Relichtie
Memorable
matches
January 25 1986 Arbroath 0-0 Clyde Scottish Cup 3rd Round
The prelude to this match was a trip to Peterhead. My memories of that day were that it was freezing cold for the small band of lichties followers on the grassy slope which served for a terracing. We went through 2-1 thanks to a double from Bobby Torrance, and our reward was a home tie with the "Bully Wee".
On a hard pitch cleared of snow by the fans on the Saturday morning,
both sides found conditions difficult. Chances were scarce, and Arbroath were reduced to ten men after the dismissal of Taylor a few minutes from half time after a tackle on Gillespie.
The second half followed the pattern of the first, and with few chances created, and none taken, the match petered out to a goalless draw.
Arbroath - Jackson, Mitchell, Hill, Curran, Taylor, Paterson, Lynch, Mackie, McWalter, Jack, Brannigan. subs Fotheringham and Kirkcaldy.
Clyde - Tracey, McFarlane, Dickson, Ahern, Flexney, Evans, Ferguson, McVeigh, Gillespie, Willock, Frye. subs Fleeting and Reilly.
Referee J.F. McGilvray, Edinburgh.
Attendance 1020.
February 3 1986 Clyde 1-2 Arbroath Scottish Cup 3rd Round Replay.
It was a rush home from work, a quick change, and a dash to catch the minibus to Shawfield for this replay. We left at 5pm, about 15 of us and made it into the ground just before the kick off.
I wondered why I bothered, as Clyde made much the better start, and put Arbroath under presssure. Torrance did have a chance in the second minute, but he shot past. In 13 mins. the home side went ahead. McFarlane floated in a free kick, the ball fell to Gillespie and he spotted Jackson off his line and lobbed the ball in. It didn't look good from where we were standing now. However Arbroath did come back strongly from this early setback, and they brought the match level when Fotheringham scored from 15 yards after being set up by McWalter.
Torrance had a chance to put Arbroath in front just before the interval but again shot wide.
The second half started with Clyde again pushing forward and Arbroath hitting on the break. Clyde manager and future Scotland coach Craig Brown urged his side forward, but with 8 minutes remaining and extra time looming, Torrance turned inside Flexney, ran past Fleeting and drove the ball past Tracey from 15 yards, and this time into the net. Clyde did have the ball in the net a minute later, but it was disallowed for an infringement on keeper Jackson.
Clyde - Tracey, McFarlane, Dickson, Ahern, Flexney, Evans, Ferguson, McVeigh, Gillespie, Reilly, Frye. subs Willock and Fleeting.
Arbroath - Jackson, Lynch, Hill, Curran, Taylor, Paterson, Fotheringham, Mackie, Torrance, McWalter, Brannigan. subs Jack and Kirkcaldy.
Referee J.F. McGilvray, Edinburgh.
It was a great victory, and one of the enduring sights was Fairy standing on the wee wall round the park with arms upraised. You would think we had won the cup!