Games Can Turn On One Incident - But They Are Not Always Lost On Them

THIRTY-PLUS years ago, I covered a Scotland v England basketball international at Falkirk's Coasters Arena. Early in the second half, Scotland were leading the Auld Enemy by 20 points, which, in basketball is the equivalent of maybe a 4-0 lead in football. Then, Paisley's finest, big Bobby Archibald - whose son Robert is Scotland's greateste-ever basketball player - broke away unopposed and, rather than going for the simple lay-up (a tap-in), Bobby went for the big finale, an overarm, windmilling “slam dunk” - think of an “erse-hole winder” from six yards. But, instead of slamming the ball through the hoop, he caught the back, the ball rebounded the length of the court and England scored.

 

 

Basketball-playing Archibalds, Paisley and Murray International's Bobby (left) and his even bigger son Robert (right) who played for University of Illonois and in the NBA

This sparked-off a new belief in the men in white and in short order, the game was tied. However, to be fair to that Scotland team, they recovered their composure and eventually won by ten points.

Up until last night that was the best example I could come up with, of a single game turning on one incident – then Sevilla went on the attack from the second-half kick-off. Seventeen seconds later, it was 1-1 and, at that moment, I realised, the Spanish side was going to win.

I would hope, but not with any great belief in this happening, that, after last night, the English football media would give up this: “The English Premiership is the greatest league in the world” pish. Two Madrid teams contesting the European Cup Final, another Spanish club beats Liverpool to win the Europa League Final, and, none of these three clubs is the best in Spain – Methinks La Ligua has first dibs on the title: 'Greatest League in the World'.

Let's be brutally honest here, that last night was not a good Liverpool team. From Wullie Shankly through to Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's success was built on fantastic defence. Shankly, Bob Paisley, whoever, they all accepted, success was more likely, the fewer goals you conceded. Aye, Ian St John, Roger Hunt, Keegan and Toshack, King Kenny, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen maybe got the Kop going with their goals, but, the Koppites also worshipped Tommy Lawrence and Ron Years, Phil Thompson, Tommie Smith, Hansen and Lawrenson – the guys who kept the back door firmly bolted.

That Liverpool defence last night always looked fragile, when Sevilla attacked, and, in the end, they buckled in the way the great Liverpool sides seldom did, unless, perhaps faced with an Ajax team which in Shankly's immortal understatement: “Came here to defend”, by scoring at will on the counter-attack.

Daniel Sturridge - he's no Rush, Fowler, or Owen, far less a Dalglish

Daniel Sturridge is the poster boy of the current Liverpool team. I am sorry, but, apart from scoring a delightful goal, what did he do last night? He was anonymous from 1-1 on. He is not a team player and, for me, he is typical of today's top English player – over-hyped, lacking in application and not doing his talent justice. Shankly, Paisley & Co would have had little time for such a selfish individual.

 

AFTER the three-ring circus of the Europa League Final, it's back to purritch an auld claes tonight, with the first-leg of the SPFL Premiership Promotion Play-Off Final: Falkirk v Kilmarnock.

 Kris Boyd is Killie's best hope of salvation

I am, quite frankly, worried. Unless big Boydie can summon-up, somewhere over the two-legs, the goal-sniffing genius which has got him so-many goals over his career, I fear we are doomed. I cannot see a Killie team, whose recent form has been at best indifferent, can overcome a Falkirk team who, after the way they saw-off Hibs in the semi-final, must believe promotion is written in the stars.

Falkirk have all the momentum going into these two games, and, I fear, but am actually looking forward to, the return of the less-hateful Ayrshire Derby next season.

THAT Falkirk v Kilmarnock game is not the only crucial two-legged game coming up in Scottish football. That said, to be fair, the other one I wish to write about is not strictly speaking, a two-legged match.

Tomorrow night, at Newlandsfield, Pollok's home ground, Auchinleck Talbot and Hurlford United meet in the West of Scotland Cup final. Given the close rivalry between these two sides, this match promises to be a cracker.

 Hurlford United boss Darren Henderson (left) and Talbot boss Tucker Sloan (below). In essence their teams' seasons come down to the results of their clubs' back-to-back clashes at Newlandsfield tonight and at Blair Park on Wednesday.

 However, there is an equally-important clash between the pair, coming up at United's Blair Park, on Wednesday of next week, when they clash in the West of Scotland Superleague Prmier Division. This is, in effect, a league decider. Talbot lead the table, with 42 points from their 21 games. Hurlford lie third, with 35 points from 19 games.

In theory, therefore, if United win this, and their other two fixtures, they will overhaul Talbot and take the title, but, they have to beat Talbot. Should Wednesday night's game finish as a draw, United would then have to in their final two games, score ten more goals than they concede, to overturn Talbot's nine goal advantage in goal difference. As I was saying, nicely-poised and two potentially cracking games to come.

There is an exciting finish too, to the West Superleague, the First Division. Here, Largs top the table, with one game left to play, while second and third-placed Clydebank and Cumnock, who meet on Saturday, can still overhaul them for the title.

Cumnock, who have been playing their matches at Lugar's Rosebank Park, while Townhead Park has a new artificial surface laid, have four games left, as have fourth-placwd Kilwinning Rangers, so, dependant on results they could get themselves into the promotion and promotion/relegation places. There is even a chance that Largs might be overhauled and miss-out altogether. Quite honestly, nobody does drama quite like the juniors. On dry nights in May and into June, regular sernior football fans could do worse than get themselves along to their nearest junior clubs to see real fitba in the raw.

A few posts ago, I mentioned the possibility of Irvine Derbies in the West First Division next season, as Irvine Vics led the Ayrshire League. Sadly, they have been overtaken by Girvan, who will now go up to the West First Division next season, replacing relegated Maybole. Renfrew, having won the Central First Division, will also go up, to replace either Bellshill or Yoker.