2011–12 Scottish Challenge Cup
The 2011–12 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the Ramsdens Challenge Cup due to sponsorship reasons with Ramsdens, was the 21st season of the competition. It was competed for by 32 clubs, which included the 30 members of the Scottish Football League, and for the first time the top two clubs of the Highland Football League.
| Country |  Scotland | 
|---|---|
| Teams | 32 | 
| Defending champions | Ross County | 
| Champions | Falkirk | 
| Runners-up | Hamilton Academical | 
| Matches played | 31 | 
| Goals scored | 102 (3.29 per match) | 
| Top goal scorer(s) | Paul di Giacomo (5 goals) | 
| ← 2010–11  2012–13 →  | |
The defending champions were Ross County, who defeated Queen of the South in the 2010 final but were knocked out in the first round by Third Division side Elgin City.[1] The tournament winners were Falkirk, who defeated Hamilton Academical in the final with Darren Dods scoring the only goal of the match in the 2nd minute.
Schedule
    
| Round | First match date | Fixtures | Clubs | 
|---|---|---|---|
| First round | Sat/Sun 23/24 July 2011 | 16 | 32 → 16 | 
| Second round | Tuesday 9 August 2011 | 8 | 16 → 8 | 
| Quarter-finals | Sunday 4 September 2011 | 4 | 8 → 4 | 
| Semi-finals | Sunday 9 October 2011 | 2 | 4 → 2 | 
| Final | Sunday 1 April 2012 | 1 | 2 → 1 | 
Fixtures and results
    
    First round
    
The First round draw was conducted on 6 June 2011.[2]
North and East region
    
| 23 July 2011 | Deveronvale | 1–3 | Stirling Albion | Princess Royal Park, Banff | 
| 13:00 | McKenzie  58' | Report | Bonar  19' (pen.), 48' MacPherson  63' | Attendance: 400 Referee: Don Robertson | 
| 23 July 2011 | Arbroath | 1 – 2 (a.e.t.) | Dundee | Gayfield Park, Arbroath | 
| 15:00 | Elfverson  77' | Report | Milne  79' O'Donnell  92' | Attendance: 1,761 Referee: Craig Charleston | 
| 23 July 2011 | Brechin City | 1–2 | Falkirk | Glebe Park, Brechin | 
| 15:00 | McKenna  40' | Report | Bennett  26' Dods  33' | Attendance: 596 Referee: George Salmond | 
| 23 July 2011 | Forfar Athletic | 1 – 1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Buckie Thistle | Station Park, Forfar | 
| 15:00 | Gibson  29' | Report | MacMillan  33' | Attendance: 416 Referee: John Beaton | 
| 23 July 2011 | Montrose | 1–6 | East Fife | Links Park, Montrose | 
| 15:00 | McPhee  73' | Report | Linn  16' Ogleby  27', 51', 63' (pen.) Wallace  31' Young  64' | Attendance: 404 | 
| 23 July 2011 | Peterhead | 2 – 2 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Alloa Athletic | Balmoor, Peterhead | 
| 15:00 | Deasley  30' McAllister  60' | Report | Ro. McCord  16' Wright  73' | Attendance: 443 Referee: Gary Hilland | 
| 23 July 2011 | Raith Rovers | 2–1 | Cowdenbeath | Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy | 
| 15:00 | Baird  51', 77' | Report | Coult  80' | Attendance: 1,098 Referee: Mike Tumilty | 
| 23 July 2011 | Ross County | 1–2 | Elgin City | Victoria Park, Dingwall | 
| 15:00 | Morrison  2' | Report | Cameron  37' Leslie  61' | Attendance: 1,368 Referee: Matt Northcroft | 
Source: The Scottish Football League
South and West region
    
