Our first venture into Scottish Junior football’s premier tournament, in season 1993/94, saw us gain a bye in the first round and a home tie against Largs Thistle in round two. Despite us taking an early lead through an opponent’s own goal, the visitors quickly responded and led 2-1 at half-time. Our inexperience against southern sides showed in the second half and Largs had no real difficulty in holding their slender lead. The ordering off of Eric Cameron made our task even more difficult.

Our pride was somewhat restored later in the season when Largs went on to lift the trophy.

Hermes v Largs Thistle (h) 1 – 2

1994/95

No luck this year in avoiding a first round tie, Hermes were pulled out of the hat alongside another Ayrshire side. Again we were to be the hosts, this time against Ardrossan Winton Rovers. The visitors showed no reaction to their long journey winning the game comfortably by 3 – 1.

The home side held out until the 32 minute when the visitors scored their first. A Phil Davidson equalizer in 37 minutes gave us some hope but that was quashed in the second half when Ardrossan emphasized their superiority with two more goals.

Hermes v Ardrossan Winton Rovers (h) 1 – 3

1995/96

A big disappointment this year when, after having the fortune to miss round one we were drawn against local rivals Bon Accord. Even with home advantage, again we were unable to overcome the shock of losing a goal after 4 minutes. A second on the half hour sealed our fate and again we exited from the ‘Scottish’ at the first hurdle.

Hermes v Bon Accord (h) 0 - 2

1996/97

With another bye in round one, the club was pleased to get it's first chance to travel in the ‘Scottish’ after being drawn against East Kilbride Thistle in round two. This was to start us on our best and longest run to date, a run that ultimately matched us against the eventual winners before the biggest crowd ever to visit Lochside Park. But, more of that later. The trip to East Kilbride was not only our first away OVD tie but also our first win. A first minute goal by Paul Bathgate got us off to a great start and even a quick equalizer by our hosts could not stop us. Goals either side of half-time by Craig Parley gave us a surprising but deserved victory in our first trip to the West of Scotland.

Our reward was a home tie against Northern opposition, Nairn St Ninian. Despite local bookmakers making the visitors favourites, Hermes were confident that they could progress to the next round. A goalless first hour raised a level of anxiety that the game might go to a replay but a three goal in a four minutes burst put the tie safe. After Craig Parley had given us the lead, Ryan Middler and Gareth Roberts sealed the tie. Two goals for Nairn either side of another Middler strike, more fairly reflected the close nature of the tie.

With the next round to be played after the New Year our anticipation was matched by the quality of the draw – a home tie against Vale of Leven. The Dumbarton side had been giants of Scottish senior football in the early years of the twentieth century with appearances in the final of the Scottish cup proper.

However, despite their opponent’s heritage Hermes showed them no undue respect and took the lead in the second minute through Parley. Vale equalized shortly before half time but again found themselves in arrears, twenty minutes from the end, when Kevin Garden netted. The tie was cruelly snatched from the home team’s grasp when, with four minutes to go, a second equalizer was conceded.

Seven days later we found ourselves on the outskirts of Glasgow as clear underdogs. The match could not have got off to a worse start with Vale scoring in five minutes. Hermes weathered the storm for the remainder of the first half before giving a better account of themselves in the second. The appearance of a streaker, naked except for one sock dangling precariously from his foot, held the game up for eight minutes during the second 45. Consequently the game continued well beyond the regulation 90 minutes and it was in the 97th minute that Craig Parley broke clear and drove the ball powerfully past the home side’s goalkeeper.

In extra time Hermes, with a new found confidence matched their illustrious rivals and deserved to finish the tie level. For the penalty kick decider Vale found Kevin Morgan, Hermes ‘keeper, almost unbeatable and it was left to Tom Davidson to slot home the winning penalty in a cauldron of sound most of which were accusations of unnatural practices with sheep. For the record Bobby Simpson, Gareth Roberts and Paul Bathgate also successfully converted their penalties.

Saturday 15 February was the date of our fifth round tie against Pollok, a veritable giant club from Glasgow. Pre-match estimates of a likely crowd ranged up to what was perceived to be an optimistic 250. In the end slightly less than one thousand people paid to enter the ground, a record which still stands six years later.

The outcome of the game was disappointing. After battling for 80 minutes Morgan was eventually defeated by a goal which many observers claimed was scored from an offside position. Despite having played for half the game with 10 men, Hermes continued to fight and Paul Bathgate just failed to convert a chance in the last minute.

My disappointment, as treasurer, at losing the match was compounded by a member of the opposition committee informing me that if the game had remained level he anticipated a crowd of over 3000 would have attended the replay. At 50% of the gate Hermes would have enjoyed a welcome financial windfall. However, it was not to be.

