2021–22 Scottish Challenge Cup

The 2021–22 Scottish Challenge Cup known as the SPFL Trust Trophy due to sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 30th season of the competition. The total number of participating clubs was 50, down from 58, with only Scottish clubs competing due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. The competition began on 10 August 2021 with the first round and ended on 3 April 2022 with the final at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.

2021–22 Scottish Challenge Cup
Country Scotland
Dates10 August 2021 – 3 April 2022
Teams50
Defending championsInverness Caledonian Thistle
Raith Rovers
(joint winners)
ChampionsRaith Rovers
Runners-upQueen of the South
Matches played44
Goals scored120 (2.73 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Billy Mckay
(5 goals)
All statistics correct as of 3 April 2022.

Thirty teams from the Championship, League One and League Two competed, along with four teams from the Highland Football League and four from the Lowland Football League. In addition to this, Under-21 teams of the clubs competing in the Scottish Premiership were represented. This season no clubs from Northern Ireland, Wales, Republic of Ireland or England entered the competition to reduce unnecessary travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Format
Round Date Fixtures Clubs New entries
First round10–11 August 20211850 → 326 teams from 2020–21 Scottish League One (5th–10th)
Teams from 2020–21 Scottish League Two
4 teams from 2020–21 Lowland Football League (1st–4th)
4 teams from 2020–21 Highland Football League (1st–4th)
12 U21 teams from 2021–22 Scottish Premiership
Second round4–5 September 20211632 → 16Teams from 2020–21 Scottish Championship
4 teams from 2020–21 Scottish League One (1st–4th)
Third round9–10 October 2021816 → 8
Quarter-finals30 November–1 December 202148 → 4
Semi-finals1–2 March 202224 → 2
Final2 or 3 April 202212 → 1

First round

The first round featured 6 clubs from 2020–21 Scottish League One, all clubs from 2020–21 Scottish League Two, 4 clubs from the 2020–21 Scottish Highland Football League, 4 clubs from the 2020–21 Scottish Lowland Football League and the 12 Under 21 teams of the 2021–22 Scottish Premiership.

The draw was made on 6 July 2021 at 14:00 and was broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised and seeded. Matches were played on 10, 11 and 17 August 2021.

Livingston and Ross County were unable to field B teams for the first round and withdrew from the competition. Their scheduled opponents, Albion Rovers and Stirling Albion, were awarded byes into the second round.[3]

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams

Matches
10 August 2021 Fraserburgh0–1 Cowdenbeath Fraserburgh
19:30 [4] Buchanan 90+2' Stadium: Bellslea Park
Attendance: 250
Referee: Chris Fordyce
10 August 2021 Stenhousemuir 3–0Dundee United BStenhousemuir
19:30
[5] Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 164
Referee: Barry Cook
10 August 2021 East Fife 1–0St Johnstone BMethil
19:45 Mercer 33' [6] Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 190
Referee: Mike Roncone
10 August 2021 Hibernian B1–2 Elgin City Edinburgh
19:45 Aitken 89' [7] Hester 30', 51' Stadium: Christie Gillies Park
Attendance: 100
Referee: Calum Scott
10 August 2021 Brora Rangers0–1 Aberdeen B Brora
19:45 [8] Ruth 70' Stadium: Dudgeon Park
Attendance: 150
Referee: Dan McFarlane
10 August 2021 Forfar Athletic 1–0Formartine UnitedForfar
19:45 Aitken 12' [9] Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 255
Referee: Alan Newlands
11 August 2021 Dundee B1–2 Peterhead Forfar
19:45 Panter 35' [10] Payne 37', 70' Stadium: Station Park
Referee: Scott Lambie
11 August 2021 Brechin City1–3 Buckie Thistle Brechin
20:00 Bollan 51' [11]
  • Morrison 34'
  • Urquhart 75'
  • Murray 90'
 Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 285
Referee: Graham Grainger
Ross County Bw/o[A] Stirling Albion

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the first round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams

