Relichtie
Memorable
matches
October 21 1972 Arbroath 1-2 Rangers Scottish League Division 1
This match saw one of the most controversial decisions close to the end of the match, more of that later.
Arbroath had given Rangers a torrid time from the kick off, being denied what seemed a perfectly justifiable penalty claim when Johnstone handled a Milne free kick. At the other end Marshall saved first from Mason, and then from the follow up from " Cutty " Young. Billy Pirie hit the post from a free kick, and Payne and Cant had also came close as the half drew to a close.
The second half was only 11 mins. old when Pirie did put the lichties in front when a clever Sellars "dummy" at a free kick allowed the number 9 to " crash a fantastic drive into the net ". Rangers were striving desperately to try to get into the match. " John Greig was bullying his team on in an effort to save their faces". Arbroath though stubbornly refused to buckle under the pressure until from a ball into the box Parlane clearly, to everyone in the ground except the referee ( J.R.Grant, Larbert ) , palmed the ball down before beating Marshall. Despite the frenzied appeals of the entire Arbroath side, the goal stood. Understandably this deflated the home side, and with seconds to go, Marshall, who had been in excellent form lost a second goal when Mason scored. Arbroath had definitely deserved at least a point, and but for " one of the greatest examples of miscarriage of soccer justice ever witnessed at Gayfield", would probaly have gotten two.
Arbroath - Marshall, Milne, McAlpine, Cargill, Waddell, Winchester, Sellars Cant, Pirie, Rylance, Payne. sub Robertson.
Rangers - Neef, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Johnstone, Smith, Conn, Mason, Parlane, Forsyth, Young. sub Fyfe.
Attendance 8400.
Back Rangers Stats 1974 Quarter-finals 1993 Quarter-finals 1978