10 Memorable Night Matches at the Lane

[wardonia_blade]

Nothing finer than a night match at BDTBL IMO. The atmosphere can be special. Not been so good in recent years but it will return. Meanwhile, memories of 10 good ones:
1. Feb 68 - Tottenham - Won 3-2
Incredible night. Currie scored on debut blinder. Certain we would avoid relegation playing like this. Wrong.
2. March 71 – Hull City – Lost 2-1
Despite the defeat, this match has to be included. 40,000 crowd. Hull City were an absolute set of animals and their intimidation paid off. Referee gathered all22 players together at one point to issue a mass warning. Thought we had blown promotion. Wrong.
3. April 71 – Cardiff City – Won 5-1
How to perform when it matters. It was either us or Cardiff for promotion and this was the decider. 43,000 crowd. Unbelievable atmosphere but some nerves when Cardiff got it back to 2-1 and playing well. Currie, Dearden and Reece had other ideas. Thought we had secured promotion. Right.
4. August 71 – Leeds – Won 3-0
This superb Leeds team were at their peak. They lost occasionally but no-one took them apart. Until tonight. 41,000 crowd. 3 second half goals, one scored whilst whingeing Leeds were surrounding the ref, no doubt as instructed by Ron Devious.
5. Sept 73 – Arsenal – Won 5-0
When United wanted to play they were a match for anybody but just not consistent. 4 up in 17 minutes and Currie memorably sat on the ball, but one of only 7 home wins in the season.
6. August 78 – Liverpool – Won 1-0 (League Cup)
Most unlikely win in my 50 seasons. Liverpool, European Champions, had Rush and Dalglish up front against our Andy Keeley and John Matthews at the back. But young Steve Conroy had a blinder in goal and Sabella set up Hamson for the winner with our only attack in around the 80th minute. Happy Harry dropped Conroy for the next round. Crazy days.
7. Feb 91 – Man U – Won 2-1
We were virtually relegated by Christmas and safe by Easter and this win was vital. Man U had a weakened team but were still formidable. Deane and Bradders saw us home.
8. Mar 98 – Coventry – Drew 1-1 won on Penalties (FA Cup, 6th round replay)
Great game. Taken apart early on by Huckerby inspired Coventry but got back in the game through Dellas power in midfield supported by Borbokis and Quinn on the flanks. Reg Holdsworth’s last minute equaliser sparked off an unbelievable atmosphere for extra time and this inspired Alan Kelly to save 3 Coventry penalties in the shoot out.
9. May 2003 – Forest – Won 4-3
Many fans favourite game. Fine example of the never say die attitude that Neil Warnock brought to the club. I watch the You Tube clip over and over. I have no problem with long ball football when it is played as well as this. Thought we were certainties to go up. Wrong.
10. Dec 2006 – Arsenal – Won 1-0
Strictly speaking, not a night match but it was dark so it counts for me. Another Warnock backs-to-the-wall classic with the team showing the kind of bottle that is just a distant memory these days. Nade scored a beauty and the Blades held on with Jags in goal and Arsenal rampant. Proud of the players that night. Proud. Hope I can use that word again soon. Thought we were certainties to stay up. Wrong.

 

[2ndtenorblade]

I agree with (and was there for all of them) those.

 

[Tazzy]

Tottenham at home we won 6-0 venables was the manager

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Fantastic memories there Wardonia and as my first ever United game was a night match v QPR in February 1970, a Tuesday night at the Lane has always been special for me. The Forest play off game is my all time favourite match which I doubt i'll see surpassed.
Another couple for me: The night we played River Plate in August 1978. Although it was only a friendly, it was something special to see half of the Argentine World Cup winning team play in Sheffield and coming two nights after we beat Liverpool, it was quite a week at the Lane.
Secondly, when we beat the Pigs 3-1 on that Friday night was also a big highlight, especially when Brownie hit THAT goal.
Great post and it deserves some cracking responses.

 

[cahill]

I was at 5 of those games. The atmosphere at the Hull Tigers game was electric. Forty two thousand in the ground. I was nearly crushed behind a barrier at the back of the kop. Game was blood and thunder and Chris Simpkin the Hull Tigers defender was kicking the Blades off the park. Ref stopped the match and got both captains together to read the riot act, never seen it before or since. We were neck and neck with Cardiff Reds and Hull in the league behind Leicester and the match felt like a promotion decider. Really depressed at the end (and bruised ribs). All ended well and Hull never recovered from that defeat until recent seasons

 

[shorehamview]

.....Strictly speaking, not a night match but it was dark so it counts for me......

I would have thought that the main criteria for it to be a night match was that it had to be dark. As far as I can remember there wasn't an eclipse so it must have been just common, ordinary dark, and that must mean it was night.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I was at 5 of those games. The atmosphere at the Hull Tigers game was electric. Forty two thousand in the ground. I was nearly crushed behind a barrier at the back of the kop. Game was blood and thunder and Chris Simpkin the Hull Tigers defender was kicking the Blades off the park. Ref stopped the match and got both captains together to read the riot act, never seen it before or since. We were neck and neck with Cardiff Reds and Hull in the league behind Leicester and the match felt like a promotion decider. Really depressed at the end (and bruised ribs). All ended well and Hull never recovered from that defeat until recent seasons

Do you mean Leicester Lions ?