Matches
10 August 2021 Stranraer 3–0
(awarded)[B]		Motherwell BStranraer
19:30 Stadium: Stair Park
10 August 2021 St Mirren B 1–1
(3–0 p)		Kelty HeartsPaisley
19:45 Jack 89' [12] Tidser 69' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 372
Referee: Chris Graham
Penalties
  • Offord soccer ball with check mark
  • McDonald soccer ball with red X
  • McMaster soccer ball with check mark
  • Jack soccer ball with check mark
10 August 2021 Queen's Park 1–1
(5–4 p)		Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticGlasgow
20:15[C] Gillespie 75' (pen.) [13] Hoskins 61' Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 318
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
Penalties
  • soccer ball with check mark Currie
  • soccer ball with check mark Evans
  • soccer ball with red X Young
  • soccer ball with check mark Turner
  • soccer ball with check mark Hunter
  • soccer ball with red X Gray
11 August 2021 Falkirk 3–0East KilbrideFalkirk
19:30
[14] Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 1,120
Referee: Lorraine Watson
11 August 2021 Dumbarton2–3 Rangers B Dumbarton
19:45
[15]
Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 259
Referee: Steven Reid
11 August 2021 Celtic B 2–0Annan AthleticAirdrie
19:45
[16] Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
11 August 2021 Broomhill 1–0ClydeAlloa
19:45 Alexander 21' [17] Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 144
Referee: Duncan Williams
17 August 2021 Edinburgh City0–1 Heart of Midlothian B Edinburgh
19:45 [18] Henderson 44' (pen.) Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 272
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
Livingston Bw/o[A] Albion Rovers
Notes
  1. ^
    A: Livingston and Ross County were unable to field B teams for the first round and withdrew from the competition.[3]
  2. ^
    B: Stranraer were awarded a 3–0 win over Motherwell B who were unable to fulfil the fixture as a number of players were self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[19]
  3. ^
    C: Originally due to start at 19:45, kick-off in the Queen's Park vs Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic match was delayed by 30 minutes due to traffic congestion around Firhill Stadium.

Second round

The second round featured the 18 first round winners who were joined by all teams from the 2020–21 Scottish Championship and the top four teams from the 2020–21 Scottish League One.

The draw was made on 6 July 2021 at 14:00 and was broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised and seeded. Matches were played on 31 August, 3, 4, 5 and 14 September 2021.

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams
  • 9 first round winners

Matches
4 September 2021 Montrose 1–0Stirling AlbionMontrose
13:30 Webster 4' (pen.) [20] Stadium: Links Park
Attendance: 491
Referee: Chris Fordyce
4 September 2021 Aberdeen B 1–1
(4–1 p)		ArbroathAberdeen
15:00 Ruth 74' [21] Henderson 90+4' Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 650
Referee: Chris Graham
Penalties
  • Mykyta soccer ball with check mark
  • Ruth soccer ball with check mark
  • Duncan soccer ball with check mark
  • Hanratty soccer ball with check mark
4 September 2021 Cove Rangers 0–0
(4–2 p)		StenhousemuirAberdeen
15:00 [22] Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 324
Referee: Barry Cook
Penalties
4 September 2021 Cowdenbeath0–2 Alloa Athletic Cowdenbeath
15:00 [23]
Stadium: Cowdenbeath
Attendance: 292
Referee: Dan McFarlane
4 September 2021 Raith Rovers 1–0Forfar AthleticKirkcaldy
15:00 Riley-Snow 25' [24] Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 842
Referee: Matthew McDermid
4 September 2021 Elgin City 3–0
(awarded)[D]		Dunfermline AthleticElgin
15:00 Stadium: Borough Briggs
4 September 2021 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4–0Buckie ThistleInverness
15:00
[25] Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 902
Referee: Calum Scott
4 September 2021 Peterhead0–1 East Fife Peterhead
15:00 [26] Denholm 10' Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 358
Referee: Stewart Luke
Notes
  1. ^
    D: Elgin City were awarded a technical 3–0 win over Dunfermline Athletic who were unable to fulfil the fixture as a number of players were self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[27]

Draw

Teams that entered the competition in the second round.

Seeded Teams Unseeded Teams
  • 9 first round winners

Matches
31 August 2021 Hamilton Academical 3–2Heart of Midlothian BHamilton
19:45
[28]
  • Kirk 61'
  • Denholm 63'
 Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 409
Referee: Chris Graham
3 September 2021 Airdrieonians1–1
(4–5 p)		 Queen's Park Airdrie
19:45 Smith 49' [29] Gillespie 86' (pen.) Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 460
Referee: Grant Irvine
Penalties
4 September 2021 Stranraer0–2 Partick Thistle Stranraer
13:00 [30]
Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 598
Referee: Craig Napier
4 September 2021 Albion Rovers 6–0St Mirren BCoatbridge
13:30
  • Clocherty 3' (o.g.)
  • Doherty 23', 44' (pen.), 59', 64'
  • Dolan 90'
 [31] Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 317
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
4 September 2021 Celtic B1–3 Greenock Morton Airdrie
15:00 Dickson 29' [32]
Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Referee: Mike Roncone
4 September 2021 Kilmarnock 3–1FalkirkKilmarnock
15:00
[33] Nesbitt 8' Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 2,447
Referee: Alan Newlands
5 September 2021 Queen of the South 3–0BroomhillDumfries
14:00
[34] Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 717
Referee: Peter Stuart
14 September 2021 Rangers B 3–0
(awarded)[E]		Ayr UnitedDumbarton
19:30 [35]
Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Referee: Steven Reid
Notes
  1. ^
    E: Rangers B were awarded a technical 3–0 win over Ayr United who fielded two ineligible players.[36] The match had originally finished 3–0 to Ayr United.

