2018–19 South Challenge Cup

The 2018–19 SFA South Region Challenge Cup was the 12th edition of the annual cup competition for senior non-league clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. This season saw the competition increase to 69 teams from the 42 who took part in 2017–18, thanks to the addition of 26 clubs to the East of Scotland Football League and the return of Wigtown and Bladnoch.

2018–19 South Challenge Cup
SFA South Region Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Country Scotland
 England (1 team)
Teams69
Defending championsCivil Service Strollers
Final positions
ChampionsEast Kilbride
Runner-upBonnyrigg Rose Athletic
Tournament statistics
Matches played66
Goals scored293 (4.44 per match)
← 2017–18

All statistics correct as of 26 May 2019.

The defending champions were Civil Service Strollers, who beat BSC Glasgow 2-1 after extra time in the final on 20 May 2018. However they were eliminated in the fourth round by Newtongrange Star.

East Kilbride won 2-1 against Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic in the final to secure the South Challenge Cup for a second time, completing a double with the Lowland League title.

Format

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The competition featured 69 teams from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (38), South of Scotland Football League (14), as well as SFA member club Glasgow University of the Caledonian Amateur Football League. The reserve teams of Stirling University, Annan Athletic, and Stranraer do not take part.

The draw is unseeded, with matches proceeding to extra time and penalties if they are tied after 90 minutes.

Calendar

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Round Main date Fixtures Clubs
First Round 25 August 2018 5 69 → 64
Second Round 15 September 2018 32 64 → 32
Third Round 13 October 2018 16 32 → 16
Fourth Round 10 November 2018 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals 2 March 2019 4 8 → 4
Semi-Finals 6 April 2019 2 4 → 2
Final 26 May 2019 1 2 → 1

First round

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The first round took place on Saturday 25 August 2018. The draw for the first and second rounds took place at the East of Scotland Football Association's AGM on Thursday 7 June 2018.[1] 59 clubs received a bye to the second round, with 10 taking part in the first round.

25 August 2018 Creetown 5–3Lochar ThistleCreetown
15:00 Stadium: Castlecary Park
Notes
  1. ^
    A-Selkirk withdrew from the competition, and later the Lowland League.

Second round

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The second round took place on the weekend of Saturday 15 September 2018. The four winners from the first round, along with Upper Annandale who progressed after Selkirk withdrew, joined the 59 clubs who received a bye.

15 September 2018 Abbey Vale0–5 Broxburn Athletic New Abbey
15:00 Stadium: Maryfield Park
15 September 2018 Blackburn United1–5 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Blackburn
14:30 Stadium: New Murrayfield Park
15 September 2018 Bonnyton Thistle2–3 Preston Athletic Kilmarnock
15:00 Stadium: Bonnyton Park
15 September 2018 Camelon Juniors 4–0Heston RoversCamelon
14:30 Stadium: Carmuirs Park
15 September 2018 Civil Service Strollers 5–0Upper AnnandaleEdinburgh
15:00 Stadium: Christie Gillies Park
15 September 2018 Coldstream 5–0Newton StewartColdstream
14:30 Stadium: Home Park
15 September 2018 Dalkeith Thistle1–2 Stirling University Dalkeith
14:30 Stadium: King's Park
15 September 2018 Dumfries YMCA0–10 Tynecastle Dumfries
15:00 Stadium: Kingholm Park
15 September 2018 Dunbar United0–1 Newtongrange Star Dunbar
14:30 Stadium: New Countess Park
15 September 2018 Edinburgh United 5–1Mid-AnnandaleEdinburgh
14:30 Stadium: Paties Road Stadium
15 September 2018 Edinburgh University 2–0Oakley UnitedEdinburgh
15:00 Stadium: New Peffermill Stadium
15 September 2018 Eyemouth United w/o
(Awarded)[B]
Dundonald BluebellEyemouth
14:30 Stadium: Warner Park
15 September 2018 Lochmaben0–5 Kelty Hearts Lockerbie
15:00 Stadium: New King Edward Park
15 September 2018 Nithsdale Wanderers2–11 Penicuik Athletic Sanquhar
15:00 Stadium: Lorimer Park
15 September 2018 Ormiston 3–2Easthouses Lily MWOrmiston
14:30 Stadium: Recreation Park
15 September 2018 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 3–2SpartansEdinburgh
14:30 Stadium: Saughton Enclosure
15 September 2018 Threave Rovers 7–1CreetownCastle Douglas
15:00 Stadium: Meadow Park
15 September 2018 Tranent Juniors 4–2Haddington AthleticTranent
14:30 Stadium: Foresters Park
15 September 2018 Vale of Leithen2–4 Jeanfield Swifts Innerleithen
15:00 Stadium: Victoria Park
15 September 2018 Whitehill Welfare0–1 Gretna 2008 Rosewell
15:00 Stadium: Ferguson Park
Notes
  1. ^
    B-The Eyemouth United-Dundonald Bluebell match ended 0–5, however it later emerged that Dundonald had fielded a suspended player so Eyemouth progressed to the third round instead.

