The 2008–09 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the ALBA Challenge Cup due to sponsorship reasons with MG Alba, was the 18th season of the competition, competed for by all 30 members of the Scottish Football League. The defending champions were St Johnstone, who defeated Dunfermline Athletic by 3–2 in the 2007 final.[1]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Teams | 30 |
| Defending champions | St Johnstone |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Airdrie United |
| Runner-up | Ross County |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 29 |
| Goals scored | 87 (3 per match) |
The competition was won by Airdrie United who defeated Ross County 3–2 on penalties following a 2–2 draw after extra time, the winning penalty was scored by Marc Smyth.[2]
Schedule edit
| Round | First match date[3] | Fixtures | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|
| First round | 26 July 2008 | 14 | 30 → 16 |
| Second round | 12 August 2008 | 8 | 16 → 8 |
| Quarter-finals | 7 September 2008 | 4 | 8 → 4 |
| Semi-finals | 12 October 2008 | 2 | 4 → 2 |
| Final | 16 November 2008 | 1 | 2 → 1 |
First round edit
The First round draw was conducted on 29 May 2008.[4] Holders St Johnstone were drawn against Ross County away from home.
North and East Region edit
Raith Rovers received a random bye to the second round.[4]
| 26 July 2008 | Alloa Athletic | 2–1 | Dundee | Recreation Park, Alloa |
| 15:00 | Townsley  59'Stevenson 83' |
Report | Antoine-Curier 88' |
Attendance: 793 Referee: Chris Boyle |
| 26 July 2008 | Arbroath | 1–2 | Forfar Athletic | Gayfield Park, Forfar |
| 15:00 | Scott 44' |
Report | Kilgannon 62' (pen) McLeish 71' (pen) |
Attendance: 563 Referee: Euan Norris |
| 26 July 2008 | Brechin City | 0–1 | East Fife | Glebe Park, Brechin |
| 15:00 | Nimmo  78' |
Report | Templeman 69' |
Referee: S Nicholls |
| 26 July 2008 | Dunfermline Athletic | 3–0 | Stirling Albion | East End Park, Dunfermline |
| 15:00 | Burke 4' Phinn 61' Williamson 74' |
Report | Attendance: 1,340 Referee: Eddie Smith |
| 26 July 2008 | Elgin City | 0–2 | Cowdenbeath | Borough Briggs, Elgin |
| 15:00 | Report | McGregor 13' McQuade 80' |
Attendance: 379 Referee: G Salmond |
| 26 July 2008 | Peterhead | 6–0 | Montrose | Balmoor, Peterhead |
| 15:00 | Bavidge 24', 78' Cumming 45' (own goal) Gunn 52', 58', 68' (pen) |
Report | Attendance: 503 Referee: Craig Charleston |
| 26 July 2008 | Ross County | 2–1 | St Johnstone | Victoria Park, Dingwall |
| 15:00 | Winters 53' Higgins 65' |
Report | Samuel 84' |
Attendance: 2,365 Referee: Craig Thomson |
Source: [citation needed]
South and West Region edit
Greenock Morton received a random bye to the second round.[4]
| 26 July 2008 | Airdrie United | 3–2 | Dumbarton | Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie |
| 15:00 | Noble 53' Cardle 58' di Giacomo 75' |
Report | Clark 25' Carcary 43' |
Attendance: 808 Referee: Calum Murray |
| 26 July 2008 | Berwick Rangers | 1–5 | Queen of the South | Shielfield Park, Berwick |
| 15:00 | Little 47' |
Report | O'Connor 12', 58' Kean 31', 65' Barr 80' |
Attendance: 655 Referee: J McKendrick |
| 26 July 2008 | Clyde | 2–0 | Annan Athletic | Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld |
| 15:00 | Trouten 61' (pen.), 74' |
Report | Attendance: 700 Referee: Steven O'Reilly |
| 26 July 2008 | Livingston | 4–0 | Stranraer | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston |
| 15:00 | Griffiths 33', 72' Hamill 67' McParland 70' |
Report | Nicoll 81' |
Referee: C Brown |
| 26 July 2008 | Partick Thistle | 2–1 | Queen's Park | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow |
| 15:00 | Gray 7' Roberts 9' |
Report | Henry 17' Sinclair 66' |
Attendance: 1,382 Referee: Stephen Finnie |
| 26 July 2008 | Stenhousemuir | 0–1 | Albion Rovers | Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir |
