Here is match number seven in our new ‘150 years in 150 games’ feature.

CELTIC R 2 FALKIRK R 2

Wednesday, April 29, 1959 at Celtic Park.

On the previous Wednesday, Falkirk Reserves had beaten Celtic Reserves 1-0 at Brockville Park in the first leg of the Reserve League Cup final.

Ian Hunter was captain that day for Falkirk Reserves (Photo: Submitted)

placeholder image — Ian Hunter was captain that day for Falkirk Reserves (Photo: Submitted)

In the semi-final Falkirk had beaten Rangers Reserves 3-2, both at Ibrox and at Brockville.

Few gave the Bairns second string a chance in the final, but they deserved their narrow 1-0 win at Brockville and faced a daunting prospect of a trip to Parkhead.

A crowd of 10,000 turned out to watch a match that ended in controversy. Ian Rae opened the scoring after only two minutes and sent the ball past Beattie direct from a left-wing corner.

The Falkirk full-back was playing at outside left and proved to be quite a revelation.

Falkirk went 2-0 ahead when Derek Grierson headed home from a cross by Ian Rae but Celtic fought back fiercely. Bertie Auld scored early in the second half after being tripped by Ian Hunter and John Colrain added a second.

A third Celtic goal would have taken the tie to extra time and the home fans thought their team had done that. John Byrne looked to have scored, but his net-bound header was cleared off the line by full-back Buck McCarry.

Referee Kidd was not convinced and the decision was greeted by a storm of booing which kept up until the final whistle.

Captain Ian Hunter held the trophy aloft, but there were only a handful of fans left in the ground by that time.

Falkirk had defied the odds and the defence had been rock solid. Buck McCarry and Ian Hunter were outstanding and Hugh Harra at centre half had a game to remember.

As was the norm in these “reserve” finals, there was a sprinkling of first team players and Falkirk had three of their 1957 cup winners in the side- Derek Grierson, Dougie Moran and Ian Rae.

Celtic too had bolstered their side. Their Reserve side won the Reserve League, two points ahead of Rangers and scoring 102 goals in the process.

That Celtic Reserve side that night included four players who were to go on and become part of the great Lisbon Lions side – Billy McNeil, John Clark, Bertie Auld and Stevie Chalmers.

They brought several young players through from this reserve side, which was managed by a certain Jock Stein.

THE STARTING TEAMS

CELTIC: Beattie, Donnelly, Kennedy, Smith, McNeil, Clark, Auld, Chalmers, Byrne, Colrain, Murphy.

FALKIRK: Ferguson, McCarry, Hunter, Price, Harra, McCormack, Qua, Grierson, E White, Moran, Rae.

SEASON AT A GLANCE

Falkirk final league position – 17th (relegated). Falkirk league top scorer – Dougie Moran on 16. Division One winners – Rangers. Division Two winners – Ayr. Scottish Cup winners – St Mirren. League Cup – Hearts.

APRIL 1959 TRIVIA

UK No 1 – It Doesn’t Matter Anymore by Buddy Holly. USA No 1 – Come Softly To Me by The Fleetwoods. Top TV show – Wagon Train STV. Gigi wins nine Oscars. Alaska and Hawaii join the USA.