Relichtie
Quarter finals No. 9
March 15 1947 Arbroath 2-1 Hearts Scottish Cup
Arbroath started the cup in the 3rd round with a visit from Stenhousemuir, who earned a replay after a 2-2 draw at Gayfield in January. In the replay though, Arbroath improved enough to record a 2-0 win and set up a home tie with Raith Rovers. The pitch for this match had to be cleared of snow and sanded, to make it playable, but it was treacherous underfoot. The 6000 spectators who braved the snow covered terracing may have had wet feet, but they couldn't complain of the cold, as the excitement reached fever pitch a few seconds after kick off, and stayed there for the rest of the match. Arbroath finally won 5-4, but tempers rose to such an extent, following a disallowed goal for the Fifers, that a number of visiting fans invaded the pitch in an attempt to confront the referee.
The draw was again kind to the Lichties, and Heart of Midlothian were to come to Gayfield for the Quarter final tie.
The game was played at a fast pace from the start, and Arbroath were more than equal to their "A" division counterparts, indeed so aggressive were the homesters that it seemed to take the Edinburgh side by surprise. Half time came with no goals, and the second half was nearing it's end when the deadlock was broken.
Timmins was racing through on goal, when he was unceremoniously brought down on the edge of the penalty box. Half a dozen Hearts players lined up to form a barrier to Hynd's free kick, but the Gayfield pivot, instead of aiming for the far post as most people expected, judiciously directed the ball to the inside of the near post, completely deceiving Brown, in the Hearts goal.
After their initial success, the Lichties enthusiasm knew no bounds, and for the next five minutes they literally ran the opposition off their feet culminating in a second goal. Hynd again was the initiator, when he carried the ball forward before releasing Smith with a superb pass, the left winger cracked in a smashing left foot shot, which Brown could only push on to the crossbar. Carrie was quickest to react, and he smartly headed home.
Hearts were now rattled, and they made a supreme effort to stave off impending defeat. With two minutes remaining they finally got a goal, more through determination than good play, but it was too late.
The Arbroath side had won on pure football, it was Hearts who had to resort to kick and rush stuff.
It had taken Arbroath 69 years to reach the semi final of the Scottish cup, where they would face Aberdeen. at Dens.
Arbroath - Bonnar, English, Evans, Fraser, Hynd, McGinlay, Timmons, McMullen, Carrie, Hill, Smith.
Hearts - Brown, McSpadyen, McClure, Whitehead, Baxter, Laing, Sloan, Conn, Currie, McCrae, Dewar.
Referee - R.E. Carruthers, Airdrie.
Attendance 9000.