Dundee United’s Paul Paton admits his semi-final joy tasted all the sweeter after the bitter frustration and despair he felt when he was found guilty of a football crime he insists did not commit.
The midfielder was handed a two-game ban by the three-man SFA disciplinary panel in December after he was adjudged to have spat on Aberdeen’s Jonny Hayes during a league match at Tannadice.
Paton had vehemently denied the allegation and he was backed up by Hayes himself who insisted that the only “spat” which took place was a verbal one.
TV evidence seemed to back up that claim but Paton was still found guilty of committing an offence which he himself considers the “lowest of the low”.
He was left in torment over what he believes was a miscarriage of justice and what effect it would have on his family and young daughter.
He even reached the stage where he thought the punishment might have had something to do with the fact that he also plays for Northern Ireland.
Now, though, he just wants to put it all behind him and insists the ordeal has made him a stronger person.
Paton said: “To put in a performance in a semi-final I was happy with, shows everyone how mentally strong I am.
“To get suspended for something two teams didn’t see, the two managers didn’t see, two sets of fans didn’t see and everyone watching the video didn’t see . . .
“For three guys who have never played football to sit there and say I did that, I’ll never forgive them for that.
“Maybe it was because I played for Northern Ireland. I don’t know what the script is. I certainly wasn’t happy with it. I think it’s an absolute joke, to be honest.
“Everyone knows I didn’t spit so there must be some reason why they held it against me. For everyone to watch the video and see I didn’t do it, to then get banned for it . . .
“When it happened we were out on our Christmas night out and knew nothing about it. We didn’t even know there was an allegation.
“To come back to be told I was looking at a ban, I couldn’t believe it. I spoke to Jonny and he said I never did anything.
“All the boys on the pitch everyone knew I didn’t do anything. To get banned for that has put a stumbling block in my season.
“They said because it was a fast-track appeal there was no appeal. No matter what. It was just, ‘Do you want this ban? Yes or No’.
“So we said, ‘No’. then they said there’s no appeal. It’s crazy for that to happen, when everyone sees that video, for everyone on the pitch to see it, that could have killed my season.
“I’ve got a young daughter, to be put in that bracket of being so disgusting, it’s not right. For there to be no appeal process is not right.
“I’ve come back from it and I’m stronger for it.
“I said at the time I would never do that (spit). It’s the lowest of the low.
“If you watch the video, I say something to Jonny and he reacts, because he knew I said something.
“I shouldn’t have said something but I did. What I said stays on the park. I don’t want any more allegations!”
Paton was obviously much happier talking about the semi-final triumph.
He believes that to come back from the hammer blow of going a goal down just after half-time against the Dons illustrates that this United side are maturing.
However, he did express his regret that they will be almost certainly be losing some key players with Gary Mackay-Steven having already signed a pre-contract with Celtic and feverish speculation surrounding the future of Stuart Armstrong.
Paton said: “We showed a lot of character and fight. To be a goal down against a good Aberdeen side and to beat them shows the strength of character which people have maybe doubted in the past.
“When things maybe go against us I don’t think we worry too much because we know we’ve got the players to get us back into a game.
“When we scored I felt there was only going to be one winner.
“It was a mature performance. The boys are getting older and there’s more experience. Its just a shame we’re going to be losing some of these boys.
“If we could have kept this team together it could have been fruitful for years.
“I certainly hope they’re here for the final. The club now has the windfall to come from the final so there’s no rush to sell our best players.
But at the same time if a massive offer comes in for them then we understand they’ve got to go.”
Paton was one of the first to hug manager Jackie McNamara at the end of Saturday’s game and he admitted that reaching the final help him release some of the frustration felt during the spitting ordeal.
He added: “It’s good because he (McNamara) deserves it. It was just a personal thing. I think that was only my second start in seven weeks.
“I felt really aggrieved at getting suspended for something I didn’t do and that’s really bugged me. I took the opportunity to get a knee injection just a minor one which meant I’ve only played twice in seven weeks.
“There was a lot of frustration there from myself so to get that performance makes it all right.
“I was on a tightrope as well because I think I’d been booked in a previous round. I was just relieved as well to get through without a booking so I’m not banned for the final.
“It was just a great day all in. I remember last year’s semi-final against Rangers and it felt every bit as good.”