2008–09 Conference League Cup

The Conference League Cup 2008–09, known as the Setanta Shield 2008–09 for sponsorship reasons, is the second season of the Conference League Cup competition after its resurrection by Conference sponsors Blue Square and competition sponsors Setanta. With the entrance of all Conference teams from every division, there will be 68 entries into the tournament. The total prize money is £200,000. Teams in the Conference's two regional divisions enter in the first round, are joined by the six lowest-ranked Conference National teams in the second with the competition completed by the final eighteen clubs for the third round. The tournament was abolished upon the completion of this edition.

2008–09 Conference League Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Teams68
Defending championsAldershot Town
Final positions
ChampionsA.F.C. Telford United
(1st title)
Runner-upForest Green Rovers

Calendar

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Round Date Matches Clubs New entries this round Prize money
First Round 8 September 2008 22 68 → 46 44 £2,000
Second Round 6 October 2008 14 46 → 32 6 £3,000
Third Round 4 November 2008 16 32 → 16 18 £3,500
Fourth Round 2 December 2008 8 16 → 8 none £4,500
Quarter-finals 12 January 2009 4 8 → 4 none £7,000
Semi-finals 2009 2 4 → 2 none £10,000
Final 2009 1 2 → 1 none Winner: £16,000; Loser: £8,000

First round

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The First Round was contested by all 44 teams from the Northern and Southern Divisions, which were divided into a Northern and Southern section. Matches were played in the week commencing 8 September 2008, with the exceptions of the Alfreton Town versus Stafford Rangers and Redditch United versus Solihull Moors games, which were played on 16 September and 23 September respectively, after both fixtures were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Second round

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The Second Round was contested by the remaining 22 teams from the Northern and Southern Divisions and the six lowest-ranking teams from Conference National. It was divided into a Northern and Southern section. Matches will be played in the week commencing 6 October 2008.

Third round

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The Third Round was contested by the remaining 14 teams from the previous fixtures with the addition of the 18 highest-ranked teams from the Conference National. Unlike previous rounds, the draw was not officially divided into a Northern and Southern section although some geographical grouping occurred in the draw. Matches will be played in the week commencing 3 November 2008.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 Barrow 3–1 Gateshead F.C 551
2 York City 1–1 Mansfield Town 608
York won 4–2 on penalties
3 Forest Green Rovers 2–1 Oxford United 383
4 Altrincham 1–2 Wrexham 537
5 Stafford Rangers 1–2 Southport 261
6 Bath City 0–1 Salisbury City 230
7 Weymouth 0–3 Torquay United 621
8 Woking 3–0 Bognor Regis Town 480
9 Crawley Town 3–0 Havant & Waterlooville 239
10 Eastbourne Borough 1–3 Ebbsfleet United 300
11 Hinckley United 2–1 Histon 202
12 Rushden & Diamonds 0–3 Stevenage Borough 430
13 A.F.C. Telford United 4–3 Cambridge United 941
14 Kettering Town 4–1 Thurrock 438
15 Grays Athletic 2–4 Chelmsford City 262
16 Burton Albion 3–2 Kidderminster Harriers 554

Fourth round

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The Fourth Round was contested by the remaining 16 teams from across the three divisions. Unlike the previous round the draw was officially divided into a Northern and Southern section. Matches will be played in the week commencing 2 December 2008.

Quarter-finals

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The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 9 December 2008. Ties were to be played w/c 12 January 2009 but due to postponements two games were played in January, February and March 2009

Semi-finals

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Due to the weather disrupted winter, the semi-finals were delayed and eventually played on 26 March 2009.

Final

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The 2009 Conference League Cup Final took place on 9 April 2009 and was contested by Forest Green Rovers and AFC Telford United at The New Lawn, the home of Forest Green. Rovers had the best of the game but they lacked a cutting edge to see off Telford and ultimately they went on to lose in a penalty shoot-out. Telford goalkeeper Ryan Young saved penalties from Andy Mangan, Conal Platt, and Paul Lloyd, whilst Jon Adams, Mark Danks, and Gavin Cowan were all successful from the spot for United.

Forest Green Rovers0–0 (a.e.t.)AFC Telford United
Report
Penalties
0–3
Attendance: 2323[2]
Referee: Steve Creighton (Berkshire)[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Telford looking for Setanta shock". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Setanta Shield: Forest Green 0 AFC Telford Utd 0 (Telford win 3–0 on pens)". Stroud News & Journal. Newsquest Media (Southern) Ltd. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2015.