Match Report

Saturday, 27th April, 1957

Game of Two Periods - Saturday's Draw Was Fair Result

Unlucky Falkirk, lucky Kilmarnock, call it what you may. Saturday's final did end in a draw and maybe on the whole it was a fair result, though there is no doubting the fact that in the first half, as far as Falkirk are concerned the Cup was there for the taking. The only time Killie ever looked like doing anything was in the last fifteen minutes, and they came close, too.

Individually Falkirk were away ahead of Killie in almost all departments, but it looked as if it was one of those days when the ball would just not go in. In fact so strong were Falkirk in the opening half-hour that I really wondered if this was the same Killie team that I had read so much about. The skillful attacking football and steady defence was not on show, but rather some panicky clearances mixed with hairbreadth escapes.

The pattern of the game was to a large extent dictated by the strong wind that swirled round the great Hampden stand from the north. Falkirk had it behind them in the first half and although they made full use of it only a Prentice penalty goalwas recorded. Why was this? Simply sheer bad luck and not enough power at inside-forward. Far too often long balls were finding no takers from the Falkirk attack and Killie were being allowed time to clear. Why the Bairns did not lie deep in Killie's half I shall never know.

The strong point of this Falkirk team was defence. Each and everyone did their job magnificently. Alex Wright and John Prentice were immense and time and again they turned the Killie attack back and forced on their forwards. Wright's defence was superb and he seemed to be ever on the ball. Prentice was more constructive and he could not have done better. The Harvey-Mays wing never came to anything and Curlett at centre was roving on his own for most of the game, giving little trouble to Irvine. The Killie centre nearly pulled the game out of the fire in the last few minutes with a snap shot that struck the post but apart from this he did next to nothing.

Despite the expert defence of Alex Parker and Wright, Burns and Black proved the most dangerous of the Killie attack. And Parker even reached some of international best at that. The reason for this was clear to see. Derek Grierson, the vital link between Tom Murray who might easily have won the game, was missing. Grierson was most disappointing and towards the end he could do nothing right. Murray had the better of J. Stewart in the first half but after the interval, lacking support from his partner, the winger was never in the game.

Moran was Falkirk's most consistent forward and I rarely saw him waste a ball. Doug was dangerous every time he got the ball and as the game progressed he became more and more agressive. I am glad that Falkirk and Hibs have now come to a definite agreement about the player's future and in Moran Falkirk may have a budding internationalist.

Moran, plus the constructive play of Prentice, gave O'Hara plenty opportunity to show his worth and the winger did some very clever things. He had some near misses and I remember one terrific hook shot late in the second half that had Brown beaten, but the ball shaved the bar and bounced clear. Collins, the Kilmarnock captain, took a long time to get the better of O'Hara and I think it was a case of tiring on the Falkirk player's part. Nevertheless he had a satisfactory game. Behind the successful left flank was a very solid and dependable Ian Rae who gave Gerry Mays little scope. This was Rae at his best.

Merchant was an energetic sort of leader but for some reason he never lay far enough forward, especially in the second half. Toner was anything but comfortable and with a little more pressure on Merchant's part the team might not have had to worry about a replay.

There was little to choose between the goalkeepers. Brown took the casual air and I think once or twice he was fortunate not to lose a goal. Slater had nothing much to do until late in the game but then he made two first-class saves.

Neither of the keepers had much chance with the goals. Brown never moved while Prentice scored while Slater was well beat by Curlett's close-in shot.

For Killie, I would say Mackay played well enough to deserve mention and it was largely due to him that the Black-Burns wing became a danger late in the game.

One word too, must go to the referee Mr Jack Mowatt. He was in fine form and nothing escaped his watchful eye. There were some rough fouls but rarely did they look intentional. If anything the Killie defenders were more inclined to haul the man down that the Bairns, but that is football with a prize at stake. Certainly Moran and O'Hara took vicious stuff but happily they came through none the worse.

Clearly it was a type of game in which each team had one half - Falkirk the first and then Kilmarnock.

The Run Of Play

The setting was just perfect at Hampden last Saturday. The crowds were there all eager to make a lot of noise, the bands were there offering entertainment, the sun was out and it was a real "Cup-Final Day". Long before the teams were due to appear one could sense the atmosphere and as the time grew near the excitement rose.

Both teams had brought their fans along in great nummbers, and from ealry morning Hampden had been the centre of attraction.

Everything was perfect, and with the band of the 751st United States Air Force drawn up ready John Prentice led out the Falkirk team shortly before three o'clock. And what a welcome they got!

The terracing at the north end of the ground exploded into a cheering mass, banners were hoisted, scarves waved, bells clanged, and for several minutes Falkirk fans roared and roared. What a reception they gave their team and even above the roar that greeted Kilmarnock, captained by right-back Ralph Collins, could be heard strains of "Follow, follow - we will follow Falkirk".

