This article has been written in retrospect as I only saw one game in 2004/05- the last one, a cup final. But I can say that it was a season in which Lanark bounced back from relegation the previous year; cruising to the central second division title by a 14 point margin, winning 19 of 24 games while dropping just 12 points in the process. They also reached round four of the Scottish Cup, bowing out in a replay to eventual runners-up Lochee Utd. This run included memorable victories away from home at Bellshill and Lesmahagow. In addition, the Clydesdale Cup remained in the trophy cabinet for the eighth year on the trot. However the highlight was by far the capture of the Evening Times cup. That was the first Lanark game I attended (Yes I know, little old glory hunter me). So if it's okay with you here I shall attempt a match report from memory, which admittedly isn't very good at the best of times but nevertheless the week went something like this...

Evening Times cup final

 11th June 2005, Petershill Park

Beith FC 0-2 Lanark Utd

(Calderwood 55, Hughes 90)

The route to glory began with a preliminary round tie on a Friday against Arthurlie at Dunterlie, won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Al Smith saved three kicks in the shoot-out as the Yowes netted three to their one. Next up were Auchinleck who were duly despatched by the only goal of the game (Imrie) at Moor Park the following Monday before Maryhill were sent packing on the end of a 3-0 scoreline (Calderwood grabbed a double) at the same venue on the Wednesday. This set up a final against Beith at the old Petershill Park on a balmy Saturday in June, where a crowd of about 450 looked on. Lanark had lost the services of veteran defender Gary Shearer (To whom asst-manager Gibby later gave his winner's medal) through an injury sustained at Arthurlie. During the first half they also lost mercurial winger Gary Mc Grotty. The foot injury he was carrying had become too much of a handicap and he hobbled off to be replaced by “supersub” John Calderwood. The first half had been an even contest with chances at both ends but was goalless at the break. Dougie Imrie, who'd enjoyed a prolific season, netting 40+ goals, looked the likeliest source of a goal for Lanark. Indeed, it was from one of his forays down the left that the opening goal had come. Skinning his man, he surged to the junction of bye line and penalty area before chipping the ball over the stranded keeper onto the head of CALDERWOOD who, from almost under the bar, nodded Lanark in front. Their tails up, Lanark made several more chances. Imrie cracked a couple of efforts narrowly over before Mark Keegans seemed to be pulled down by the opposition keeper as he attempted to go around him but the ref wasn't interested. But with just five minutes left it was Beith who had the ball in the net. A cross (or free kick) from the right saw a striker steal in behind the Yowes' defence at the back post to prod the ball past Smith from close range. Alas for them an eagle-eyed linesman flagged him offside, and they visibly wilted in the heat as they realised it wasn't going to be their day. Buoyed by that let-off, Lanark went forward to try to kill them off. Keegans should've scored when put clean through, but blazed over the bar before the Yowes sealed victory at the death. A sweeping move on the right ended with Keegs chipping the advancing keeper on the edge of the area, setting up Paul HUGHES for the clincher. So to win this trophy, in addition to defeating Beith, Lanark had thus accounted for three top flight teams that week. And not just any old premier league outfits, but three of the top four west region sides no less, which puts the magnitude of their achievement into perspective. 

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Lanark: 1 Smith, 2 Middleton, 3 Hanlon, 4 Stark, 5 Muir, 6 Mc Lenaghan, 7 Imrie, 8 Hughes, 9 Mc Grotty (s. Calderwood 34), 10 Keegans, 11 O' Brien. Subs not used- Gibson, Roome, Slater, Timmons.

Beith: Ross, Fulton, Spence, Lundie, Shearer, Deeney, Stewart, Caldwell, Cameron, Mc Culloch, Orr. Subs-  Baxter, Mc Pherson, Ramage, Crowhurst.