Glory road as league title

He flicked the ball between his legs, beating centre-half Doug Smith in the process, then cracked a tremendous 25-yard drive with his right foot into Ugolini’s top left-hand corner.

It had been a spine-tingler of a game with The Courier headlines reflecting this: “Now It’s Neck and Neck!” and “Gilt-edged winner to a searing battle at Tannadice”.

Now there were just two games left. Dundee had to meet St Mirren at home and St Johnstone away, while Rangers faced Aberdeen away and Kilmarnock at Ibrox.

But with the Light Blues holding a vastly superior goal average, which was worth an extra point, Dundee had to hope for another slip by Rangers.

April 25 1962: Dundee 2-0 St

Mirren

Dundee had to endure a nervewracking 16-day wait due to the Scotland versus England international then the Scottish Cup final, which St Mirren lost 2-0 to Rangers.

Having earlier knocked Dundee out of the cup and taken a point from them at Love Street, the Paisley side were now among a clutch of sides battling relegation.

With the stakes so high, it was a jittery first half before an expectant 20,000 crowd that Wednesday night at Dens Park.

Three minutes from the interval Dundee got the elusive goal. Cox robbed Beck and the Dens skipper carried it forward before passing to Alan Gilzean.

Quickly he switched inside to Alan Cousin and the big man smacked it home from the 18-yard line.

After the restart, Dundee stormed the Saints goal but gradually fell back into more of a defensive pattern.

Just 12 minutes remained and there was potential tragedy for Dundee when referee Willie Syme awarded Saints a penalty for a handling offence.

The Dundee players protested bitterly and Jim Clunie took the kick amid a storm of jeers and boos.

But Pat Liney pulled off the save of his life. As the ball soared towards his top right-hand corner, the keeper miraculously clawed it down and the whole of Dens Park erupted with delight.

And with only seven minutes left on the clock and the result in the balance, Cousin prodded the ball to Andy Penman and the inside man fired past Williamson from 20 yards out.

The final whistle was the signal for a pitch invasion and the players had to battle their way to the dressing-room.

Pat Liney, who had made that wonderful penalty save at a vital time in the game, had to be rescued by four policemen and escorted to the pavilion.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen defeated Rangers 1-0 at Pittodrie, which prompted a tremendous roar.

Dundee were two points ahead again and needed only one point at Perth on the Saturday.

Dundee players doing their training routines during their titlewinning season. by police after one game. Pat Liney had to be rescued