Third round

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The third round took place on Saturday 13 October 2018, although five matches were postponed until the fourth round date. The draw was made at Hampden Park on Friday 21 September 2018.[2]

13 October 2018 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 10–0Eyemouth UnitedBonnyirgg
14:30 Stadium: New Dundas Park
13 October 2018 Burntisland Shipyard2–5 Coldstream Burntisland
14:30 Stadium: Recreation Park
13 October 2018 Edinburgh University 1–0Edinburgh UnitedEdinburgh
15:00 Stadium: New Peffermill Stadium
13 October 2018 Jeanfield Swifts 4–2 (a.e.t.)Broxburn AthleticPerth
14:30 Stadium: Riverside Stadium
13 October 2018 Leith Athletic0–2 East Kilbride Edinburgh
14:30 Stadium: Peffermill 3G
13 October 2018 Sauchie Juniors 3–1OrmistonSauchie
14:30 Stadium: Beechwood Park
13 October 2018 Tranent Juniors2–6 Linlithgow Rose Tranent
14:30 Stadium: Foresters Park

Fourth round

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The fourth round took place on Saturday 10 November 2018, although due to postponements three ties were held at a later date.

Draw

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The draw was made at Hampden Park on 17 October 2018 by John Gold of the Scottish Schools Football Association and Fiona McIntyre of the Scottish Womens Football Association.[3]

Teams in Italics were not known at the time of the draw. Teams in Bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

Lowland Football League East of Scotland Football League

Matches

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10 November 2018 Jeanfield Swifts3–4 (a.e.t.) Stirling University Perth
13:30 Stadium: Riverside Stadium
10 November 2018 Sauchie Juniors 4–0Edinburgh UniversitySauchie
14:00 Stadium: Beechwood Park
26 January 2019 Penicuik Athletic4–4 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)
Coldstream Penicuik
14:30 Stadium: Penicuik Park
13 February 2019 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)
Camelon JuniorsEdinburgh
19:30 Stadium: Saughton Enclosure

Quarter-finals

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The quarter-finals took place on Saturday 2 March 2019.

Draw

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The draw was made at Hampden Park on 14 November 2018.

Teams in Italics were not known at the time of the draw. Teams in Bold advanced to the semi-finals.

Lowland Football League East of Scotland Football League

Matches

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2 March 2019 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2–0East StirlingshireBonnyrigg
14:30 Stadium: New Dundas Park
Attendance: 461[4]
Referee: Stewart Luke
2 March 2019 Coldstream0–7 East Kilbride Coldstream
14:30 Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 112[4]
Referee: Ryan Lee
2 March 2019 Sauchie Juniors1–1 (a.e.t.)
(2–4 p)
Hill of Beath Hawthorn Sauchie
14:30 Stadium: Beechwood Park
Attendance: 150[4]
Referee: Stephen Brown

Semi-finals

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The semi-finals took place on Saturday 6 April 2019.

Draw

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Teams in Bold advanced to the final.

Lowland Football League East of Scotland Football League

Matches

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6 April 2019 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
Stirling UniversityBonnyrigg
14:30 Stadium: New Dundas Park
Attendance: 273[5]
Referee: Colin Whyte
6 April 2019 Hill of Beath Hawthorn2–3 East Kilbride Hill of Beath
14:30 Stadium: Keir's Park
Attendance: 287[5]
Referee: Iain Snedden

Final

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The final was played on Sunday 26 May 2019 at Meggetland Stadium in Edinburgh, between the champions of the Lowland League and East of Scotland League.

East Kilbride2–1Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
Attendance: 570
Referee: Craig Napier
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

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  1. ^ "Cup Draws - East of Scotland Football Association & League". www.eosfl.com. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  2. ^ "Scottish Lowland League -Twitter". Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  3. ^ "East of Scotland Football Association". Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Severs, David. "Weekend attendance / headcount 2/3/19". Twitter. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b Severs, David. "Weekend attendance / headcount 6/4/19". Twitter. Retrieved 9 April 2019.