St Andrews United hosted Hurlford United for the first time ever in Scotland’s premier non-league knock-out trophy and the two teams really put on a show for the 182 fans in attendance. Steve Clark yet again took charge of Saints with Ewan Baillie as his assistant but David Chalmers, Finlay Kerr and Andy Johnston were cup-tied. However, the hosts began the match on the front foot, whilst shooting down the hill, and they took the lead in the third minute when a superb long-range effort from Ryan McManus deceived away goalkeeper Harry Broun. McManus then headed a good chance over the bar two minutes later yet the action swung from end to end all afternoon. Indeed, the next chance fell to Hurlford’s Kris Kerr but Logan Halliday made a terrific save low to his right. The impressive John Tod then cleared the ball off his own line in the twentieth minute yet the visitors equalised shortly afterwards when Carter Frew out-jumped the home defence to head the ball past a helpless Halliday. The home players certainly could have defended the cross a lot better on that occasion but they promptly went back down the park when Mikey Ness sent a lovely cross towards Alex McCreadie. Unfortunately, the little midfielder couldn’t add a scoring touch and Hurlford responded with another fast counter-attack. The ball was worked towards an unmarked Ben Hughes at the back post and he blasted a shot into the net via the underside of Halliday’s crossbar.

Hughes and Jack Whittaker subsequently missed chances to increase their team’s lead before Lewis Payne was booked for diving. Fife’s number one referee Andy Gamble then drew the first half to a close with Hurlford leading 2-1 but the officials didn’t have too many contentious issues to resolve throughout the game. Indeed, Gamble was ably assisted by silver-haired veterans Keith Maskell and George MacDonald so the players were allowed to perform without too many unnecessary interruptions. As such, both sides created scoring opportunities at the start of the second half with Kerr going close for Hurlford and Lewis Payne miscuing a shot for Saints. However, Payne was the next player to find the net when he converted a great cross from Lewis Sawers to make the score 2-2 on the hour-mark. Alas, Sawers couldn’t find a team mate with his next cross and Ryan Roche was booked less than a minute before Hurlford United retook the lead. Whittaker was given far too much time to shoot and he found the bottom right-hand corner of Halliday’s net with a well-controlled finish.

The hosts had been the better team for a spell prior to that point but they were lucky not to concede any further goals as Hughes and Lewis Morrison both drilled low shots narrowly past Halliday’s far post. With darkness falling and Saints on the back foot, several fans headed towards the exits yet there was still time for substitute Owen Andrew to bag a dramatic equaliser in the 92nd minute. There was a scramble in the Hurlford box after Broun appeared to be nudged but Andrew kept his cool to make the score 3-3 from close-range. Incredibly, Sawers went within inches of securing the win with the last kick of normal time, though a draw was probably a fair score given the entertainment value provided by both sides. The match consequently headed for extra time with both sets of players looking quite tired and Halliday needed to make two magnificent saves in quick succession to keep his team in the contest. Indeed, the visitors really stepped up the pace in search of that killer goal so Halliday made two further saves of note during the first half of extra time, whilst McCreadie did well to block a shot on his own goal-line.

Substitute Lewis Craik then received a yellow card as the tackles grew slightly wilder in midfield but the little midfielder scored the goal of his life in the 110th minute. Ness capped a fine personal performance by sending a deep cross towards the back post and Craik, who was the smallest player on the park, sent a delightful looping header over Broun to give United the lead once more! The home fans cheered in approval as the large travelling support look distraught but there was still time for Saints to score again. Ross Cunningham, on for the injured Tom Milne, whipped a good ball into the box and Andrew found the net at the second attempt to complete a wonderful comeback victory. As such, the most captivating game of the season ended 5-3 in St Andrews United’s favour and McManus pipped Halliday to the ‘man of the match’ award, which was chosen by sponsor Skye Sands.

Scorer Sponsors:
Ryan McManus – Dundee University Chronic Pain Research Group
Lewis Payne – Stephen Jackson
Owen Andrew – John Stevenson
Lewis Craik – Norrie Hutton & Grahame Niven