SO this is Christmas. Well, nearly.
And what have we done? In Scottish football’s case, actually quite a lot. Even with almost a month still left of 2014, it’s fair to say that it’s been a year that clubs, players and fans at all levels can look back on with some satisfaction.
From now until Christmas Eve, The Dumbarton Terrace will record the 50 greatest moments for Scottish football this year – and keep everything crossed that nothing happens in December that could make this countdown look silly. Almost every day (except Saturdays – fans have other business to attend to then) up to and including December 24 will see instalments published. So here we go with numbers 50 to 46.
50. Stranraer reach Petrofac Training Cup semi-finals – Saturday, September 6
For a part-time side from outside the highest possible division to reach the last four of any major competition, they need some luck. Given that all three of Stranraer’s ties en route to the Petrofac Training Cup semi-finals were at home, they probably had some. However, it was still an achievement, along with their performance in their last four tie away to Livingston.
The League One side certainly had a huge helping of good fortune in their first round tie against a Dumbarton side who led 2-0 at the interval and seemed to be coasting through. Ian Murray’s men couldn’t see things through at a ground where their record for over 20 years is frankly dire, and Stranraer posted a 3-2 win. The second round success against Albion Rovers was a bit more comfortable, but after taking a 2-0 lead, they faced a nervous last 20 minutes after the Coatbridge men pulled one back. That was all Rovers could drum up, though, and a home tie with Falkirk was the reward.
With the Bairns being a division higher, and full-time, this was where Stranraer’s luck was tipped to run out in the competition they won in season 1996/97. However, a solitary goal by Anthony Marenghi was enough to send them through to the last four, where they travelled to Livingston. Live on BBC Alba, a Jamie Longworth goal had them ahead at Almondvale, but the hosts later equalised and then won on penalties. A valiant effort by Stranraer was over.
Honourable mention to Alloa, who also reached the last four as a part-time club, playing opposition from lower divisions all the way up to the semi-finals.
49. Hearts go down with dignity – Saturday, April 5
The bets on relegation from the Premiership were off as of Tuesday, June 19, 2013. As a result of major financial difficulties, Hearts were starting the coming campaign on minus 15 points and were banned from signing new players. Unless someone else had a major nadir of a season, Championship football was coming to Tynecastle a year down the line.
That did, of course, come to pass, but there was something quite heartening (pardon the pun) about how the Jambos went about their business as relegation loomed. Despite starting 2014 with only three victories, and a horrendous 7-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic, their young squad refused to roll over and accept their fate. Even when relegation was officially confirmed in April, it was in victory, a 4-2 success away to Partick Thistle. The reverse scoreline at home to the Jags the following month was the only one Hearts suffered in their final eight league matches.
Now, with a year’s top-flight first-team experience bagged, the Jambos’ youngsters are flying high in the Championship. Sometimes it does pay off to give youth a chance en masse, even if the short-term consequences aren’t all you wish for.
48. Stenhousemuir 4 Stirling Albion 5 – Saturday, August 23
One year before this game, Stenhousemuir went down 5-4 at home to Dunfermline Athletic in a game where the Pars trailed 4-2 with six minutes remaining. Perhaps Stirling’s visit to Ochilview in August 2014 didn’t contain such a dramatic climax, but it was still one for the neutrals to savour.
Only a third of the nine goals were scored during the first half, with Bryan Hodge opening the scoring for Stenny before Craig Wedderburn headed Stirling level. Sean Dickson ensured a 2-1 half time lead for the home side before an astounding start to the second half which saw a further five goals find the net. Gordon Smith and Sandy Cunningham quickly turned it in Stirling’s favour and Darren Smith made it 4-2 with just over an hour played.
Almost immediately Hodge’s second restored hope for the Warriors, but Gordon Smith completed his own double to restore the Binos’ two-goal lead. The pace dropped afterwards, indeed Craig Comrie’s own goal to make it 5-4 was purely academic. However, newly-promoted Stirling must have wished they could have this theatre every week at their new level. Be interesting to see who Stenny’s opponents are on Saturday, August 22, 2015…
47. Falkirk 5 Cowdenbeath 0 – Saturday, April 5; and Falkirk 6 Cowdenbeath 0 – Saturday, October 25
The best thing about giving a team a real doing on your own pitch? Faring even better the next time they visit on league business.
In saying that, Falkirk could quite easily have run up six goals in both of these games. The first of them, in April, saw all five rattle home in the first 54 minutes. A hat-trick by Rory Loy, and singles by Blair Alston and Craig Sibbald, had them coasting towards the three points which consolidated their third place in the Championship. Cowden returned to Falkirk in August for a League Cup tie in August and this time lost only on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes. So surely the next league visit, in October, would be closer, right?
Nope. It was worse. Loy was again on target with David Smith, Alex Cooper and Peter Grant all following him on to the scoresheet by half time. Number five arrived even earlier than it did in April, this time through David McCracken on 52 minutes. Just when it looked as if Falkirk were settling for five again, a last-minute goal by Will Vaulks made it half a dozen.
Remarkably Cowden have again been back to Falkirk in the Scottish Cup, and again the contest was much closer, with a solitary goal by Sibbald giving the hosts victory. However, they next go there on league duty on Saturday, April 18. Probably best not to mention the number seven ahead of that game.
46. Brechin City 3 Dunfermline Athletic 2 – Saturday, January 25
When Ryan Wallace put away Dunfermline’s second goal it seemed like game over for Brechin City, even with half an hour still to play.
Closest challengers to Rangers in League One, the Pars seemed in total control, with Wallace’s 54th minute goal adding to Lawrence Shankland’s first half effort. Even after Derek Carcary pulled one back within three minutes Brechin, well outside the play-off places, were still up against it if they were to get anything out of the match. After all, they were up against full-time opposition who, if not competing for the title, were expected shoe-ins for a play-off place.
But after the elapse of a further four minutes City were back level as Andy Jackson brought it back to 2-2. The minutes ticked away with a share of the points looking likely before a moment of real drama with 60 seconds remaining. Darren Petrie took aim through a crowd of players and found the net. It was the kind of afternoon which showed why Dunfermline didn’t get closer to Rangers than they did last season.
Numbers 41-45 will be published on Thursday, December 4.
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