Renton were favourites going into the match, the
Dunbartonshire club having already lifted the trophy in
1885 and finished runners-up to
Queen's Park in
1886; in contrast, it was Cambuslang's first and only major final, though the
Lanarkshire side had won the first edition of the
Glasgow Cup a week earlier, beating
Rangers.[2] Reports from the day indicate that despite the outcome the final was very evenly fought for the most part, with Cambuslang having several chances and Renton goalkeeper
John Lindsay performing strongly before his team eventually took control of the play.[3][4] The margin of victory stood as a Scottish Cup Final record outright until being matched in
1972, but has never been surpassed.
Three months later the same teams contested the final of the
Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup at the same venue, Renton again winning by a 4–0 scoreline for what was their third of four successive victories in that competition.[5] A week after that, they became unofficial "
World Champions" after challenging and defeating
FA Cup holders
West Bromwich Albion.[6][7][8]