2. Alloa Athletic 3 Rangers 2 – Wednesday, December 3
As soon as the ball left Dean Shiels’ boot and headed for the corner of the Alloa net, that was it. Surely. The scene was set for a Livingston v Rangers Challenge Cup final.
After all, the part-time Wasps had been working all day and despite the fact that they’d already drawn with the Gers twice in the league, this was almost certainly a bridge too far. Even if they did manage to secure a third level scoreline after 90 minutes, extra time would do them in. As 9pm approached, they still had the 2-0 deficit to overcome, with Shiels’ goal having added to an earlier effort from Kenny Miller. Having lost last season’s Challenge Cup final to Raith Rovers, Rangers were set for another crack at lifting the trophy.
In fact, even when Greig Spence pulled one back for Alloa with 18 minutes left, the doubts remained. Sure, it gave Rangers something to think about. But again – this is a part-time side we’re talking about, playing against a team containing many past, present and maybe future Scotland squad members? Following a full shift at work? Despite halving the deficit, the script is still written for the Gers to see this game out?
One hundred and twenty seconds after that goal, that script was only being followed very loosely. Eddie Ferns delivered a low ball into the box and Ryan McCord finished. Now it WAS going to be a case of Alloa trying to last an extra half hour, unless they could come up with one last knock-out blow, and withstand the prospect of any more from Rangers. The latter looked set to prevail going into the game’s final minutes, but Jon Daly was kept out by a point blank save from Craig McDowall. When that happens, and you’ve just fought back from being 2-0 down, it tends to be your night.
Alloa could just have looked to keep possession and try their luck over an extra 30 minutes, instead of going for the winner and risk losing the decisive goal themselves. But with one last throw of the dice, they provided the most stunning climax. Steven Hetherington’s pass from the left found Spence, who stuck away his second goal. The hundreds of Alloa fans, who less than 20 minutes earlier were preparing to congratulate their team on a valiant effort which just came up short, were now in ecstasy. With the successfully navigated dying minutes of the game, that was it. The blue and white ribbons could stay in the SPFL’s offices on Sunday, April 5. Black and gold ones are all they will need when Alloa take on Livingston.
It’s worth repeating again – this was a side who were not only given a prayer by very few outside Clackmannanshire, they had also been working all day. Yet they found it within themselves to fight back from 2-0 down with 18 minutes left. While much of the focus in the following day’s media was on how Rangers threw it away, there had to be recognition of Alloa’s efforts. An amazing evening, the likes of which we may never see again for a long time.
Honourable mention also to Queen of the South’s 2-0 win over Rangers nine days later, which was too late to be included in this countdown.
Number 1 will be published on Christmas Eve.
The Dumbarton Terrace 