1991-1992 League Cup Finalists
Skol Cup Final, Hampden Park
The 1991-92 league season had not started well for the Pars but their progress to the final of the League Cup saw much different fortunes. After a first quarter in which Dunfermline could only manage a single league point at home to St Johnstone, the ultimate humiliation came in the shape of a 4-1 hammering by St Mirren at East End Park.
While that league form was abysmal, Dunfermline had shown another side to their character in the Skol Cup, albeit they rode their luck in the semi final against Airdrie at Tynecastle, eventually winning a tense penalty shoot out after equalising from the spot in the most controversial of circumstances near the end of normal time.
Prior to this Skol Cup Final victories had been inflicted a 2-1 on Alloa Athletic, defeated St Mirren on penalties and won 3-1 against Dundee United. In the midst of this fluctuating form, the club chose to dismiss Iain Munro just a week before the semi final.
Despite being at the other end of the league table, Hibs too felt that reaching this national Final was a great achievement. They had survived the Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer’s efforts to buy a controlling interest in the club and merge Hibs with Hearts to create an Edinburgh side that he believed could compete with the Old Firm.
Then local businessman, hitherto uninterested in football, Tom Farmer stepped in to be their saviour. Hibs had recorded victories in the League Cup over Stirling Albion, Kilmarnock, Ayr United and 1-0 v Rangers in the semi-final at Hampden.
Jocky Scott relegated Ian McCall to the bench as Billy Davies returned, Andy Rhodes in the Dunfermline goal who had recently been voted the best goalkeeper in Britain by a football magazine. 20 year old Chris Sinclair followed his father in playing in a Hampden final. Jackie Sinclair having played in the Pars 1965 Scottish Cup Final against Celtic. Scott Leitch and Istvan Kozma kicked off the 46th League Cup Final.
Leitch had the first effort of the match, firing an opportunist left footed shot over the bar while at the other end a Rhodes held a well connected attempt by Gareth Evans from 30 yards.
The 33 year old Murdo Macleod had a deflected shot and Billy Davies lofted a free kick into the Hibs box that evaded Davie Moyes before Mickey Weir stoke in to meet an Evans cross from the right corner but headed into the sidenetting. Close!
A slack Sharp back pass put Rhodes in trouble but he was quickly out to bravely clear the ball 25 yards out but Wright slid into him and physio Pip Yeates was called upon to administer treatment to his keeper. After a concerning delay the £80,000 signing from Oldham Athletic, was able to continue.
Leitch and Wright had off target shots at goal but at the break a draw was probably fair. Reassuringly Norrie McCathie and Davie Moyes has looked solid in the centre of the Fifers defence.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Hibernian 0
Hibs started the second half strongly with McCathie forced to concede a corner on the left that Evans met and fired narrowly over the crossbar.
The capital side got the referee’s decision to be awarded a 50th minute penalty. Weir was sprawled out on the turf as Sharp attempted to stop him shooting and Tommy McINTYRE, with the coolest head in the house, slotted the ball to Andy Rhodes’ left hand side as the keeper went the other way. 1-0
After that Rhodes was by far the busier keeper. Dunfermline, not having scored since that match against St Mirren over a month before, had good efforts from both Davies and Leitch. They troubled Hibs for a spell but Keith WRIGHT, put the game beyond any doubt with a calm, slotted finish in the 86th minute.
HIBERNIAN: John Burridge: Willie Miller, Gordon Hunter, Tommy McIntyre, Graham Mitchell: Mickey Weir, Pat McGinlay, Bryan Hamilton, Murdo Macleod (c),: Keith Wright, Gareth Evans.
SUBS: Neil Orr, Dave Beaumont
SCORERS: McIntyre (50 pen.), Wright (86)
YELLOW CARD: Macleod
DUNFERMLINE: Andy Rhodes: Tommy Wilson, Norrie McCathie (c), Davie Moyes, Ray Sharp (Eddie Cunnington): Derek McWilliams, Billy Davies, Craig Robertson, Chris Sinclair (Ian McCall): Istvan Kozma: Scott Leitch.
YELLOW CARD: Davies, McWilliams
REFEREE: Brian McGinlay, Balfron
ATTENDANCE: 40377
Video Highlights: Skol Cul Final
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