Jack Robson on the day Hearts lost the league on goal average

At the final whistle he raced towards the Kilmarnock goal to embrace Beattie, McGrory, Ferguson and the rest. Then, to persistent shouts of "we want Waddell" from the crowd, he was pushed on to the park by his team before he waved them to do a victory parade.

And it was good to see even the downcast Hearts supporters waving their scarves and acclaiming the jubilant, practically delirious, Kilmarnock team.

Hearts manager, Mr Tommy Walker, said after the game: "We at Tynecastle offer our sincere congratulations to Kilmarnock and wish them all that is good in the European Cup next year."

I found a flushed and highly elated Mr Waddell in the visiting players' dressing room. "This is the greatest day in Kilmarnock Football Club's history," he said.

"We have been often enough near-toppers. It is also the greatest day in my football career." But he clamped down immediately when asked where his future lies when he resigns his managership on 30 June. "Definitely no comment," he said.

As for the game itself, the moves and counter moves are now old history. For the first 25 minutes Hearts looked, and played, like champions. During that period they had forced seven corners to Kilmarnock's one. Jensen could have achieved Tynecastle immortality when, in five minutes, he squeezed his way through two Kilmarnock defenders, but his cracking shot was just two inches too much to the right and instead of going into the net, with Ferguson beaten, the ball hit the upright.

Then Hearts sagged and Kilmarnock were quick to take advantage with a real 1-2. They scored two goals in two minutes. First Sneddon, much to Hearts' discomfiture, completely unmarked, was there to head home an inch-perfect McLean cross.

Then, while Hearts were still wondering where Sneddon had come from, Black beat Anderson, stroked the ball into McIlroy's path and the outside left sent a low shot that had Cruickshank well beaten.

Although we were not to know it for another 64 minutes, Kilmarnock had won the championship. But it was such a near thing.

On one occasion, just before half time, Hearts invaded the Kilmarnock goal and six shots and headers were punched and nodded clear.

Then with the game in its dying seconds, Barry was through and gave to Gordon. The inside left hit the ball with every ounce of power he had but somehow Ferguson hurtled himself across the goalmouth, got his fingertips to the ball and sent it by for a corner.

Seconds later the long whistle blew. It was all over. Kilmarnock were 1964/65 league champions by .042 of a goal.

Taken from the Scotsman