Relichtie

     Memorable matches No. 37

 

Aug 28 1972.                                   Celtic 3-3 Arbroath.               Scottish League Cup Section 8

  Newly promoted Arbroath faced a tough task when the League Cup sections were drawn. Along with a Stirling Albion side they had pipped by two points in the previous seasons promotion battle, they were also drawn with established 1st division side East Fife, and league champions Celtic.

Arbroath made a poor start with an away defeat to East Fife (1-2), and Stirling Alb (1-2), and home defeats at the hands of Stirling Alb (1-2) and Celtic (0-5).

Arbroath fans at Gayfield.

A section of the 7607 crowd at Gayfield for the visit of Celtic

 They had recorded one victory when two goals from Kenny Payne, and a Billy Pirie penalty had seen of the Fifers at Gayfield. The last match in the section was a trip to Parkhead, which was to produce a memorable result for the lichties, and an unlikely hat trick hero.

Celtic were already through as section winners, and had only dropped one point, and certainly wouldn't want to let another point slip away, and Arbroath would want to get some respect after the heavy home defeat by the Bhoys. 

Arbroath started brightly with an early Cant effort saved by Connaghan. Cant was again to the fore with a 30 yard drive before Payne brought out a good save from the Celtic custodian. Celts hit back and McAlpine was forced to concede a corner with Lennox pressing. Deans was next to try his luck with a drive that went narrowly past. Arbroath opened the scoring in 22 mins when Sellars sped past Connelly and centred for Payne who drove the ball at Connaghan, and when the ball rebounded off his chest, Rylance slotted the ball home. Arbroath gifted the equaliser to Celtic in 32 mins when Cargill attempted to loft the ball back to  Marshall, only for the ball to fly into the net over the keeper. Hood then gave Celtic an interval lead with a 25 yard drive.

Jim Milne shadows Dixie Deans at Parkhead

Arbroath opened up and tried to hit back, but it was Celtic who came close when Marshall rescued the maroons with a smart save from a Lennox header. The home side kept the pressure up, and went further ahead when McGrain hit a shot which Marshall parried, but only to Dalglish who tapped in. Winchester made way for Robertson, and the switch seemed to help the visitors. In 68 mins Pirie made some space for himself on the edge of the box and squared to Rylance who hit a drive home from 18 yards. Arbroath sensed they might get something from the game and pushed forward. It paid of in 77 mins when Sellars crossed and Rylance leaped to meet the ball and score Arbroath's third goal and complete his own hat trick.

Hat trick hero

Celtic - Connaghan, McGrain, Quinn, Hay, McNeill, Connelly, McLaughlin, Deans, Dalglish, Hood, Lennox. Substitute McCluskey.

Arbroath - Marshal, Milne, McAlpine, Cargill, Waddell, Winchester, Sellars, Cant, Pirie, Rylance, Payne. Substitute Robertson.

Referee - E. Thomson, Edinburgh.

Crowd 4962.

League Cup Section 8

    P W L D F A Pts
Celtic 6 4 0 2 18 6 10
2 East Fife 6 2 2 2 7 8 6
3 Stirling Alb 6 2 3 1 4 10 5
4 Arbroath 6 1 4 1 9 14 3

 

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