2008–09 Scottish Challenge Cup
The 2008–09 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the ALBA Challenge Cup due to sponsorship reasons with MG Alba, was the 18th season of the competition, competed for by all 30 members of the Scottish Football League. The defending champions were St Johnstone, who defeated Dunfermline Athletic by 3–2 in the 2007 final.[1]
| Country | Scotland | 
|---|---|
| Teams | 30 | 
| Defending champions | St Johnstone | 
| Champions | Airdrie United | 
| Runners-up | Ross County | 
| Matches played | 29 | 
| Goals scored | 87 (3 per match) | 
| ← 2007–08  2009–10 →  | |
The competition was won by Airdrie United who defeated Ross County 3–2 on penalties following a 2–2 draw after extra time, the winning penalty was scored by Marc Smyth.[2]
Schedule
    
| Round | First match date[3] | Fixtures | Clubs | 
|---|---|---|---|
| First round | 26 July 2008 | 14 | 30 → 16 | 
| Second round | 12 August 2008 | 8 | 16 → 8 | 
| Quarter-finals | 7 September 2008 | 4 | 8 → 4 | 
| Semi-finals | 12 October 2008 | 2 | 4 → 2 | 
| Final | 16 November 2008 | 1 | 2 → 1 | 
First round
    
The First round draw was conducted on 29 May 2008.[4] Holders St Johnstone were drawn against Ross County away from home.
North and East Region
    
Raith Rovers received a random bye to the second round.[4]
| 26 July 2008 | Alloa Athletic | 2–1 | Dundee | Recreation Park, Alloa | 
| 15:00 | Townsley  59' Stevenson  83' | Report | Antoine-Curier  88' | Attendance: 793 Referee: Chris Boyle | 
| 26 July 2008 | Arbroath | 1–2 | Forfar Athletic | Gayfield Park, Forfar | 
| 15:00 | Scott  44' | Report | Kilgannon  62' (pen) McLeish  71' (pen) | Attendance: 563 Referee: Euan Norris | 
| 26 July 2008 | Brechin City | 0–1 | East Fife | Glebe Park, Brechin | 
| 15:00 | Nimmo  78' | Report | Templeman  69' | Referee: S Nicholls | 
| 26 July 2008 | Dunfermline Athletic | 3–0 | Stirling Albion | East End Park, Dunfermline | 
| 15:00 | Burke  4' Phinn  61' Williamson  74' | Report | Attendance: 1,340 Referee: Eddie Smith | 
| 26 July 2008 | Elgin City | 0–2 | Cowdenbeath | Borough Briggs, Elgin | 
| 15:00 | Report | McGregor  13' McQuade  80' | Attendance: 379 Referee: G Salmond | 
| 26 July 2008 | Peterhead | 6–0 | Montrose | Balmoor, Peterhead | 
| 15:00 | Bavidge  24',  78' Cumming  45' (own goal) Gunn  52',  58',  68' (pen) | Report | Attendance: 503 Referee: Craig Charleston | 
| 26 July 2008 | Ross County | 2–1 | St Johnstone | Victoria Park, Dingwall | 
| 15:00 | Winters  53' Higgins  65' | Report | Samuel  84' | Attendance: 2,365 Referee: Craig Thomson | 
Source:
South and West Region
    
Greenock Morton received a random bye to the second round.[4]
| 26 July 2008 | Airdrie United | 3–2 | Dumbarton | Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie | 
| 15:00 | Noble  53' Cardle  58' di Giacomo  75' | Report | Clark  25' Carcary  43' | Attendance: 808 Referee: Calum Murray | 
| 26 July 2008 | Berwick Rangers | 1–5 | Queen of the South | Shielfield Park, Berwick | 
| 15:00 | Little  47' | Report | O'Connor  12',  58' Kean  31',  65' Barr  80' | Attendance: 655 Referee: J McKendrick | 
| 26 July 2008 | Clyde | 2–0 | Annan Athletic | Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld | 
| 15:00 | Trouten  61' (pen.),  74' | Report | Attendance: 700 Referee: Steven O'Reilly | 
| 26 July 2008 | Livingston | 4–0 | Stranraer | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston | 
| 15:00 | Griffiths  33',  72' Hamill  67' McParland  70' | Report | Nicoll  81' | Referee: C Brown | 
| 26 July 2008 | Partick Thistle | 2–1 | Queen's Park | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow | 
| 15:00 | Gray  7' Roberts  9' | Report | Henry  17' Sinclair  66' | Attendance: 1,382 Referee: Stephen Finnie | 
| 26 July 2008 | Stenhousemuir | 0–1 | Albion Rovers | Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir | 
| 15:00 | Report | Donnelly  87' (pen) | Attendance: 323 Referee: B Maddenn | 
| 27 July 2008 | East Stirlingshire | 2–1 | Ayr United | Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir | 
| 15:00 | Richardson  86' Rodgers  89' | Report | Williams  15' | Attendance: 761 Referee: A Muir | 
Source:
Second round
    
