2022–23 South Challenge Cup

The 2022–23 SFA South Region Challenge Cup was the 16th edition of the annual knockout cup competition for senior non-league clubs in the central and southern regions of Scotland. The tournament entry increased from 161 to a record 163 teams thanks to additional clubs joining the West of Scotland Football League.

2022–23 South Challenge Cup
SFA South Region Challenge Cup
Country Scotland
 England (2 teams)
Dates20 August 2022 – 28 May 2023
Teams163
Defending championsAuchinleck Talbot
ChampionsThe Spartans
Runners-upDrumchapel United
Matches played162
2023–24
All statistics correct as of 19 August 2021.

The defending champions were Auchinleck Talbot of the West of Scotland League, who beat Lowland League champions Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 3–1 in the final on 22 May 2022. However they went out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, losing 2–1 to Caledonian Braves.

The Spartans lifted the trophy for a record fourth time, completing a league and cup double after also winning the Lowland League. They beat Drumchapel United 2–1 in the final.

Format

The South Challenge Cup features 163 senior non-league clubs from the Lowland Football League (16), East of Scotland Football League (59), South of Scotland Football League (10), and West of Scotland Football League (79). The reserve teams of Stirling University, Caledonian Braves, and Stranraer, as well as Celtic B, Heart of Midlothian B, and Rangers B, do not take part. Newburgh were debarred due to a breach of rules.

The first and second rounds were regionalised, with north-east, south-east, south-west, and north-west sections each containing 40 or 41 clubs.

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

Calendar

RoundMain date[1]FixturesClubs
First Round20 August 202235163 → 128
Second Round10 September 2022
15 October 2022
64128 → 64
Third Round15 October 2022
19 November 2022
3264 → 32
Fourth Round4 February 20231632 → 16
Fifth Round4 March 2023816 → 8
Quarter-Finals1 April 202348 → 4
Semi-FinalsTBC24 → 2
Final28 May 202312 → 1

First round

The draw for the regionalised first and second rounds took place on Sunday 26 June 2022.[2][3][4][5] Each zone features 9 fixtures in the first round with 23 clubs receiving a bye to the second round (except the South-West zone featuring 8 matches and 24 byes).

North-East zone

20 August 2022 Camelon Juniors 4–2West Park United
14:30
20 August 2022 Glenrothes 1–0Broomhill
14:30
20 August 2022 Rosyth0–3 Gartcairn
14:30

North-West zone

19 August 2022 Greenock Juniors0–3 Thorn Athletic Greenock
19:30 Stadium: Ravenscraig Stadium
20 August 2022 Ardrossan Winton Rovers0–2 St Roch's Ardrossan
14:00 Stadium: Winton Park
20 August 2022 Benburb Dalry Thistle Govan, Glasgow
14:00 Stadium: New Tinto Park
20 August 2022 Maryhill 3–1Port Glasgow
14:00
20 August 2022 Pollok 6–0Eglinton
14:00
20 August 2022 Rutherglen Glencairn 4–0Finnart
14:00
20 August 2022 St Peter's1–3 Renfrew Renfrew
14:00 Stadium: New Western Park

Second round

North-West zone

15 October 2022 Ardeer Thistle0–3 Glasgow United
14:00
15 October 2022 Arthurlie0–3 Irvine Meadow XI
14:00
15 October 2022 Ashfield 2–0Thorn AthleticGlasgow
14:00 Stadium: Saracen Park
15 October 2022 Beith Juniors3–4 Largs Thistle Beith
14:00 Stadium: Bellsdale Park
15 October 2022 Benburb1–4 Rutherglen Glencairn Govan, Glasgow
14:00 Stadium: New Tinto Park
15 October 2022 Glasgow Perthshire1–5 Kilwinning Rangers Glasgow
14:00

Third round

The majority of the third round ties took place on the weekend of 19 November 2022, reverting to an open draw with 32 fixtures being played.

