2008–09 Scottish Challenge Cup

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]

2008–09 ALBA Challenge Cup
Tournament details
CountryScotland
Teams30
Defending championsSt Johnstone
Final positions
ChampionsAirdrie United
Runner-upRoss County
Tournament statistics
Matches played29
Goals scored87 (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

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Round First match date[3] Fixtures Clubs
First round 26 July 2008 14 30 → 16
Second round 12 August 2008 8 16 → 80
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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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The Quarter-final draw was conducted on 14 August 2008.[6]

Clyde0–1Ross County
McGregor   45' Report Craig   25'
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
Attendance: 756
Referee: Steve Conroy

Cowdenbeath1–2Airdrie United
Fairbairn   79'
Baxter   84'
Report di Giacomo   53'   75'
Central Park, Cowdenbeath
Attendance: 643
Referee: Stephen Finnie

Livingston0–2Partick Thistle
Report Turner   75'
Twaddle   78'
Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
Referee: David Somers

Queen of the South0–2Greenock Morton
Report Wake   48'
McGuffie   77'
Palmerston Park, Dumfries
Attendance: 2,991
Referee: William Collum

Semi-finals

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The Semi-final draw was conducted on 11 September 2008.[7]

Partick Thistle0–1Airdrie United
Report Di Giacomo   4'
Attendance: 2,761
Referee: David Somers

Ross County4–1Greenock Morton
Craig   6'
Daal   42'   62'
Dowie   84'
Report McManus   55'
Weatherson   77'
Victoria Park, Dingwall
Attendance: 1,396
Referee: Mike Tumilty

Final

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Airdrie United2 – 2 (a.e.t.)
( 3 – 2 pen.)
Ross County
McKenna   80'
Dowie   103' (o.g.)
Report Nixon   59' (o.g.)
Higgins   113'
Penalties
Lynch  
McLaughlin  
Hazley  
McDonald  
Smyth  
3–2   Winters
  Higgins
  Hart
  Morrison
  Scott
Attendance: 4,091
Referee: Calum Murray

Media coverage

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The Partick Thistle v Airdrie United semi-final was shown live and the final was shown live on BBC Alba.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Dunfermline 2–3 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 25 November 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  2. ^ "Airdrie Utd 2–2 Ross County". BBC Sport. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  3. ^ "Dates for ties in Season 2008–2009". Scottish Football League. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  4. ^ a b c "Challenge Cup – first round draw". BBC Sport. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  5. ^ "Alba Challenge Cup 2008–09". Scottish Football League. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  6. ^ "Alba Challenge Cup". Scottish Football League. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  7. ^ "The ALBA Challenge Cup – Semi-finals". Scottish Football League. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  8. ^ "BBC Alba to cover Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
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