Cup dreams were gone in 60 seconds
Supporters are already anticipating the drama of the Scottish Cup semi-finals that take place in a fortnight’s time.
It will be a real battle between Aberdeen and Motherwell, but both clubs must be pleased to have avoided playing one of the Old Firm teams at Hampden.
Forty-five years ago this week, Ayr United faced Rangers in their first-ever semi-final of the competition.
They had thrashed Partick Thistle 5-1 in the quarter-final and most observers felt Ally Macleod had created the finest side ever to grace Somerset Park. Unfortunately, the Honest Men couldn’t reach the Scottish Cup Final for the first time in their 63-year history.
Although they put up a real fight, club legend Alex Mcanespie believes the dream was gone in 60 seconds.
He recalled: “Unfortunately, the semi-final came down to two tussles between myself and Derek Parlane.
“But I still believe we should have been a goal ahead in the first minute.
“Alex Ingram headed home, but his effort was deemed to be offside.
“It was never offside. He stuck his head on the ball from the edge of the penalty area. That changed the face of the game. “Getting our noses in front would have boosted our confidence.
“We were already sure we could win the match – with Ally Macleod as manager, you always felt that way.
“He would go through the opposition team and describe their weaknesses, on or off the park, and convince us we were the better side.
“It definitely worked, because no team had an easy game at Somerset Park in those days. We’d already beaten Rangers that season.”
That victory was against a Light Blues’ team that didn’t include Derek Parlane in the line-up. He would prove to be the difference between the sides in the cup.
“You always knew you were in for a tough game against Derek,” said Alex, known to many in football as Sanny.
“He was quick, strong and would always get a shot away if you gave him the chance. “Twice we were in direct competition and twice he scored on a night of terrible rain. “The second one came from a ball over the top that I was following.
“I was aiming to clear the ball but I stretched and it bounced off the top of my foot.
“The next thing I saw, it was hitting the back of the net.
“It was a great finish on the volley by Parlane. But unlucky from my point of view.
“You need a wee rub of the green when you’re playing Rangers or Celtic in Glasgow, and we didn’t get it.”
A great goal from Derek, and who could have blamed him for celebrating?
He ran behind the goal to salute the Rangers fans and was promptly booked by referee Bobby Davidson when he returned to the pitch.
A new directive had instructed referees to discourage the worst excesses of celebrations. We might think that taking the fun out of football is a new thing, but it has actually been going on for nearly half a century!
Sanny spent 14 years in the Ayr United defence after joining from junior side Craigmark Burtonians.
He added: “Ally Macleod got us promoted and then we became one of the teams in the first Premier Division.
“During his time we had Alex Ferguson in the team. I remember being sent off trying to deal with his elbows when he was at Falkirk. “Having him as a team-mate meant a couple less yellow cards over the season.
“In those days you were hauled up in front of the beaks to explain bookings. My car knew its own way to the SFA headquarters at Park Gardens in Glasgow!”
Alex, who was manager of Stranraer for eight years, is now 74 and in the Ayr Hall Of Fame.