When Hibernian drew Kilmarnock in this season’s Premier Sports Cup, memories flooded back to a glorious day 14-years ago when fans witnessed arguably our finest ever performance at Hampden Park.
A dazzling display of power, speed and clinical finishing secured John Collins’ Hibs the 2007 Scottish League Cup trophy following a comprehensive 5-1 rout over Killie in the Glasgow snow.
As Hibees fans travelled to Hampden in their thousands for a first Scottish League Cup Final since the 2004 loss to Livingston (2-0), there were more than a few raised eyebrows when the starting XI was announced.
Inexperienced young goalkeeper Andrew McNeil was chosen ahead of Simon Brown; but the biggest shock was the inclusion of teenage midfielder Lewis Stevenson ahead of former Manchester United midfielder Michael Stewart.
However, Hibs supporters remained in a confident mood. And in front of a partisan Hibee crowd, McNeil quickly justified Collins’ faith in him by turning Steven Naismith’s close-range head flick over the crossbar. And from then on it was all Hibs.
After 28 minutes, just as the snow began to fall, Hibs won a corner on the left and David Murphy’s perfectly struck cross found fellow Englishman Rob Jones who freed himself from marker Colin Nish and powered a wonderful header past Alan Combe. Chris Hogg recalls:
“I don’t remember much about the actual game apart from it being four seasons in one day with snow, sleet and sunshine. When David Murphy took the corner, I remember jumping as high as I could to get on the end of the ball, but instead big Jonah (Rob Jones) came running in and powered his header into the net.
"After that goal we totally dominated and deserved to win. To score five goals in a cup final was outstanding and many came from wonderful, free-flowing passing moves."
Abdessalam Benjelloun (Benji) extended Hibs lead after 59 minutes with his first goal of the day - a wonderful piece of skill teasing Gordon Greer before curling the ball into the far corner from 18 yards.
Moments later, Fletcher combined with Brown and Benji to finish a move he started, driving in the third goal low into the far corner from 20 yards out.
With 13-minutes left, Greer headed home from close range after a cross from substitute Gary Locke, but any hopes Killie fans had of a comeback were swiftly dashed.
Benji cut inside Frazer Wright before supplying a tremendous low finish which prompted a mass exodus of visiting supporters. Those who stayed had to endure a dire moment when Combe, in attempting to clear a routine backpass, sliced the ball straight to the feet of Fletcher, who gladly added a fifth.
Benji's brace helped Hibs lift the cup for the third time in our history, a day the Hibs forward tells us he will never forget.
"That was easily the best day of my playing career and the only trophy I ever won.
“We had such a great generation of young players and our team had everything. Two big men at the back along with two offensive full-backs. In midfield, we had two running machines in Scott Brown and Lewis Stevenson.
“It is crazy to think that Lewis is still playing for Hibs after all these years. He had a terrific game in that 2007 final and was voted man of the match."
Hogg added: “The celebrations on the pitch at Hampden, including the Hibees singing ‘Sunshine on Leith’, is something I will never forget. Then we did a night time open-top bus parade through Edinburgh and grown men were crying and hanging on lamp posts in Leith to see us.
"The celebrations at the end will stay with me for the rest of my life."
