St.Mirren 3 Hearts 2

Written by Fraser Anderson.

10th April 1926. 25th April 1959. 16th May 1987. And now today, March 17 2013, will go down in history alongside those rare and glorious occasions as St Mirren Football Club lifted the League Cup for the first time, and won only their fourth major domestic trophy in 135 years of illustrious history. St Mirren 3-2 Heart of Midlothian was the final score, and what a magical rollercoaster it was that preceded it.
The stage was set. 16,500 Buddies decked in black and white nervously ambled into the stadium to witness a real chance of history. It was the largest St Mirren support in 26 years, and none of them knew quite just what the next 90 minutes would bring. However all they knew was what was at stake for their beloved club - the chance to avenge past wrongdoings, the opportunity to make themselves legends and to be revered in Paisley folklore for decades to come.



A fully fit and first-choice starting 11 proudly marched onto the Hampden turf to the acclaim of those vociferous spectators and set themselves for the kick-off of the biggest game of their lives; backed by a deafening and spine-tingling rendition of “Come on you Saints” as referee Craig Thomson signalled for the action to begin.

The opening half hour will be skipped over by those who had recorded the game beforehand. It was not a pleasing spectacle for those of a Paisley persuasion, where Hearts ran riot and looked every inch the side they have failed to be this season. Saints meanwhile looked disjointed and indecisive. There was an air of anxiety about the players as the occasion attempted to get the better of them.

Hearts threatened early on as Dylan McGowan’s cross was palmed away by Craig Samson with John Sutton inches away from converting. Samson was let-off moments later as he cannoned a back-pass off the onrushing Sutton which thankfully trickled out for a corner. However those chances were purely prolonging the inevitable as Heart of Midlothian took the lead inside ten minutes. A rough passage of play with crunching tackles from McAusland and Goodwin attempted to keep the visitors at bay. However Goodwin’s excellent sliding challenge fired the ball straight to Ryan Stevenson 25 yards from goal. Paul Dummett hesitated, while Stevenson took full advantage. He shimmied and turned, and fired the ball through a crowd of bodies past the desperately outstretched fingertips of Samson to inflict heartbreak on the expectant Renfrewshire contingent.

The cup dream looked in tatters even at this early stage. Saints were there in fight and spirit, but the footballing aspect was sorely lacking. Easy balls forward were overlooked in favour of riskier passes in the direction of their own goalkeeper. Hearts looked like scoring from every attack and nearly doubled their advantage when Jamie Walker’s spectacular cross was headed off the back post by Sutton. A deep free kick was then swung into the box only for Samson to beat the ball clear with Sutton and Michael Ngoo certainties to score. Mehdi Taouil then engineered a run into the penalty box completely unopposed only to wastefully drag his shot wide. Yet somehow, the Jambos’ frail lead remained intact.

Bar a weak Esmael Goncalves shot and a harmless Paul McGowan chip, there had been zero threat from the men in black and white. However with each completed pass, the confidence grew and although chances were not forthcoming it was clear that they finally had a grip on this cup final. So much so that they snatched it back from their opponents in unexpected and oh-so-wonderful circumstances just minutes before the interval. A more familiar passage of neat passing allowed Thompson to play in a suspiciously onside Gary Teale behind the opposition defence. The flag stayed down as near 17,000 fans rose in electric anticipation. Teale selflessly squared the ball a grateful Goncalves who had no qualms about sweeping home into an empty net with Jamie MacDonald stranded. Cue bedlam among the West side of Hampden borne out of relief as much as irrepressible joy. The striker removed his jersey in jubilation, only to be rewarded with a yellow card from referee Thomson. After the erratic opening 20 minutes, one third of the ground was starting to believe in miracles. If the St Mirren goal continued to lead a charmed life then anything was possible. The half time whistle was welcomed with open arms by St Mirren, leaving the maroon majority to exasperatedly ponder just how the cup wasn’t already winging its way to Gorgie.

If Saints could muster the impressive passing football recaptured at the end of the first half then there was no stopping this incredible group of players. As the old cliché goes, “the next goal’s crucial”. And it wasn’t half.

