2024 Scottish Challenge Cup final
| Event | 2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Date | 24 March 2024 | ||||||
| Venue | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk | ||||||
| Referee | Matthew MacDermid | ||||||
| Attendance | 3,191 | ||||||
The 2024 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the SPFL Trust Trophy final for sponsorship reasons,[1] was a football match on 24 March 2024 between the Cymru Premier club The New Saints and the Scottish Championship side Airdrieonians.[2] It was the 31st final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the now defunct Scottish Football League, and the ninth since the SPFL was formed. It was played at Falkirk Stadium.[3] It would subsequently be the last Scottish Challenge Cup final to feature a non-Scottish team due to them no longer being invited the following season.[4]
Route to the final
[edit]
The New Saints
[edit]The New Saints (TNS), as an invited team representing the Cymru Premier, started in the Third Round where they were drawn away at Hibernian B where they won 3–0 at Meadowbank Stadium.[5] In the next round they played East Fife at home. At their Park Hall, TNS progressed after winning 5–4 on penalties after a 2–2 draw.[6] In the quarter-finals, they overcame Arbroath 4–1 at Park Hall.[7] In the semi-finals, they played Falkirk away at Falkirk Stadium. TNS won 1–0 becoming the second Welsh team to reach the final after Connah's Quay Nomads in 2019.[8]A TNS also entered this match looking to match the world record for consecutive wins in all competitions.[3]
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Third round | Hibernian B (a) | 3–0 |
| Fourth round | East Fife (h) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) 5–4 (p) |
| Quarter-final | Arbroath (h) | 4–1 |
| Semi-final | Falkirk (a) | 1–0 |
Airdrieonians
[edit]Airdrieonians also started in the Third Round away at the University of Stirling and won 3–2 at Forthbank Stadium.[9] In the next round they played away against Rangers B and progressed after a 4–2 win at Cappielow.[10] They then faced Greenock Morton at Cappielow and won 6–5 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.[11] In the semi-finals they played away at Raith Rovers and progressed to the final after a 1–0 win at Stark's Park.[12]
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Third round | University of Stirling (a) | 3–2 |
| Fourth round | Rangers B (a) | 4–2 |
| Quarter-final | Greenock Morton (a) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) 6–5 (p) |
| Semi-final | Raith Rovers (a) | 1–0 |
Match details
[edit]The New Saints  | 1–2 | Airdrieonians |
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Report |
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        The New Saints
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    Airdrieonians
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Match rules
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Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Challenge Cup to be rebranded SPFL Trust Trophy from season 2021/22". The Edinburgh Reporter. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "SPFL TRUST TROPHY FINAL 2023/24". SPFL. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ a b Irvine, David (22 March 2024). "SPFL Trust Trophy & Al-Hilal world record: Harrison keen to write more TNS history". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Prize money boost for SPFL Trust trophy as cross-border teams drop out". 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Hibernian B 0-3 the New Saints". BBC Sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "The New Saints v East Fife". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Arbroath let down 'gaffer, coaching staff, fans and board of directors' with TNS capitulation, admits stand-in skipper". The Courier. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "TNS beat Falkirk to set up final with Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Airdrieonians 3-2 Stirling University (9 Sep, 2023) Final Score -". ESPN. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Rangers B v Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Greenock Morton v Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Raith Rovers vs. Airdrieonians - 2 February 2024 -". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 March 2024.