbell was instrumental in raising the home total to four. To complete the discomfiture of the visitors, Madden rattled through a fifth, to the evident delight of the spectators. From this point, the game admits of very little description. The Celts, with the game in hand, were content to rest on their oars. Their opponents therefore had simply to do what they could to prevent further disaster, and it was only in the closing stages of the game that they seemed likely to gain a solitary point. Cullen, however, was much too clever and easily repelled the attacks on his charge. Disappointed and discomfited the Edinburgh champions left the field with one of the heaviest defeats they have ever sustained. The shining lights on the Celtic side were Campbell, Madden, Kelly, and Reynolds. Morrison, Baird, Begbie and Hill did best for the Edinburgh.

Celtic – Cullen; Reynolds and Doyle; Maley, Kelly, and Dunbar; Davidson, Blessington, Madden, Mulvey, and Campbell.

Celtic Team:-

Scorers:- Campbell 2, Davidson, Mulvey, Madden

Attendance:- 10,000