 

[stannyblade]

Tottenham 6-0 and the pigs 3-1 for me would be added to that list

 

[brownie4583]

and the penalty shoot out victory against Blackburn when Pembo smashed home the winning spot kick and we were on our way to Wembley against Wendy!

 

[SwissBlade]

Leeds 2002 - league cup
Jags and nuddy....then it rained down with upper tier seats

 

[grafikhaus]

6th November 2002 v. Leeds in League (Worthington) Cup. Losing 0-1, board goes up...4 minutes extra to be played! Jags & Ndlovu score! 2-1!
Match details

Bugger! Swiss beat me to it!

 

[WhiteHawk]

Leeds in the league cup & beating the Pigs 3-1 (THAT goal from Brown).

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

That Leeds game in 1971 was my second ever match. I'd gone to the first, which was the Saturday before this Tuesday night game, against Southampton. I was sat/crouched on the JST fence, towards the kop end and after we'd won 3-1 I think? (Darren) my Dad was convinced by all around that I was a lucky omen and should be allowed to come for the Leeds game. I just remember the enormous crowd, being there early and experiencing BDTBL for the first time under lights.

Most of us, certainly those of a certain age like me, have our Blades allegience confirmed and sanctified by a visit to the Lane for a night match. Experiencing that atmosphere, the almost physical tingle and crackle, expecially if it's a big game, just excites and invigorates the senses so much, that you sign up heart and soul at that point.

 

[cahill]

Talk about "physical tingle and crackle" I was threatened with a bottle first night match I went to, v Liverpool either 1966 or 67 , a Friday night

 

[Cool Clint]

It has to be the famous 4 mins. The night was so frustrating as we were the better team. To beat what a lot consider to be worse scum than the pigs in that way is one of the classic Blades nights.

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

I was at 5 of those games. The atmosphere at the Hull Tigers game was electric. Forty two thousand in the ground. I was nearly crushed behind a barrier at the back of the kop. Game was blood and thunder and Chris Simpkin the Hull Tigers defender was kicking the Blades off the park. Ref stopped the match and got both captains together to read the riot act, never seen it before or since. We were neck and neck with Cardiff Reds and Hull in the league behind Leicester and the match felt like a promotion decider. Really depressed at the end (and bruised ribs). All ended well and Hull never recovered from that defeat until recent seasons

Simpkin eventually got his comeuppance: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Tigers-legend-s-brothel-shame/story-11946917-detail/story.html

The other main culprit was Hull's Ken Knighton. His punishment was to be transferred to Wednesday shortly afterwards.

 

[Selly]

You can add the League Cup semi against Liverpool to that list as well...

 

[raul]

Surely Port Vale makes the list?

 

[Barney Rubble]

Another memorable League Cup win was the 3-0 against Newcastle under Bassett in 1988. We tore a team 2 divisions above us to shreds that night and it was Bassett style football at its best.

Two other memorable matches for me were the 3-2 win over Spurs in the last match of the 72/73 season and the friendly against Dynamo Kiev, but at least 15 of the matches already mentioned were better than these two.

I would also think that someone on here will have seen the 1959 FA Cup fifth round replay 3-0 stuffing of Arsenal which was one of my dads favourite matches.

 

[mattbianco1]

There's 4 missing from the 02/03 season alone.

Leeds when Jags scored "that goal"

Pigs when A. Quinn scored first then we won3-1 (browns volley)

Liverpool 2-1 Sir Michael Tonge

Nottm Forest 4-3. Peschisolido

 

[JJ Sefton]

Leeds 2002 - league cup
Jags and nuddy....then it rained down with upper tier seats

Same here, just the biggest sting in the tail I think I've ever seen at a United match.

 

[Silent Blade]

Fantastic memories there Wardonia and as my first ever United game was a night match v QPR in February 1970.

We won 2-0, both goals were headers from Woody's corners, scorers were Colquhoun and Reece

 

[stannyblade]

Leeds 2002 - league cup
Jags and nuddy....then it rained down with upper tier seats

shit how did I forget that one?
When we got the equaliser I said to someone that we would win in normal time.

 

[Silent Blade]

Simpkin eventually got his comeuppance: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Tigers-legend-s-brothel-shame/story-11946917-detail/story.html

The other main culprit was Hull's Ken Knighton. His punishment was to be transferred to Wednesday shortly afterwards.

Simpkin scored the equaliser with a shot from outside the box and hitting the post and in. Bill Baxter was another clogger that night

 

[oldblade]

Surely Port Vale makes the list?

What about Walsall and Wigan?

 

[blade too long]

sufc 3 piggies 2 friday night 3-0 up , they pulled 2 back but we finished the stronger#

 

[blade too long]

http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/sheffield_united_2_barnsley_1_441728/index.shtml
local derby win , put us 3 points behind 2nd spot with 5 to play, great derby with a late penalty drama, at the time was thrilling, all the drama in the last 10 minutes including a managers bust up, their fans giving Morgs merciless stick throughout

 

[wardonia_blade]

Tottenham at home we won 6-0 venables was the manager

Not included because I missed the game.

 

[wardonia_blade]

I would have thought that the main criteria for it to be a night match was that it had to be dark. As far as I can remember there wasn't an eclipse so it must have been just common, ordinary dark, and that must mean it was night.

This was a new fangled 5.30pm kick off so I had to decide if it was a night match or not.

 

[wardonia_blade]

Surely Port Vale makes the list?

Thanks everybody for your contributions. The mention of Port Vale takes me into the area of worst night matches. Narrowing it down to 10 could be a problem.