Inside the second half’s opening minute, patient build-up play allowed Paul Dummett to cross low into the penalty box. Steven Thompson, who had only scored one goal since the last Hampden outing, gratefully converted at the near post into the top corner beyond MacDonald’s reach to complete the turn-around. As the swathes of confused supporters made their way back from the catering kiosks, there was a crumpled heap of black and white jerseys at the corner flag, with an ecstatic Thompson somewhere at the bottom.

No-one could quite believe the score-line given such a nervy start. Least of all Hearts who endeavoured to restore parity as Ngoo forced a decent stop from Samson. Steven Thompson forced one of his own from MacDonald from a tight angle, before McGowan fired the rebound wide.

One could sense an imminent goal but the question was for which side. Conor Newton answered that question in emphatic style after creating the chance himself. The Geordie robbed Hearts of possession, the one-two with Goncalves was exquisite, and the finish rifled into net to leave the Buddies in absolute dreamland. If ever there was a time to score the first goal for your club, then that was it. St Mirren were 3-1 up in a national cup final with one hand on the trophy. For such an advantage, the chants were intermittent and slightly muted. Those in the stands dared not dream. They had been here so many painful times before. Even with their two goal advantage and cruising, nothing could be taken for granted.

Hearts on the other hand looked shaken. Their fight was unquestionable however, and forged their way back into a cup final that had once been theirs for the taking. Samson batted away a McHattie drive as the men from Edinburgh battled on. Gary Teale was booked for petulance as he angrily threw the ball down in frustration before goal hero Thompson picked up an ankle knock with 15 minutes remaining and was taken off to an idyllic standing ovation for his part in not only this game, but the season as a whole. Sam Parkin took his place, while Graham Carey replaced a tiring John McGinn moments later as the fresh legs were needed for the inevitable maroon onslaught.
With ten minutes to go the 3-1 lead looked enough, especially when Stevenson smacked the bar from an easier angle than the one for his earlier goal. If Hearts had any chance of salvation, it surely had to be then. The Saints performance had dwindled with the tactical shake-up, but you felt it finally, at last, was going to be our day.

That however is something as a Paisley Buddie, you should never take for granted. Just two minutes later Stevenson swept the ball into Samson’s far corner from Ngoo’s lay-off, to set up a final five minutes of sheer dread and trepidation. What followed was akin to the Alamo. Hearts threw everything at Samson’s goal in a last-ditch attempt to salvage their broken cup dreams. He saved from Stevenson before the striker hit the woodwork once more. Goncalves was substituted for Lee Mair as Hearts continued their assault on Samson’s goal. Ball after ball after ball was hopefully slugged into the St Mirren penalty area, with the anxious whistles of the Saints support piercing the eardrums. Each foray forward was met by a deafening roar from the capital support. In one rare escape from danger in the opposition half, Saints held the ball up as time literally stood still as the stadium clock agonisingly remained steadfast at 90 minutes. The three added minutes seemed like 30. The Buddies’ faithful begged for the final whistle, the signal that glory had been achieved and history made. Craig Thomson’s three shrill blasts duly obliged, producing a deafening roar akin to that of a 52,000 capacity. St Mirren were Scottish Communities League Cup champions, season 2012-2013; and it was somewhat overwhelming.
Grown men cried and embraced one another, others stood with hands over mouths completely numb at what their team had just accomplished. 10 years ago they were used to 4-0 defeats to Alloa Athletic among others. Today they witnessed their team lift a major trophy for the first time in 26 years. For months, players and fans had believed. Lee Mair’s last minute winner against Hamilton, the Pittodrie penalty heroics and the humbling of Barcelona-conquerors Celtic - sometimes your name is just on the trophy. Steven Thompson jumping around with his children on the podium actively sums up what our great club is about; a community-based, family-friendly club that prides itself on the football that serves the people of Paisley and Renfrewshire. No politics, no agendas...just St Mirren. Today’s success is testament to that mantra, and long may it continue.

To absent friends, we raise a glass. We toast those who would otherwise be joining in the party, and those who paved the way for us to follow this great club. For those present, they bore witness to a miraculous piece of history – its ink still drying in another glorious chapter in the history of St Mirren Football Club.