The Second round draw was conducted on 30 July 2008.[5]
| 12 August 2008 | Alloa Athletic | 0–2 | Clyde | Recreation Park, Alloa | 
| 19:45 | Report | Clarke  58' Gibson  76' | Attendance: 414 Referee: Iain Brines | 
| 12 August 2008 | Cowdenbeath | 3–2 | Albion Rovers | Central Park, Cowdenbeath | 
| 19:30 | McQuade  8' Gemmell  54' Fairbairn  89' | Report | Barr  30' Martin  75' | Attendance: 204 Referee: Crawford Allan | 
| 12 August 2008 | Livingston | 1–0 | Forfar Athletic | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston | 
| 19:45 | Griffiths  51' | Report | Attendance: 800 Referee: Calum Murray | 
| 12 August 2008 | Partick Thistle | 4 – 2 (a.e.t.) | Peterhead | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow | 
| 19:30 | Donnelly  52' McKeown  92',  115' Harkins  112' | Report | Gunn  23' Kozmanski  103' | Attendance: 1,133 Referee: Steve Conroy | 
| 12 August 2008 | Raith Rovers | 1–2 | Ross County | Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy | 
| 19:45 | Weir  72' | Report | Keddie  52',  54' | Attendance: 1,080 Referee: William Collum | 
| 13 August 2008 | East Fife | 0–2 | Airdrie United | Bayview Stadium, Methil | 
| 19:45 | Report | Lynch  10' Smith  84' | Attendance: 606 Referee: Mike Tumilty | 
| 13 August 2008 | East Stirlingshire | 0–3 | Greenock Morton | Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir | 
| 19:30 | Report | Masterton  22' McGuffie  32',  53' | Attendance: 753 Referee: Stevie O'Reilly | 
| 20 August 2008 | Dunfermline Athletic | 0–2 | Queen of the South | East End Park, Dunfermline | 
| 19:45 | Report | Kean  9' O'Connor  75' | Attendance: 1,373 Referee: Michael McCurry | 
Source:
Quarter-finals
    
The Quarter-final draw was conducted on 14 August 2008.[6]
| Clyde | 0–1 | Ross County | 
|---|---|---|
| McGregor  45' | Report | Craig  25' | 
| Cowdenbeath | 1–2 | Airdrie United | 
|---|---|---|
| Fairbairn  79' Baxter  84' | Report | di Giacomo  53'  75' | 
| Livingston | 0–2 | Partick Thistle | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Turner  75' Twaddle  78' | 
| Queen of the South | 0–2 | Greenock Morton | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Wake  48' McGuffie  77' | 
Semi-finals
    
The Semi-final draw was conducted on 11 September 2008.[7]
| Ross County | 4–1 | Greenock Morton | 
|---|---|---|
| Craig  6' Daal  42'  62' Dowie  84' | Report | McManus  55' Weatherson  77' | 
Final
    
    
Media coverage
    
The Partick Thistle v Airdrie United semi-final was shown live and the final was shown live on BBC Alba.[8]
References
    
- "Dunfermline 2–3 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 25 November 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
- "Airdrie Utd 2–2 Ross County". BBC Sport. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
- "Dates for ties in Season 2008–2009". Scottish Football League. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- "Challenge Cup – first round draw". BBC Sport. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- "Alba Challenge Cup 2008–09". Scottish Football League. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
- "Alba Challenge Cup". Scottish Football League. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
- "The ALBA Challenge Cup – Semi-finals". Scottish Football League. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
- "BBC Alba to cover Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.

