The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Day Vincent got his very own Aguero moment
● Cup winner leaves James embedded in club folklore – just like his City idol
The Etihad Stadium, May 13 2012, circa 5pm.
Mario Balotelli, tumbling to the floor, scoops the ball into Sergio Aguero’s path. He crashes the ball inside the near post and cues bedlam, crowning Manchester City champions in the most dramatic of finalés.
James Vincent is a City fan and lived that moment of euphoria. Three years later, he got to experience his own moment of glory.
With one motion of his right foot, Vincent cemented his place in Caley Thistle folklore. Marley Watkins’ shot had squirmed out of the grasp of Falkirk goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald. Then Vincent arrived on the scene.
“We’ve all got our own team and got that guy who’s scored that goal,” he said. “Aguero is a different kettle of fish but I’m a City fan; he scored us that goal to win the Premier League. It’s got to be someone and it was me.”
It is a goal he now has greater appreciation for, greater understanding of its importance to so many people. The build-up to it, with just him and his pre-final roommate Watkins careering forward, is ingrained in the memory.
“The ball bounced over one of their boys. The lads who had started were flat out, mentally tired from the occasion. They’d put in a lot more hard work than me. I could see the two midfielders were sat, neither of them were looking to push. I crept 15-20 yards on a half-decent jog.
“The ball bounced well for Marley and he got past another. By this point, I think I was just past the half-way line. He came inside and I was about 10 or 15 yards ahead – I thought he was going to pass to me but he didn’t. He still maintains that he shouldn’t have.
“I’m a fit lad – if we’d have given away, I’d have got back into shape. Marley’s tried to bend it into the far corner and probably not put enough on it. The ‘keeper has probably not seen me and put it into a position away from his goal. I’ve been running on to it in the right place. I was fortunate enough to put in the back of the net.
“It was about having a bit of a gamble. If I hadn’t who knows, it could have been a different story.”
A knock had kept Vincent out of training until 10 days before the final. He knew he would not be starting but he remained alert, prepared to make an impact when called upon.
With Carl Tremarco’s sending off though, it was going to be slightly different.
“I came on in the number 10 role. Ryan Christie was there and I came on for him. Yogi liked me there as I’m a natural central midfielder and I’d get forward quite a lot. But I could sit in and help the other two midfielders.
“We’d all played two or three different positions and I think Yogi liked that about players. It’s good to have players who are adaptable.
“I think I’d played right-back once or twice; I’d start in midfield and dropped back. So to go there in an important game, it was daunting and you were wary this isn’t your normal position. David Raven would have been our right-back all day long but he was injured. You go on, do a job and do the best for your team.”
The ball is slid beyond MacDonald’s desperate hand. Vincent wheels away to the nearest television camera, makes a heart gesture and is subsequently mobbed by team-mates. History unfolding for several thousand of a Caley Thistle persuasion.
“I look back and think it was quite a calm celebration. I look back now and probably get more excited. Someone told me this at the time – because I was so calm, they said ‘you don’t realise how big this is’. As I’ve got older, I can see it’s massive and it’s probably the best thing I’ll win in my career.
“It was good for the fans as well. It was the biggest day for them – they love the club and for them to be part of it, it’s great. I never get tired of talking about it.”