60 years of ayes & blows
Dave’s had a lifetime Bayview of weddings, storms and Cup drama
Dave Marshall skipped out on his own wedding reception to listen to East Fife take on Thistle in the Scottish Cup on the wireless.
Almost 60 years on the East Fife vicechairman had a front-row seat for one of the more unforgettable moments in the history of the competition.
Unfortunately for him, not the League One club reaching the last eight for the first time since 1977.
Instead, it was the most bizarre passback Sportscene viewers can expect to see after Partick keeper Conor Hazard caught his own clearance when the swirling wind brought it back home.
East Fife failed to bury the indirect free-kick from 10 yards but veteran Steven Anderson was ruthless with a 61st-minute header that keeps new club Thistle unbeaten in 2019.
Even two-and-a-half hours before kick-off the omens weren’t in East Fife’s favour as Jeanfield Swifts’ 2007s raced out of Bayview chanting “championes” after beating the club’s youngsters.
September’s 2-1 win over Thistle in the Irn-Bru Cup was a more promising sign, although Marshall has another of their head-to-heads stored away.
The 79-year-old said: “I got married in Kennoway Parish Church in 1961, we had our reception in the hall next door and East Fife were playing Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup that day.
“I disappeared down to the local pub to listen to it on the wireless. Everybody was wondering where I had got to.
“We lost 3-1 and I didn’t have the courage to tell my wife even though I’d been married for two minutes!”
Reaching the last eight wasn’t going to come as easy as the Irn-Bru Cup semis after last weekend’s call- off in Dublin led to a bye.
Broque Watson had already been on a boozy night out in Dublin with his new East Fife team- mates but the Motherwell loanee needed to ask directions to the home changing room on his first visit to Bayview yesterday.
Meanwhile, brothers Lewis, Ross and Scott Young were tucking into steak pie in a hospitality giveaway for fans who travelled to Dublin for a match that never materialised.
Season ticket holder Scott, 28, beamed: “Free hospitality and a bye!”.
But asked whether the Guinness in front of him had been free too, he replied: “If only! Although the three drinks here are still cheaper than one in Dublin.”
A few seats down the table Richard Jurecki and stepson Alfie Treacy were enjoying the same treat.
Richard, offered hospitality after a photo of him in Dublin was sent in, said: “There are worse places in the world to be stuck than Dublin. This is not a bad silver lining.”
Elvis Presley died the same year the League One club last reached the last eight – 1977.
A little less conversation, a little more action please felt quite apt with Aidan Fitzpatrick’s f luffed shot and Miles Storey’s failure to connect with a drilled Christie Elliott ball across goal all the early stages had to offer. The loudest cheers came from the Jags fans clapping their subs running down the touchline to warm up.
That was replaced with a collective groan of confusion in 42 minutes when Hazard collected a pass, blootered it up in the air only for it to return to him, leaving him no option but to catch it.
The ref blew for an indirect free-kick for a passback and the keeper admitted: “The whole thing was just trying to keep the ball out of the net. A few of the lads shouted ‘ head it’ but even at 6ft 6in I don’t think I’d have reached it.”
Moments later Anderson got to grips with Anton Dowds in the Jags box, leaving Fifers boss Darren Young furious at not getting his spot-kick.
“You’re turning like an oil tanker Miles,” a Jags fan bellowed after Storey stymied a second-half counter-attack moments after Gary Harkins nodded a Craig Watson header away.
Storey then clattered an effort off the bar before Thistle bagged their opener, Craig Slater swinging a corner to the back post for Anderson to head in.
A steward carrying a bucket raced down the touchline faster than Penrice after smoke started to billow from a flare set off in the corner as the Jags fans celebrated.
There were shouts of “There’s only one team in Glasgow” as East Fife sub Jonny Court failed to connect with a Rory Currie cross.
BBC pundit Jim Spence may have had a mini heater ticking away nex t to him but the Fifers could do nothing to avoid being frozen out of the Cup.