Final stages

On 7 July 2021, a bracket was published for the rest of the tournament, from the third round (last 16) onwards.[37]

Bracket
 
Third roundQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
6 October 2021
 
 
Hamilton Academical2
 
30 November 2021
 
Aberdeen B0
 
Hamilton Academical2
 
8 October 2021
 
Kilmarnock3
 
Kilmarnock3
 
2 March 2022
 
Queen's Park1
 
Kilmarnock1
 
9 October 2021
 
Raith Rovers2
 
Elgin City2
 
30 November 2021
 
Inverness CT4
 
Inverness CT0 (4)
 
9 October 2021
 
Raith Rovers0 (5)
 
Raith Rovers3
 
3 April 2022
 
East Fife1
 
Raith Rovers3
 
9 October 2021
 
Queen of the South1
 
Cove Rangers4
 
30 November 2021
 
Albion Rovers1
 
Cove Rangers5
 
27 October 2021
 
Rangers B1
 
Alloa Athletic2
 
1 March 2022
 
Rangers B3
 
Cove Rangers0
 
8 October 2021
 
Queen of the South1
 
Queen of the South2
 
1 December 2021
 
Partick Thistle0
 
Queen of the South2
 
9 October 2021
 
Greenock Morton1
 
Montrose0 (2)
 
 
Greenock Morton0 (4)
 

Third round

The third round featured the 16 second round winners and matches were played on 6, 8, 9 and 27 October 2021.

Matches
6 October 2021 Hamilton Academical 2–0Aberdeen BHamilton
19:45
[38] Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 363
Referee: Steven Kirkland
8 October 2021 Kilmarnock 3–1Queen's ParkKilmarnock
19:45
[39] Gillespie 50' (pen.) Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 2,149
Referee: Alan Muir
8 October 2021 Queen of the South 2–0Partick ThistleDumfries
19:45
[40] Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,043
Referee: Alan Newlands
9 October 2021 Raith Rovers 3–1East FifeKirkcaldy
13:00
[41]
Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,177
Referee: Mike Roncone
9 October 2021 Montrose0–0
(2–4 p)		 Greenock Morton Montrose
13:30 [42] Stadium: Links Park
Attendance: 476
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
Penalties
9 October 2021 Cove Rangers 4–1Albion RoversAberdeen
14:00
[43]
  • Wright 90+1'
 Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 327
Referee: Graham Grainger
9 October 2021 Elgin City2–4 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Elgin
14:00
[44]
Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 1,348
Referee: Barry Cook
27 October 2021 Alloa Athletic2–3 Rangers B Alloa
19:45
[45] Alegría 30', 34', 62' Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 234
Referee: Calum Scott

Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played on 30 November and 1 December 2021.

Matches
30 November 2021 Hamilton Academical2–3 Kilmarnock Hamilton
19:45
[46]
Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 829
Referee: Steven Kirkland
30 November 2021 Inverness Caledonian Thistle0–0
(4–5 p)		 Raith Rovers Inverness
19:45 [47] Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 670
Referee: Barry Cook
Penalties
30 November 2021 Cove Rangers 5–1Rangers BAberdeen
19:45
[48] Fraser 10' Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 562
Referee: Mike Roncone
1 December 2021 Queen of the South 2–1Greenock MortonDumfries
19:30
[49] Lithgow 86' Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 525
Referee: Alan Newlands

Semi-finals

The semi-finals are to be played on 1 and 2 March 2022.

Matches
1 March 2022 Cove Rangers0–1 Queen of the South Aberdeen
19:30 [50] Fitzpatrick 2' Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 728
Referee: David Dickinson
2 March 2022 Kilmarnock1–2 Raith Rovers Kilmarnock
19:30 Shaw 43' (pen.) [51]
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 2,118
Referee: Grant Irvine

Final
Main article: 2022 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

The final took place on 3 April 2022.

Raith Rovers3–1Queen of the South
 [52] Roy 45'
Attendance: 4,452
Referee: Grant Irvine

Notes
Notes
  1. ^
    Note 1: The 2020–21 tournament was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland.

References
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