2011 Scottish Challenge Cup final

The 2011 Scottish Challenge Cup final was played between Queen of the South and Ross County at McDiarmid Park, Perth. Ross County won 2–0. The game had been postponed from November to April due to inclement weather.[1]

2011 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event2010–11 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date10 April 2011
VenueMcDiarmid Park, Perth
RefereeEuan Norris
Attendance5,124
2009
2012

Queen of the South beat Peterhead 2–1 in their semi-final[2] and Ross County beat Partick Thistle 4–3 on penalties after their semi-final ended at 2–2.[3]

Appearances in previous finals

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Queen of the South have appeared in the final twice before, winning the 2002 final 2–0 against Brechin City, but losing the 1997 final 1–0 to Falkirk. Ross County have appeared in three Challenge Cup finals to date, defeating Clyde on penalties in the 2006 final[4] but losing the 2004 final to Falkirk,[5] and the 2008 final to Airdrie United on penalties.[6]

Both teams have recently appeared in the Scottish Cup final. Queens were beaten 3–2 in 2008 Scottish Cup final by Rangers. County were beaten 3–0 by Dundee United two years later in the 2010 Scottish Cup final.

Postponement

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The game was originally scheduled to be played on 28 November 2010. However the game was postponed at noon the day before the game after consultation with police voicing concerns over weather conditions particularly on the A9.[7] Due to the Scottish football referee strike, the original fixture was scheduled to be officiated by foreign officials. The revised final date was 10 April 2011.[8]

TV coverage

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The match was televised live on BBC Alba.

Match summary

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The game was played in unseasonally warm conditions with bright sunshine and a good natured atmosphere generated by both sets of fans. An early goal gave County a dream start but it was a nightmare for Queens and in particular goalkeeper David Hutton. Asked to deal with a routine passback by Queens captain David Lilley, a combination or poor decision making and poor ball control on Hutton's part allowed Andrew Barrowman to exert pressure and dispossess him. Barrowman easily rolled the ball into the empty net from one yard in the eighth minute to make the score 1–0 against his former club.[9]

Queens only exerted pressure in the five-minute period leading up to County's second goal when they forced goalmouth scrambles. However, a swift County counterattack led to a ball from the right wing, with Iain Vigurs scoring from close range in 39 minutes to make it 2–0.[9]

County were deserved winners without having to exert themselves against a Queens side who were easily second best in all departments and short of ideas other than aiming long balls at Derek Holmes.[9]

Match Details

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Queen of the South0 – 2Ross County
Report Barrowman   9'
Vigurs   39'
Attendance: 5,124
Referee: Euan Norris
 
 
 
 
 
 
Queen of the South
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ross County
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH:
GK 1   David Hutton
CB 2   Craig Reid
LM 3   Bob Harris
CB 4   Ryan McGuffie
CB 5   David Lilley  
CM 6   Stephen McKenna  
RM 7   Daniel Carmichael   72'
CM 8   Paul Burns
CF 9   Derek Holmes
CM 10   Allan Johnston
CF 11   Willie McLaren
Substitutes:
GK 12   Roddy McKenzie
MF 14   Ian McShane
DF 15   Steven Black
FW 16   Steven Degnan   72'
FW 17   Ryan Smylie
Manager:
  Kenny Brannigan
ROSS COUNTY:
GK 1   Michael McGovern
RB 2   Gary Miller
LB 3   Marc Fitzpatrick
LM 4   Paul Lawson     90'
CB 5   Scott Boyd
CB 6   Johnny Flynn
RM 7   Michael Gardyne   87'
CM 8   Stuart Kettlewell
CF 9   Andrew Barrowman     90'
CM 10   Richard Brittain (c)
CF 11   Iain Vigurs
Substitutes:
FW 12   Steven Milne   87'
FW 14   Gary Wood   90'
FW 15   Steven Craig
DF 16   Scott Morrison   90'
GK 18   Joe Malin
Manager:
  Jimmy Calderwood

Road to the final

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Queen of the South

Home team Score Away team
Round 1 Queen of the South 2 – 1 Albion Rovers
Round 2 Dunfermline Athletic 1 – 1
5 – 6 (pens)
Queen of the South
Quarter-final Queen of the South 5 – 0 East Fife
Semi-final Peterhead 1 – 2 Queen of the South

Ross County

Home team Score Away team
Round 1 Elgin City 1 – 2 Ross County
Round 2 Ross County 3 – 1 Greenock Morton
Quarter-final Forfar Athletic 0 – 2 Ross County
Semi-final Ross County 2 – 2
4 – 3 (pens)
Partick Thistle

References

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  1. ^ "Alba Challenge Cup Final: Queen of the South 0 Ross County 2". Daily Record. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Peterhead 1-2 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Ross County 2-2 Partick Thistle (4-3 pen)". BBC Sport. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Ross County 1-1 Clyde (aet)". BBC Sport. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Falkirk 2-1 Ross County". BBC Sport. 7 November 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  6. ^ "Airdrie Utd 2-2 Ross County". BBC Sport. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  7. ^ "Alba Cup Final is OFF" www.qosfc.com 27 Nov 2010
  8. ^ "Challenge Cup final rescheduled for 10 April" BBC Sport 17 February 2011
  9. ^ a b c "Queen of the South 0 - 2 Ross County" www.qosfc.com 11 April 2011 Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine