On 1st March 1995, Spurs travelled to The Dell for an FA Cup 5th Round Replay against Southampton. The teams had drawn 1-1 at The Lane some 10 days earlier.
Spurs were soon in trouble, when Neil Shipperley gave the Saints a lead after just 6 minutes. Spurs remained under the cosh for most of the second half. Southampton hit the post and missed a couple of chances that looked easier to score. Just 5 minutes before half time, a Dean Austin foul gave Southampton a penalty – step forward Matt Le Tissier to score his 35th penalty from 36 taken!
2-0 at half time and the proverbial mountain to climb. Given, the FA had initially banned the club from the FA Cup at the start of the season, the fact that we were actually contesting the 5th Round Replay with the prospect of a Quarter Final at Anfield on offer, was testament to us having climbed the impossible already – but little did us fans realise, when Gerry Francis introduced sub Ronny Rosenthal for the second half, that the match hero entering the field. Within 12 minutes, Ronny had stunned the home crowd with 2 goals to level the tie up – the second a stunning shot from outside the box, having cut in from the wing to strike the ball fast and low past Bruce Grobbelaar.
The Spurs fans were bouncing and dreaming of the cup run continuing – the match ran it’s course of the 90 mins without further goals – taking the tie into 30 minutes extra time. For Spurs, extra time was a dream. Ronny, showing that not all superheroes wear capes, scored with a stunning 30 yard strike to outdo his own second goal and thus complete a remarkable hattrick.
Further goals from Teddy Sheringham, Nick Barmby and Darren Anderton completed what turned into a stunning 6-2 victory after being 2-0 down at half time.
A memorable match, some wonderful goals and just your standard rollercoaster ride of being a Spurs fan!