18 November 2022 Leith Athletic1–2 Fauldhouse United
20:00
18 November 2022 Rossvale 3–1Johnstone Burgh
19:30
18 November 2022 Yoker Athletic0–2 Drumchapel United
19:30
19 November 2022 Abbey Vale0–1 East Kilbride
13:30
19 November 2022 Auchinleck Talbot 3–0Neilston
14:00
19 November 2022 Bo'ness United 5–2Penicuik Athletic
15:00
19 November 2022 Caledonian Braves 4–1Rutherglen GlencairnMotherwell
15:00 Stadium: Alliance Park
19 November 2022 Cambuslang Rangers0–1 Newton Stewart
13:30
19 November 2022 Clydebank 4–0Largs Thistle
14:00
19 November 2022 Coldstream1–4 Broxburn Athletic
14:30
19 November 2022 Dunipace 2–1 (a.e.t.)Tynecastle
14:30
19 November 2022 Edinburgh South0–5 St Cadoc's
13:30 Attendance: 70
19 November 2022 Gartcairn 3–1Dunbar United
13:30
19 November 2022 Glasgow United0–6 Sauchie Juniors
13:30
19 November 2022 Glenafton Athletic 1–0Kinnoull
13:30
19 November 2022 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts3–6 Bo'ness Athletic
14:00
19 November 2022 Jeanfield Swifts1–2 Lochar Thistle
14:30
19 November 2022 Kilwinning Rangers 3–2Musselburgh Athletic
13:30
19 November 2022 Linlithgow Rose 3–1Civil Service Strollers
14:30
19 November 2022 Maryhill 2–1Ashfield
13:30
19 November 2022 Maybole Juniors 5–0Glenrothes
13:30
19 November 2022 Newtongrange Star 5–3 (a.e.t.)Stoneyburn
14:30
19 November 2022 Renfrew2–3 Cumnock Juniors
13:30
19 November 2022 The Spartans 9–0Glasgow University
15:00
19 November 2022 Tranent Juniors 3–2Blackburn United
15:00
19 November 2022 Troon 6–0St Cuthbert WanderersTroon
13:30 Stadium: Portland Park
19 November 2022 Vale of Clyde 2–1Irvine Meadow XI
13:30
20 November 2022 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 3–1Kello RoversEdinburgh
15:30
20 November 2022 University of Stirling 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
DarvelStirling
15:00 Stadium: Forthbank
28 January 2023 Luncarty 3–4 Thornton Hibs
13:30
1 February 2023 Threave Rovers 2–1 Whitletts Victoria
19:30
4 February 2023 Shotts Bon Accord0–4 Dundonald Bluebell Dalgety Bay
13:30 Stadium: Dalgety Bay Sports & Leisure Centre

Fourth round

Draw

Lowland League East of Scotland League South of Scotland League West of Scotland League
Premier Division
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Premier Division
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Fourth Division

Matches

4 February 2023 Auchinleck Talbot 7–0Broxburn AthleticAuchinleck
14:00 Stadium: Beechwood Park
4 February 2023 Caledonian Braves 4–3 (a.e.t.)Bo'ness UnitedMotherwell
15:00 Stadium: Alliance Park
4 February 2023 Cumnock Juniors 4–2 (a.e.t.)TroonCumnock
14:00 Stadium: Townhead Park
4 February 2023 Fauldhouse United0–5 Sauchie Juniors Fauldhouse
14:00 Stadium: Park View
4 February 2023 Gartcairn4–3 (a.e.t.) Bo'ness Athletic Airdrie
14:00 Stadium: MTC Park
4 February 2023 Glenafton Athletic2–3 Drumchapel United New Cumnock
13:30 Stadium: Loch Park
4 February 2023 Kilwinning Rangers 3–0Lothian Thistle Hutchison ValeKilwinning
13:30 Stadium: Buffs Park
4 February 2023 Lochar Thistle1–4 Maryhill Dumfries
13:30 Stadium: Wilson Park
4 February 2023 Maybole Juniors0–1 Clydebank Maybole
13:30 Stadium: Ladywell Stadium
4 February 2023 Newton Stewart1–5 University of Stirling Newton Stewart
15:00 Stadium: Blairmount Park
4 February 2023 Rossvale1–5 East Kilbride Glasgow
13:30 Stadium: Petershill Park
4 February 2023 The Spartans 5–0DunipaceEdinburgh
15:00 Stadium: Ainslie Park
4 February 2023 Threave Rovers 3–1St Cadoc'sCastle Douglas
13:30 Stadium: Meadow Park
4 February 2023 Tranent Juniors 3–1Linlithgow RoseTranent
15:00 Stadium: Foresters Park
4 February 2023 Vale of Clyde 1–0Thornton HibsGlasgow
13:30 Stadium: Fullarton Park
14 February 2023 Newtongrange Star0–2 Dundonald Bluebell Newtongrange
19:30 Stadium: Victoria Park

