Kick off was delayed for half an hour to let the massive crowd make it's way to New Broomfield. Thanks to the inefficiency of the police, traffic had to crawl to the stadium and was directed all over the place. parking was a joke and the whole fiasco confirmed that the SFL's decision to host the final at Airdrie was the wrong one. There were over nine and a half thousand inside the ground, a new record for the stadium.
Saints made one change to the team that beat Queen of the South last weekend, Kirk Broadfoot returning and Ian Maxwell dropping out through injury. Brian Carrigan was mysteriously only on the bench for the Accies despite scoring a couple against Saints a month ago!
I'm not going to go into full detail about the game basically because I can't be bothered and I can't remember all the chances! So I'll mention the main ones.
Kirk Broadfoot almost fired Saints into the lead after just a few minutes, but his powerful save was brilliantly palmed away by Hamilton keeper David McEwan.
Saints took the lead midway through the first half. Broadfoot's free kick was tipped away by McEwan, and Simon Lappin fired the rebound off the bar. The ball fell to David van Zanten at the other side of the box and his cross was cunningly disguised as a poor shot. it found Lappin and this time the midfielder made no mistake, firing past McEwan to send the Saints fans into delight.
Saints fully deserved the lead and held it until half time, and even had a few chances to extend it but just couldn't make them count. Hamilton had a few efforts but nothing really exciting, and Saints headed in at the break with the lead.
The half time entertainment was provided by some young Saints and Hamilton folk in some sort of ten second goal run challengey thing. After a good start, Saints faded and Hamilton won. If you were like me, you were hoping this wasn't a sign.
Sadly, it looked like it may well have been just a few minutes into the second half. Chris Smith was unable to hold a shot in the Saints goal, and Scott Tunbridge was there to tap away the rebound and level the scores. Not good.
Saints tried to hit back and John Sutton was desperately unlucky to see his header tipped away by McEwan when it looked like it was heading in. A few minutes later, McEwan appeared to be injured whilst Saints were attacking. It looked more than a little suspicious.
Hamilton were now having the better of things and should have taken the lead, only for whichever player it was to put his volley wide. Saints tried to respond by replacing the quiet Charlie Adam with Billy Mehmet and Andy Millen with Mark Reilly.
With ten minutes to go, van Zanten made another run down the right and got in a great cross. It found Sutton in the penalty box and the big striker made no mistake, heading powerfully into the bottom corner to restore Saints advantage and send the Saints fans wild once more. For some reason, I thought when van Zanten started his run down the right that this would be the moment that decided the game. God knows why.
Both teams had chances for more goals, Hamilton having a goal disallowed as the ball was clearly out before it was crossed in. After the two minutes of stoppage time (strange considering the subs and injury), it was left to Stuart Dougal (who'd had a shocker and was harder on the Saints players than the Hamilton ones) to blow for full time and confirm Saints status as the last ever winners of the League Challenge Cup whilst it was sponsored by Bells.
Saints deserved the win and celebrated with laps of honour and various photo shots for the press. Most Saints fans, myself included, sang and shouted themselves hoarse and were sent home very, very happy.
A diddy cup? Aye, very good. it was another day that makes all the pain and suffering worth it, another day that makes you glad you don't support the Old Firm.
The last two winners of this cup have gone on to win the first division titles. Let's hope we can make it three in a row.