Matchday Memories: On This Day 1973 – CCFC’s Colin Destroys ‘Darlo’ In League Cup
On this day (8th October) in 1973 The Sky Blues under Gordon Milne had gone of like a train in Division One with only three defeats in their first eleven matches. However, two days ago they had lost 2-1 at home to Everton. This Monday evening their thoughts turned from D1 to the first round of the League Cup and the visit to Highfield Road of Darlington. Whereas the Toffees had attracted nearly 27,000 to the home of the Sky Blues there were only 8,679 back again to watch how the Sky Blues got on against their lower league opponents. In fact, though ‘Darlo’ were a chivalrous set of opponents, they were no match for the fire power of the Sky Blues who ran out 5-1 winners. City would get to the Quarter Finals of the League Cup this season.
The main damage was done by City’s Scottish international central striker Colin Stein (now a CCFPA member) who helped himself to a hat-trick (on twelve, sixty and 84 minutes) all scored at close range against a shaky defence. As it happened the pick of the goals was the visitors’ only goal a thirty yard screamer from Gordon Cattrell which whistled past Bill Glazier only a minute after Colin’s opener.
City full back Mick Coop scored the Sky Blues second with a header from a Tommy Hutchison cross after 25 minutes and three minutes later Alan Green got another, set up by Colin Stein, to send the Sky Blues in at half-time 3-1 up. Colin’s two second half goals made it an emphatic and satisfying victory and set up a second round tie at Bristol City.
