Memorable moments Cup Final 1997

by Matthew Elder

My most memorable match? Without a doubt, our Second Division Cup final success in our first season as a Saturday club.

We went into the game against Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts as underdogs with our opponents having comfortably won the league, but we were quietly confident of causing an upset, having put in our best display of the season against them in a 5-2 league win at the start of the season.

The game was on a Friday and I suffered a stress fracture in my foot playing in a league game against Milton Violet on the Monday leading up to the big game..

Thought my chances of playing were over, but after spending all week with the foot on ice to bring the swelling down, I took a cocktail of four ibuprofen and four paracetamol an hour before kick-off.

That, combined with a pain-numbing gel and two tubi-grips, ensured that I couldn't feel my foot, so I could take my place in the starting XI. Even though I suffered for playing through an injury in the weeks afterwards, it was well worth it.

Walking onto the park it was evident that this was no ordinary game. We were playing at a proper junior park with sheltered terracing, and there was around 200 people there!

The game was a very tight affair, few chances at either end, but we were more than a match for the favourites. The game seemed destined for extra-time until Doob struck a stunning winner with three minutes to go.

He controlled a Kenny Christie cross on the penalty spot, turned, and hit a beauty into the top corner with his weaker left foot. He was soon buried under an avalanche of overjoyed team mates.

Inverkeithing laid siege for the final few minutes but we held on (despite Fraser celebrating full-time a minute too early when the ref blew for an offside) to ensure the club's first cup final win.

After playing in two losing cup final teams the previous two seasons, this was a moment to savour for everyone. A great team performance.

That night, the Lomond Hills Hotel had never seen a celebration like it, when even European Cup winner Billy McNeil joining our party!

Memories like that don't come along too often for amateur footballers. Hopefully there's more to come for Lomond United.