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You Couldn't Make It Up!

by Jack Little

When the draw for the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup in season 1982/83 paired Thistle and Kilmarnock no-one could have foreseen the marathon that would unfold. After missing their 1st half chances in the first match (29/1), Thistle salvaged a replay with a Maurice Johnston header that just managed to cross the line with 4 minutes remaining. The replay at Rugby Park (2/2) was an exciting, but goalless, affair. Ian McDonald cleared a header off the line in extra time. The 2nd replay (Firhill, 7/2) ended 2-2 (1-1 after 90 minutes). Despite Thistle taking the lead in 3 minutes, Kilmarnock were the better team and levelled 5 minutes into the 2nd half. A goal 1 minute into extra time looked to have put them through but Kenny McDowall's low shot in the corner 9 minutes later produced another replay. The 3rd replay at Rugby Park (9/2) quickly deteriorated into a bit of a slog with Kilmarnock the better looking team but a goal by Maurice Johnston in the 86th minute (or, if you prefer, the 416th minute) finally settled the tie. The goal possibly prevented the tie going to a 4th replay but that would only have equalled the record for the Scottish Cup set in 1908/09 between Beith and Broxburn Athletic.

Publishing date An original Thistle Archive publication, 07-Sep-2020.
Latest edit date Latest edit version 02-Jun-2020.

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