Gretna's Cup elopement nears happy ending

The romance of the Cup is alive in Scotland where third division Gretna are in sight of the first final in their brief history.

Gretna face second division Dundee today in the first of the FA Cup semi-finals and have already sold more tickets than there are inhabitants - 3,000 - in the town just over the border with England.

The other semi-final is between Edinburgh rivals Hibernian and Hearts tomorrow, ensuring that the final will feature neither Rangers nor Celtic for the first time since 1997.

Holders Celtic were knocked out by second division Clyde in in a third-round shock marking Roy Keane's debut while Rangers nosedived from the fourth round 3-0 at home to Hibs.

Gretna, backed by multi-millionaire chairman Brooks Mileson, were admitted to the Scottish Football League in 2002.

Until then they had played in northern English leagues and featured twice in the English FA Cup first round.

Gretna became the first club in Britain to win their league championship last weekend, a feat they also accomplished in 2005 in Scotland's division four where they set a record by sealing the title in March.

Gretna became famous in the 19th century for weddings between eloping couples escaping English law preventing anyone under 21 marrying without parental consent.

The clash of the capital clubs promises a thrilling game.

Under manager Tony Mowbray, Hibs, who last won the cup 104 years ago, have produced sparkling football this season which led to the sale of Scotland striker Garry O'Connor to Lokomotiv Moscow in January.

Hearts have provided Scotland with a long-running soccer soap opera. George Burley was axed in October despite Hearts going top of the league with an unbeaten run. He was controversially replaced by Graham Rix a month later.

Now Rix has been dismissed and Lithuanian coach Valdas Ivan-auskas installed in his place until the end of the season and fans are questioning owner Vladimir Romanov's intentions.