The Road to Hampden: Part Five

Last updated : 18 March 2010 By Stuart Gillespie

It was what we'd all been waiting for since 1987 - a Saints win in a national cup semi-final. We dominated much of the game, deservedly took the lead, should have doubled it and then weathered the inevitable storm when it arrived - and it wasn't that great.

For once, we fought and challenged for everything. There were no failures in the team and every one of them fully deserved it. it's such a shame they can't do it in the league.

Gus MacPherson sprang a surprise by using 3-5-2 for the first time in 18 months, a rather odd time to go with it - but it worked. We started brightly, Michael Higdon and Lee Mair going close before Jack Ross had an effort deflected wide and Billy Mehmet hit the side netting.

Hearts only had one chance in the first half - and almost scored. Andrew Driver's corner was flicked on by the rather plump Christian Nade only for Gordon Smith to shoot wide.

We continued to go at Hearts in the second half, Mehmet shooting wide before Higdon messed up a good chance after Marian Kello amusingly messed up his kick-out. Instead, we had to wait until the 52nd minute for the glorious moment.

Ian Black, booked at the end of the first half, clattered David Barron, but play continued. Jack Ross stole the ball from Andrew Driver after he got stuck in a Fir Park crater and played it into the middle. Higdon dummied it, Mehmet pounced and sent a beautiful, curling shot past Kello and into the net.

It should have been two soon after. We broke from a corner, Mehmet flicked the ball through to Dorman at the half way line and he just had Kello to beat. Sadly, he shot straight at him (sounds familiar). Mehmet almost made up for that with some sensational showboating, to the delight of the Saints support.

Hearts began to come back into things after that, a Barron mistake giving Nade a chance that he blasted wide. Driver had a shot cleared off the line before Eggert Jonsson shot wide in injury time. There was still time for some handbags between Mehmet and Nade before Charlie Richmond finally brought things to an end, his whistle being met by an almighty roar.

It was an emotional night. As Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" blared out I had tears in my eyes, and did every time I tried to watch the highlights the following day. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Billy Mehmet's outstanding performance got us to Hampden - can he put in another on Sunday to help the journey end in glory? As the band themselves said - Don't Stop Believin'.