2001 Scottish Challenge Cup final

The 2001 Scottish Challenge Cup final was played on 14 October 2001, at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld and was the 11th staging of the final in the history of the tournament. It was played between Airdrieonians and Alloa Athletic of the First and Second Divisions respectively. Airdrieonians emerged winners after defeating Alloa Athletic 2–1 to win the tournament for the second consecutive year, also being Airdrieonians last honour before going into liquidation in 2002.

2001 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event2000–01 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date14 October 2001
VenueBroadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
Man of the MatchMark Roberts[1]
RefereeMike McCurry[1]
Attendance4,548[2]

Route to the final

Airdrieonians

Round Opposition Score
First round Queen of the South (h) 2–0
Second round Albion Rovers (a) 4–1
Quarter-final Clydebank (a) 2–1
Semi-final Brechin City (h) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 pens)

The first round draw brought Queen of the South to face Airdrieonians at the Excelsior Stadium for the second consecutive season[3][4] with the home team emerging 2–0 victors.[4] The second round was an away game at rivals Albion Rovers with Airdrie producing a 4–1 win[4] to progress to the quarter-finals. Just like the previous season Airdrie were drawn against Clydebank in the quarter-finals[3][4] and again emerged winners with a 2–1 victory.[4] The semi-final draw paired the club with Brechin City at home and it took penalties to separate the sides with The Diamonds winning 4–3 after a 1–1 draw after extra time to progress to the final.[4] Airdrieonians reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the third time, and second consecutive season since winning the 1994 final against Dundee and defeating Livingston the previous season to win the 2000 final.[3]

Alloa Athletic

Round Opposition Score
First round East Stirlingshire (a) 1–0
Second round Inverness Caledonian Thistle (h) 3–2 (a.e.t.)
Quarter-final Stranraer (h) 4–3 (a.e.t.)
Semi-final Clyde (a) 1–0

Alloa Athletic were drawn against East Stirlingshire away from home in the first round at Firs Park[5] and produced a 1–0 victory[4] over the club. The second round draw saw The Wasps drawn against Inverness Caledonian Thistle[4] whom they defeated on penalties in the 1999 final,[6] with the game being decided in extra time again with Alloa Athletic emerging 3–2 winners after a 1–1 draw after 90 minutes.[4] Another home game was drawn in the quarter-finals with Stranraer providing the opposition which saw Alloa Athletic win in extra time for a second consecutive game by winning 4–3[4] to progress to the semi-finals. The opposition provided was Clyde away from home with Alloa Athletic winning 1–0[4] to reach the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the second time after their 1999 triumph.

Pre-match

Analysis

Airdrie and Alloa both played two games at home and two away each. In the process Airdrieonians scored nine goals and conceded three whilst Alloa Athletic also scored nine but conceded five. However, Alloa Athletic had kept a total of two clean sheets, both away from home, compared with Airdrie's one clean sheet. In Alloa's two games at Recreation Park it took extra time on both occasions before the club emerged winners. One of Airdrieonians' games had gone to extra time but then penalties before a winner was declared. This was Airdrieonians' third time competing in the Scottish Challenge Cup final,[1] whilst holding a 100% record after winning both the 1994 and 2000[3] finals. Alloa Athletic were appearing in the final for the second time in the club's history since defeating Inverness Caledonian Thistle on penalties after a 4–4 draw in the 1999 final.[6] On the road to that final Alloa Athletic had knocked out Airdrieonians in the second round at the Excelsior Stadium.[6]

Match

Airdrieonians2 – 1Alloa Athletic
Coyle 76'
Roberts 85'
Report Evans 90'
Attendance: 4,548
Referee: Mike McCurry

Teams

AIRDRIEONIANS:
GK1Scotland Allan Ferguson
MF2Republic of Ireland Paul Armstrong
DF3Scotland Craig McPherson
DF4Scotland Sandy Stewart
DF5Scotland Allan McManus (c)
DF6Scotland Kevin James
MF7Scotland Lee Gardnerdownward-facing red arrow 73'
MF8Scotland Neil MacFarlane
FW9Republic of Ireland Owen Coyle
MF10Scotland Stuart Taylor
FW11Scotland Mark Roberts
Substitutes:
FW12Scotland Robert Dunnupward-facing green arrow 73'
FW14Scotland Colin McDonald
DF15England Darren Beesley
MF16Scotland Stephen Docherty
GK17England Neil Bennett
Manager:
Scotland Ian McCall
ALLOA ATHLETIC:
GK1Scotland Derek Soutar
DF2Scotland Andy Seaton
DF3Scotland Gregg Watson
DF4Scotland Steven Thomson
DF5Scotland Keith Knoxdownward-facing red arrow 79'
DF6Scotland Craig Valentine
MF7Scotland James Fisherdownward-facing red arrow 72'
MF8Scotland Ian Little
FW9Scotland Richard Walkerdownward-facing red arrow 57'
FW10Scotland Gareth Hutchison
MF11Scotland Ross Hamilton
Substitutes:
MF12Scotland Harry Curranupward-facing green arrow 79'
FW14England Gareth Evansupward-facing green arrow 57'
MF15Scotland Martin Christieupward-facing green arrow 72'
MF16Scotland William Irvine
GK17Scotland Jim McQueen
Manager:
Scotland Terry Christie

References

  1. Airdrie retain Challenge Cup, BBC Sport. 2001-10-14. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  2. Scottish League Challenge Cup Final Results - 2001/02, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  3. Scottish League Challenge Cup 2000/01, Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-06-12
  4. Scottish League Challenge Cup 2001/02, Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
  5. Match: East Stirlingshire v Alloa Athletic, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
  6. Scottish League Challenge Cup 1999/00 - Final, Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
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