On this day in 1972, Bristol Rovers beat Sheffield United in the final of the Watney Cup in front of 19,768 at Eastville.
Sponsored by the Watney Mann Brewery, the competition ran for just four seasons, from 1970 and was open to eight teams, two from each of the four divisions that had scored the most goals in the previous season and had not been promoted or qualified for European football.
Rovers qualified for the 1972 tournament by scoring 75 goals and finishing in sixth place in the Third Division at the end of the previous season.
Rovers and the Blades had reached the final of the competition without conceding a goal, and that record remained intact for both sides, as it was 0-0 at the end of the 90 minutes.
United goalkeeper Tom McCalister, who later in his career spent a short time on loan at Rovers, made three superb saves during the game, from Brian Godfrey and Bannister (twice), while United’s best chance came from Alan Woodward, who saw his second-half strike turned over the bar by Dick Sheppard.
No extra time was played, and so the winner was decided by a penalty shootout, in which Sheppard proved to be Rovers’ hero.
Phil Roberts, Godfrey, Bruce Bannister, Mike Green and Sandy Allan all converted their penalties. Still, they were matched by five successful spot kicks by United players Keith Eddy, Tony Currie, Bill Dearden, Eddy Colquhoun and Woodward.
Lindsay Parsons made it 6-5 to Rovers, but Stewart Scullion drew United level again before substitute Bryn Jones edged Rovers back in front. Next up for The Blades was Ted Hemsley, but Sheppard pulled off a dramatic save to deny him, and Rovers had won the cup!
Once again, Megson was interviewed after the game, and he said: "I thought we had a great chance of carrying off the cup when the match had to be decided by penalties.
"We practised hard all week, taking them, including that long walk from the middle to the penalty spot, which I regarded as a psychological part of our preparation.
"It paid handsome dividends as we took our kicks much more efficiently and without any show of nerves."
Words by Keith Brookman
