| Matches: 1893 1894 | 1887-1900 | League Tables: 1893-94 | Forum |
Trivia
- Last league game of the season
- Second and last match for James McGinn
Review
Teams
Leith Athletic:- Sneddon, McCartney, Anderson, Mann, Wilson, Cleghorn, McFarlane, Walker, Scott, James Henderson, Lee.
Goals:-
Celtic:- Cullen, McDonald, Reynolds, Maley, Kelly, Curran, Blessington, Madden, Cassidy, McGinn, Divers.
Ref:- Mr Spalding (Dundee).
Articles
A complaint having been made by some clubs that owing to the uneven nature of the surface of Bank Park, the Leith Athletic were given an advantage over opposing teams, Hawkhill football ground, which has again been leased by the Company, was opened on saturday under the most auspicious circumstances – the home team defeating the League champions by the tall score of five goals to nil before 3000 spectators, No other victory could have so thoroughly silence those who contended that the Athletic were given a decided advantage when playing at bank Park, for the football pitch at Hawkhill is as good as any in the kingdom.
Though the Celtic were without the services of two such able men as McMahon and Doyle, who were reported on the injured list, this in itself was not a sufficient reason for the severe reverse, which can best be explained by at once stating that the Athletic were the superior team. starting with a slight breeze in their favour, the Leith men at once put on the pressure. McFarlane and Walker finding it a comparatively easy task to get round reynolds, who had crossed over to Doyle's place in order to make way for MacDonald.
A goal had just been disallowed for Leith for off-side when the right-wing player – McFarlane – again ran the ball up, and centering judiciously, the ball was forced past Cullen. A second, scored in a somewhat similar manner, soon followed, and these early successes had such a beneficial influence on the play of the younger team, and rendered the defence by the Celtic correspondingly unsteady,that aftyer a spell of play, of which the dark blues had considerably the best, for a third time Cukken was easily beaten – the whole front rank of the Athletic participating in the attack. play opened out a bit, and then a foul to Leith a few yards out was the means of their attaining a strong lead of four goals at half-time. in opening the second half the Celtic seemed bent on narrowing the gap, and pressed for a long time.
Corners were excellently saved by Sneddon, and it was not until lee got away in a fine run, which was seconded by the athletic obtaining a foul in midfield, that the athletic managed to shake off the attack. Oce having got their feet again, they made no mistake about letting the golden opportunity slip, and all was over with the Celtic when a fifth goal was forced by Scott. though now thoroughly beaten, the Celtic played up towards the close, but had to retire pointless, and with a defeat, the like of which they have seldom, if ever, sustained in a league encounter.
Result:- Athletic. five goals: Celtic nil.