Scottish Football: McIntosh adds to Miller's misery

OF THE eight teams contesting Tennents Scottish Cup ties, none made their mark more forcibly than Clydebank, the First Division side, who earned a 1-1 draw from a difficult match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

'Just send the cheque by post and save us a journey,' Jack Steedman, the Clydebank chairman, had joked beforehand.

Aberdeen had stopped smiling long before the end of a tie which saw them deprived of Eoin Jess, their exciting striker, a victim of a nasty challenge in the fourth minute which resulted in a broken ankle and a premature end to his season.

'I am devastated for the lad,' Willie Miller, his manager, said. 'we can only hope he recovers quickly.' To add to Miller's misery, Scott Booth, who had replaced Jess, was carried off at the final whistle.

Duncan Shearer had put Aberdeen ahead from the penalty spot after two minutes but Clydebank stuck to their task and equalised with a spectacular free-kick by Martin McIntosh with eight minutes remaining.

The replay is scheduled for Tuesday week with the winners facing Hibernian who disposed of St Johnstone at Easter Road courtesy of a fine headed goal by their young centre-half, Stephen Tweed, and a second from Keith Wright.

Rangers, the Cup holders, were barely stretched by Danny McGrain's Arbroath, the match being reduced to little more than a training exercise in the sun after Mark Hateley and Neil Murray had scored within the first 30 minutes. The ubiquitous Ally McCoist added a second-half penalty though the Arbroath support continued to milk their big day.

Hearts meet Rangers in the semi-final. An Allan Preston opener and a John Robertson penalty secured victory over Falkirk at Tynecastle.

The semi-final ties will be played on 3 April, and with Hampden Park being refurbished at the moment, the Scottish Football Association will make a decision on the venues today.