Prentice lost the toss and Falkirk were set to play with the wind to the south goal, and just after the hour the great game was under way.

Falkirk settled first and went straight into attack but Toner stepped in to halt a promising Merchant-O'Hara movement. Then Killie came through, and a terrific shot from Burns was stopped in the goalmouth by team-mate Mays, and then back came Falkirk.

The Bairns supported well by Prentice and Wright, really had the Ayrshire team worried after this and corner after corner was conceded by Collins and his defenders. From one by Murray Grierson flicked the ball across goal only to see Merchant head over.

Corners

Murray around this point was playing splendidly and time after time he kept sending dangerous balls into the Killie goal. Merchant almost got to one, an then the next instant Grierson appealed for a penalty but referee Mowat waved play on.

Corners still came Falkirk's way, and Killie were defending desperately as attack after attack was built up. With 15 minutes gone O'Hara headed a Grierson cross onto the bar and over, and seconds later the same player headed into Brown's hands at the post from a Murray cross. Still Falkirk pressed and only in a fleeting raid did we see Killie in attack. Harvey shot into the side netting, but the Bairns came charging back.

Following one corner, right shot high over, and then Murray was given a chance after Moran. Grierson and Merchant had worked the ball clear, but the winger shot wide with his left foot.

Escape

Prentice, too moved up for a shot, but like Wright's effort it was high off the mark. Harvey clashed with Rae, but recovered after treatment, and Killie were given breathing space. Not for long, though and then came the big escape of the match.

Prentice sent O'Hara away, and from the low pass inside Merchant sped at top speed past Toner. The centre raced in on goal from the left, Mackay closed in and with Brown waiting hopefully Merchant shot high and to the left, but the ball flashed outside the goal. This was a near thing and at this stage Kilmarnock were fortunate to be level. With the half hour gone Falkirk badly needed a goal and indeed deserved one.

But it was Killie that almost got it. Burns hooked the ball over the bar and from a corner Slater failed to hold the cross and Curlett snapped up the chance only to see his shot sail over the bar.

The goal had to come and it did - in 33 minutes. Moran and Grierson worked the ball into the Killie penalty area before parting to Merchant. The centre pivoted round Toner, but with a desperate tackle the centre-half put Merchant down. Prentice made no mistake with the penalty, Brown never attempting to save.

Injuries

O'Hara took a knock, but soon recovered only to see a dangerous Mackay lob strike the post before going past. Due to injuries, play in the first half went beyond the 45 minutes, and during this period Killie equalised. It was hardly deserved on the run of play, but, nevertheless, it was a splendid goal.

Ironically enough the two big men in the Falkirk team were the cause of it. Wright pulled Black down, and Mackay sent over the free-kick. Prentice watched the ball carefully over the goal and must have thought it was going harmlessly past for a goal-kick. Instead of playing it as he easily could have done the left-half turned to see Harvey to head it back into goal for Curlett to volley the first time into the net. Slater had no chance and Falkirk had reached the interval by playing Kilmarnock out of the game. Yet they were still level. The fact remained that Kilmarnock were very much in the game with the wind behind them they held the upper hand. Lucky? They were very lucky?

After the break Killie took the initiative and Falkirk took the brunt of the attacking play. But the Killie attack somehow could not get going. In fact it was the wing-halves who supplied the best at this stage. Twice Parker stopped Curlett from breaking through on a long ball, but the Bairns, too, were finding it difficult to build up attacks.

Merchant was full of running, and he kept interest alive from a Falkirk point of view. Moran was playing really well and O'Hara made an opening for Murray, but the winger "bottled" by three Killie defenders shot over from six yards.

Much of the playwas confined to mid-field and Falkirk were standing up well to the Killie pressure - much better than Collins and his defenders had in the first half. Tackling at this time, mid-way through the half, was anything but gentlemanly, and on the Killie side there were signs of desperation. But Kilmarnock tried hard to keep the pressure up on the Falkirk defence, and during a sustained bout Slater did well to save from both Black and Mackay. It was on the left that Killie hoped to break through, and time and again Burns and Black met head-on with Wright and Parker.

Falkirk kept coming into the game though, with Moran usually behind the move. In 77 minutes a great effort by O'Hara almost found the net. Parker sent a long free-kick into goal and although it was half cleared O'Hara hooked the ball back and so near the net. The ball popped up on the bar and over with Brown and several defenders lying in the back of the net.

Then for the first time in the half Killie almost scored. Irvine was slow to pass back to Slater and Curlett got a boot in only to see his shot hit a post and come back. A Mays' header hit the bar and Burns banged the rebound against the diving bodies of Prentice and Slater before time was called.