| 15:00 | Report | Donnelly 87' (pen) |
Attendance: 323 Referee: B Maddenn |
| 27 July 2008 | East Stirlingshire | 2–1 | Ayr United | Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir |
| 15:00 | Richardson 86' Rodgers 89' |
Report | Williams 15' |
Attendance: 761 Referee: A Muir |
Source: [citation needed]
Second round edit
The Second round draw was conducted on 30 July 2008.[5]
| 12 August 2008 | Alloa Athletic | 0–2 | Clyde | Recreation Park, Alloa |
| 19:45 | Report | Clarke 58' Gibson 76' |
Attendance: 414 Referee: Iain Brines |
| 12 August 2008 | Cowdenbeath | 3–2 | Albion Rovers | Central Park, Cowdenbeath |
| 19:30 | McQuade 8' Gemmell 54' Fairbairn 89' |
Report | Barr 30' Martin 75' |
Attendance: 204 Referee: Crawford Allan |
| 12 August 2008 | Livingston | 1–0 | Forfar Athletic | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston |
| 19:45 | Griffiths 51' |
Report | Attendance: 800 Referee: Calum Murray |
| 12 August 2008 | Partick Thistle | 4 – 2 (a.e.t.) | Peterhead | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow |
| 19:30 | Donnelly 52' McKeown 92', 115' Harkins 112' |
Report | Gunn 23' Kozmanski 103' |
Attendance: 1,133 Referee: Steve Conroy |
| 12 August 2008 | Raith Rovers | 1–2 | Ross County | Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy |
| 19:45 | Weir 72' |
Report | Keddie 52', 54' |
Attendance: 1,080 Referee: William Collum |
| 13 August 2008 | East Fife | 0–2 | Airdrie United | Bayview Stadium, Methil |
| 19:45 | Report | Lynch 10' Smith 84' |
Attendance: 606 Referee: Mike Tumilty |
| 13 August 2008 | East Stirlingshire | 0–3 | Greenock Morton | Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir |
| 19:30 | Report | Masterton 22' McGuffie 32', 53' |
Attendance: 753 Referee: Stevie O'Reilly |
| 20 August 2008 | Dunfermline Athletic | 0–2 | Queen of the South | East End Park, Dunfermline |
| 19:45 | Report | Kean 9' O'Connor 75' |
Attendance: 1,373 Referee: Michael McCurry |
Source: [citation needed]
Quarter-finals edit
The Quarter-final draw was conducted on 14 August 2008.[6]
| Clyde | 0–1 | Ross County |
|---|---|---|
| McGregor 45' |
Report | Craig 25' |
| Cowdenbeath | 1–2 | Airdrie United |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbairn 79' Baxter 84' |
Report | di Giacomo 53' 75' |
| Livingston | 0–2 | Partick Thistle |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Turner 75' Twaddle 78' |
Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
Referee: David Somers
| Queen of the South | 0–2 | Greenock Morton |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Wake 48' McGuffie 77' |
Semi-finals edit
The Semi-final draw was conducted on 11 September 2008.[7]
| Ross County | 4–1 | Greenock Morton |
|---|---|---|
| Craig 6' Daal 42' 62' Dowie 84' |
Report | McManus 55' Weatherson 77' |
Final edit
Media coverage edit
The Partick Thistle v Airdrie United semi-final was shown live and the final was shown live on BBC Alba.[8]
References edit
- ^ "Dunfermline 2–3 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 25 November 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
- ^ "Airdrie Utd 2–2 Ross County". BBC Sport. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
- ^ "Dates for ties in Season 2008–2009". Scottish Football League. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ a b c "Challenge Cup – first round draw". BBC Sport. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ "Alba Challenge Cup 2008–09". Scottish Football League. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
- ^ "Alba Challenge Cup". Scottish Football League. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
- ^ "The ALBA Challenge Cup – Semi-finals". Scottish Football League. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
- ^ "BBC Alba to cover Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.