Hermes v East Kilbride Thistle (a) 3 – 1
Hermes v Nairn St Ninian (h) 4 – 2
Hermes v Vale of Leven (h) 2 – 2
Hermes v Vale of Leven (a) 1 – 1 (4 -2 on penalties)
Hermes v Pollok (h) 0 – 1

1997/98

The first round draw saw Hermes land a home tie against Edinburgh United with expectations of a win leading to another cup run. Despite twice being in the lead through goals by Davidson and Mearns a last minute equalizer resulted in a journey to the capital for a replay. Goalless at half-time Hermes quickly went one down. A Chris Clark goal shortly after, ensured an extra 30 minutes play. Hermes controlled this period and goals in each half, from Aberdeen FC pair, Clark and Kevin Milne put us into round two.

There was big disappointment with the draw with Hermes, for the second time, drawing local opposition. This time Stonehaven came to Lochside Park and narrowly beat the home side by 3 – 2. The disappointment was magnified by the fact that we were twice in the lead, and ‘Hive’s winner being scored in the 90th minute.

Hermes v Edinburgh United (h) 2 – 2
Hermes v Edinburgh United (a) 3 – 1 (after extra time)
Hermes v Stonehaven (h) 2 – 3

1998/99

This year’s cup campaign was short with a 3 – 0 home defeat from Fife side Oakley United in the first round. This was a defeat from a side that, on the day, had too much class and the win was every bit as comfortable as it sounds.

Hermes v Oakley United (h) 0 – 3

1999/2000

After avoiding a first round tie, Hermes found themselves facing their fourth Ayrshire side. This time it was Cumnock. As Caesar may have said; “We came, we saw and we were thumped”. Three goals down at half-time, Cumnock eased up, scoring only one in the second period. Neil Robertson’s 62 minute strike being our only consolation.

This, incidentally, was the first time that Hermes had lost an away tie in the ‘Scottish’

Hermes v Cumnock (a) 1 - 4

2000/2001

Again we avoided a first round tie and were matched with Forfar Albion in the second round. The first match, in Forfar, started well with goals from Greg Pirie and Andy Shand putting Hermes two up by half-time. A second half slump allowed the home side to draw level but left Hermes a second chance to progress.

In the replay two goals from Mark Davidson and one from Ryan Nicol gave Hermes a comfortable win and the prospect of facing another Ayrshire team in round three.

Ardeer Thistle came north, equalized after Hermes took an early lead through Steve Mearns, and returned south to prepare for the replay. It had been a poor game and the home side knew that they had missed a great chance of progressing. The replay was a disaster. Two down after 11 minutes from some horrendous defending, a late consolation from Andrew Sinclair was all Hermes had to offer.

Hermes v Forfar Albion (a) 2 – 2
Hermes v Forfar Albion (h) 3 – 1
Hermes v Ardeer Thistle (h) 1 – 1
Hermes v Ardeer Thistle (a) 1 – 4

2001/2002

We were again fortunate to receive a bye through round one and were drawn for the second time against Fife opposition. Crossgates Primrose were to be our visitors in the second Saturday in November. We could afford for Paul Yeats to miss a penalty and still progress through goals by Tony Yeats and Ritchie Taylor.

Our third round tie was against Kilbirnie Ladeside, nicknamed the ‘Blasties’ at Lochside Park. Kilbirnie were a top Ayrshire side and it was with a degree of disbelief that we witnessed the home club go two goals up after only 24 minutes. Taylor and Parley being the scorers. At this point you hope that your opponents lose their composure but sadly this did not happen. The vistors pinned us back for the remainder of the half and were rewarded for their efforts by scoring late in the half. Two goals within 5 minutes of the restart sealed our fate. Pressure and tiredness took their toll and the ‘Blasties’ scored three more times in the last 10 minutes to give a distorted scoreline after a brave Hermes’ performance.

Crossgates Primrose (h) 2 – 0
Kilbirnie Ladeside (h) 2 - 6

2002/2003

A piece of déjà vu saw Hermes miss out in the first round again and draw last year’s second round opponents at the same stage. The only difference is that we were to visit Crossgates for the match which went ahead at the quaintly named Humbug Park. The score was the same as in the previous season with an early Paul Yeats header settling the visitors. Despite losing Davie Jack through 2 bookings, Hermes held on until in the 90th minute a bizarre goal by Ritchie Taylor from the half way line settled the tie.

Round three was a disaster from the start. The late arrival of our bus meant that we arrived too close to the kick off to prepare properly and this was reflected when our hosts, Irvine Meadow, scored in the first minute. The dubious application of the advantage role costs us a second mid way through the first half. It is to the players’ credit that they fought back and a Paul Laing penalty in the 86th minute gave us some hope of a replay. However, with Hermes pressing for the equalizer, Meadow broke away and put a more accurate measure of the gulf between the sides in the scoreline by notching a third.

Crossgates Primrose (a) 2 – 0
Invine Meadow (a) 1 - 3

To be continued