So when the pair were matched for Saturday's Scottish FA Cup semi final the anticipation between the two sets of fans was electric.
Falkirk plying their trade in the Premier League whilst Dunfermline currently fourth in the Championship these games don’t come along too often and despite being a league apart there was nothing between them on the park.
At first glance a 0-0 may sound dull to the casual observer. But we are not casual observers - we are football fans and we know that a score line only tells a little of the story. There was plenty of excitement, missed chances, some excellent saves, some very poor finishing but this was a nil-nil of quality. Again, our fictional casual observer may claim that’s an oxymoron, and yes it is in some ways but for a game that lacked goals it made up for in incident.
Onfield action, a red card and a penalty shootout after 120+ mins. The two best chances possibly in the whole match falling at the feet of 17 year old Lucas Fyfe. Whether it was nerves or inexperience or a combination of both he managed to fluff his lines and put neither away. He’s only a kid though and will improve through time. He’s got pace to burn and as his finishing improves he’ll be yet another player, in my opinion at least, who will go right to the top as long as he remains focused, works hard and keeps injury free.
The villain of this match was Falkirk's Henry Cartwright who turned to the dark arts in the last minute of extra time and was rightly shown a second yellow for his Tom Daley impression.
So to penalties, and it was the time for heroes to be found. Ex-Celtic keeper Bain facing off against ex- Celtic boss Neil Lennon's current side but the real hero of the shootout was Dunfermline's Aston Oxborough. The on loan Motherwell keeper made two very good saves to help send his side through to the cup final. I’d imagine it was late into the night before that smile finally left his face. Cameras too swung to catch an emotional Neil Lennon who was visibly overjoyed at the end, having taken on and taken out three Premiership teams they’ve one more to overcome and that one more being the victors of Sundays Celtic v St Mirren semi final.
I wasn't overly confident going into Sundays match as I’ve said the performances have been poor and scraping one goal wins hardly inspires confidence so imagine my shock at half time when Celtic found themselves two nil ahead. Goals from Maeda in the first minute, a combination of pressing that’s been missing in the lads' game recently and a goalkeeping blunder saw the ball bounce off the Japanese and trundle into the net, and then a rocket finish from the much maligned Anthony Ralston in the final minute of the half, it looked for all the world to see like Celtic were back and they’d go on and run riot in the second half.
But this is a team that’s flattered to deceive before and eight minutes into the second half the buddies' danger man Mikael Mandron pounced to pull one back that seemed to knock the stuffing out of Celtic who did their best impression of the big bad Wolf but failed to do more than huff and puff as time passed and the Saints grew into the game there was something of an inevitability about Mandron's second. Full time, a triumph for never giving up and a lesson that two goals are never enough.
A further 30 mins and penalties ahead. A situation Celtic shouldn’t have found themselves in yet somehow having managed to shoot themselves in both feet something was going to be needed to separate the two.
Now before I give my thoughts on extra time I’d like to be brutally honest here. I know this was a cup game, no points at stake and no bearing on the title race But to let a two goal lead disappear isn’t the stuff champions are made of. This has been one of Celtic's bigger problems this year, defensive frailty. And, sure, the new manager should have a full compliment of fit players to choose from come the start of the season, with Carter Vickers and Trusty in the middle of defence, that rigidity should return. However, an injury to one or both and suddenly we look vulnerable again. While our rivals are strengthening Celtic seem to be quite happy with a sticking plaster approach, and whilst it may provide temporary relief and respite ultimately it won’t heal the deep wounds in this team. Signings have to be made and the man at the top needs to let go of the purse strings.
Extra time and a performance that’s been missing all season was witnessed in the first six minutes. Celtic rejuvenated looking like a team who hadn’t just ran around for the best part of one hundred minutes bagged four goals to sink the sorry Saints. Two from super sub Ihenacho and one each from McCowan and Nygren sent the Celts through and great scenes of both jubilation and relief reverberated through the halls of Robertson Towers as I’m sure it did throughout the homes of Celtic fans across the globe.
Into the final to face Lennon's Dunfermline who have proven to be able to mix it with the best it’s anything but a forgone conclusion. I’m sure Celtic will be the bookmakers' heavy favourites but I’d not be betting on Lennon not delighting in getting one over his old club, his old boss and the fans who once adored him.
The final is to be played on Saturday 23rd May at a yet to be determined time but should be available on both BBC Scotland and Premier Sports.
Let’s hope it’s a lovely sunny day so Steve R can get out in his garden and not have to endure the Bhoys lifting (hopefully) another trophy 🤣
PS: I can’t go without mentioning Saints stand in keeper Tamosevicius who for his first time ever in goal for the club in any first team match was at fault for none of the goals and didn’t look out of place. Another lad of just seventeen I wish him well for his future.
Til next time …
🐼 Gary Robertson is the TPQ Scottish football correspondent.
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