Fifth round

Draw

The draw for the fifth round was made on 6 February 2023, live on the West of Scotland Football League YouTube channel.[6]

Teams in Italics were unknown at the time of the draw.

Lowland League East of Scotland League West of Scotland League
Premier Division
Premier Division
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Fourth Division

Matches

4 March 2023 Auchinleck Talbot 1–0East KilbrideAuchinleck
14:00 Stadium: Beechwood Park
4 March 2023 Clydebank1–2 University of Stirling Clydebank
15:00 Stadium: Holm Park
4 March 2023 Cumnock Juniors2–3 (a.e.t.) Sauchie Juniors Cumnock
14:00 Stadium: Townhead Park
4 March 2023 Drumchapel United 3–2Vale of ClydeDrumchapel
14:00
4 March 2023 Dundonald Bluebell2–2 (a.e.t.)
(2–4 p)
The Spartans Cardenden
14:30 Stadium: Moorside Park
4 March 2023 Gartcairn 2–1Tranent JuniorsAirdrie
14:00 Stadium: MTC Park
4 March 2023 Maryhill0–2 Kilwinning Rangers Glasgow
14:00 Stadium: Lochburn Park
4 March 2023 Threave Rovers0–2 Caledonian Braves Castle Douglas
14:00 Stadium: Meadow Park

Quarter-finals

Draw

Lowland League East of Scotland League West of Scotland League
Premier Division
Premier Division
First Division

Matches

4 April 2023 Caledonian Braves 2–1Auchinleck TalbotMotherwell
15:00 Stadium: Alliance Park
4 April 2023 Kilwinning Rangers1–4 Gartcairn Kilwinning
14:00 Stadium: Buffs Park
4 April 2023 Sauchie Juniors1–4 Drumchapel United Sauchie
14:30 Stadium: Beechwood Park
4 April 2023 The Spartans 4–2University of StirlingEdinburgh
15:00 Stadium: Ainslie Park

Semi-finals

Draw

Lowland League West of Scotland League
First Division

Matches

18 April 2023 Caledonian Braves2–3 The Spartans Motherwell
19:45 Stadium: Alliance Park
26 April 2023 Gartcairn0–1 Drumchapel United Airdrie
19:45 Stadium: MTC Park

Final

The Spartans2–1Drumchapel United
Russell 17', 42' Finnigan 87'
Referee: Greg Soutar

References

    1. "The Scottish Lowland Football League Season 2022-23 Fixture List" (PDF). Retrieved 16 August 2022.
    2. @SouthChallenge (June 26, 2022). "The North East Zone Round One Ties" (Tweet) via Twitter.
    3. @SouthChallenge (June 26, 2022). "South East Zone Round One Ties" (Tweet) via Twitter.
    4. @SouthChallenge (June 26, 2022). "South West Zone Round One Ties" (Tweet) via Twitter.
    5. @SouthChallenge (June 26, 2022). "North West Zone Round 1" (Tweet) via Twitter.
    6. "South Challenge Cup Draw - 5th Round". YouTube. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
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