1986: Threave Rovers 0 Dunfermline 5

Memorable Match #16
Scottish Cup Second Round
Saturday 4th January 1986

This match was memorable not just for the Second Division League leaders trouncing their South of Scotland League opponents but for the atrocious weather conditions before, during and after the match.

Threave Rovers were an amateur team from the town of Castle Douglas, some 17 miles west of Dumfries. Their ground capacity for this cup tie was set at 2000 and 1250 Pars fans bought every ticket of their allocation on the first day they were released.

Despite the pitch being unused for six weeks prior to the match, it was described as very bare down the middle and heavily sanded. A pre match blizzard and snow fall during the game made the surface icy and the wild weather would double the travel time home for the Dunfermline fans. Sheltering from the cold and snow, the directors used the team bus as shelter from which to watch the cup tie.

The home side colours were black and white so Dunfermline played in red shirts with black shorts. The hosts put up a good fight for the opening 40 minutes before top scorer John Watson opened the scoring.

It took the Pars a time to settle as Threave fought for every ball. Bendall came close twice with two good shots. In 41st minute WATSON collected a Bobby Robertson cross from the right and netted from ten yards out. 0-1

After the interval the Fifers forced the pace with Ian HEDDLE scoring in the first minute of the second half. 0-2

Then WATSON cracked home a 15 yarder and ten minutes later he completed a great hattrick with a blistering drive from the edge of the box. 0-4

David Moyes has to come off with a suspected broken jaw. The midfielder, who had an 11 game run at the start of the season, was having his first game back following a lengthy lay off following an operation. Stevie Morrison came on to replace him.

Threave continued to try and breach the visitors defence but Ian Westwater had two good saves. Nine minutes from time Ian Campbell was brought down in the box and WATSON made it five from the spot kick.

Post match manager Jim Leishman paid tribute to the “wonderful hospitality” of the local team and added “It’s a nice thought that we’ll be going to Easter Road in the next round with it’s under soil heating”.

The team took 5000 fans to the Third Round match but were knocked out by second half goals from Eddie May and Steve Cowan.

Dunfermline Athletic 1985-86: Back (l to r) Alan Strachan, Bobby Forrest, Grant Jenkins, Jim Bowie, Ian Campbell, Willlie McGinlay, David Houston, Robert Foggo, Billy Lobban. Middle: Joe Nelson (trainer), Ian Gordon, Trevor Smith, Hugh Whyte, Ian Westwater, Robin McGregor, Roddy Grant, Dave Young, John Jobson (2nd team coach)
Front Row: Norrie McCathie, Rowan Hamilton, Peter Pryde, Jim Leishman, Andy Irvine, Ian Heddle, John Watson

Footnote: Before the team set off for Castle Douglas there was trouble. Bobby Forrest missed the team bus due to his car failing to start. Bobby hopped in a taxi to make sure he got there though. His chauffeur driven comfort incurring a whopping £70 cost to the club!

THREAVE ROVERS: Shanks: Connelly, Gallacher (Austin), McVitie, Derek Thomson, Ian Bendall (David Thomson), S Bendall, Houston, Rudd, Maxwell, Semple.

DUNFERMLINE: Ian Westwater: Bobby Robertson, Bobby Forrest, Norrie McCathie, Dave Young, Ian Heddle (Ian Gordon), Trevor Smith, David Moyes (Stevie Morrison), John Watson, Ian Campbell, David Houston
SCORERS: Watson (41, 49, 59, 81pen.), Heddle (46)

REFEREE: Louis Thow, Ayr
ATTENDANCE: 1600

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