| 23 July 2011 | Airdrie United | 0–5 | Livingston | New Broomfield, Airdrie | 
| 15:00 | Report | Sinclair  50' Russell  55', 67' Barr  82', 90' | Attendance: 719 Referee: Charlie Richmond | 
| 23 July 2011 | Albion Rovers | 0–2 | Annan Athletic | Cliftonhill, Coatbridge | 
| 15:00 | Report | Cox  29' Harty  81' | Attendance: 247 Referee: Des Roache | 
| 23 July 2011 | Ayr United | 2 – 0 (a.e.t.) | Queen of the South | Somerset Park, Ayr | 
| 15:00 | Campbell  94' Geggan  115' | Report | Attendance: 1,272 Referee: Brian Winter | 
| 23 July 2011 | Clyde | 2 – 2 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | Berwick Rangers | Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld | 
| 15:00 | Fitzpatrick  36' McDonald  51' | Report | L. Currie  4' Gray  10' | Attendance: 472 Referee: Stevie O'Reilly | 
| 23 July 2011 | Partick Thistle | 2–1 | Stenhousemuir | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow | 
| 15:00 | Rowson  20' Stewart  82' | Report | Kean  86' | Attendance: 1,292 Referee: Stephen Finnie | 
| 23 July 2011 | Queen's Park | 0–2 | Hamilton Academical | Hampden Park, Glasgow | 
| 15:00 | Report | Crawford  72' Hopkirk  81' | Attendance: 748 | 
| 23 July 2011 | Stranraer | 0–8 | Greenock Morton | Stair Park, Stranraer | 
| 15:00 | Report | Jackson  19', 42', 77', 86' di Giacomo  53', 54', 64', 69' | Attendance: 374 Referee: John McKendrick | 
| 24 July 2011 | Dumbarton | 3–2 | East Stirlingshire | Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton | 
| 15:00 | Prunty  54' Gilhaney  61' (pen.) Walker  90' Lyden  67' | Report | Love  66' Turner  70' | Attendance: 454 Referee: Paul Robertson | 
Source: The Scottish Football League
Second round
    
| 9 August 2011 | Annan Athletic | 4–2 | Peterhead | Galabank, Annan | 
| 19:30 | Harty  20',  48',  87' Muirhead  31' | Report | Redman  49' McAllister  75' (pen.) | Attendance: 359 Referee: Stephen Finnie | 
| 9 August 2011 | Forfar Athletic | 0–5 | Greenock Morton | Station Park, Forfar | 
| 19:30 | Report | O'Brien  56' Weatherson  59' MacDonald  61',  75' Campbell  78' | Attendance: 448 Referee: Matt Northcroft | 
| 9 August 2011 | Ayr United | 3–0 | Raith Rovers | Cappielow, Greenock | 
| 19:45 | Patterson  43' McKernan  76' Robertson  79' | Report | Attendance: 227 Referee: Steve Conroy | 
| 9 August 2011 | Dumbarton | 0–2 | Berwick Rangers | Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton | 
| 19:45 | Report | Greenhill  55' Currie  89' | Attendance: 334 Referee: Craig Charleston | 
| 9 August 2011 | East Fife | 2–0 | Elgin City | Bayview Stadium, Methil | 
| 19:45 | Wallace  52',  77' | Report | Attendance: 408 Referee: Mike Tumilty | 
| 9 August 2011 | Falkirk | 1–0 | Dundee | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk | 
| 19:45 | El Alagui  43' | Report | Attendance: 1,791 Referee: Brian Winter | 
| 9 August 2011 | Hamilton Academical | 1–0 | Partick Thistle | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | 
| 19:45 | Chambers  86' (pen.) | Report | Attendance: 1,362 Referee: Craig Thomson | 
| 9 August 2011 | Livingston | 5–0 | Stirling Albion | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston | 
| 19:45 | Deuchar  23',  34',  90' Devon Jacobs  36' (o.g.) Gary Thom  87' (o.g.) | Report | Attendance: 549 Referee: Iain Brines | 
Last updated: 9 August 2011
Source: The Scottish Football League
Quarter-finals
    
The quarter-final draw was conducted on 11 August 2011 at 2:00pm in a Ramsdens outlet in The Forge Shopping Centre, Glasgow.[3]
| Berwick Rangers | 1–2 | Livingston | 
|---|---|---|
| McDonald  52' | Report | Scougall  12' Russell  85' | 
| Hamilton Academical | 2–1 | Greenock Morton | 
|---|---|---|
| Spence  18' Mensing  33' | Report | Di Giacomo  10' | 
| Ayr United | 0–1 | Annan Athletic | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Cox  58' | 
Semi-finals
    
The draw for the semi-finals of the Challenge cup took place at 2:00 pm on 7 September 2011, at Hampden Park, Glasgow.[4]
| Annan Athletic | 0–3 | Falkirk | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Millar  10' El Alagui  25', 42' | 
Top scorers
    
- Last updated on 9 October 2011
| # | Name | Club | Goals | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul di Giacomo | Greenock Morton | 5 | 
| 2 | Ian Harty | Annan Athletic | 4 | 
| Andy Jackson | Greenock Morton | 4 | |
| Ryan Wallace | East Fife | 4 | |
| 5 | Kenny Deuchar | Livingston | 3 | 
| Farid El Alagui | Falkirk | 3 | |
| Robert Ogleby | East Fife | 3 | 
References
    
- "Alba Challenge Cup Final: Queen of the South 0 Ross County 2". Daily Record. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
- "Highland duo enter new Ramsdens Cup". BBC Sport. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- "Ramsdens Cup Third Round Draw". Scottish Football League. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
- "Ramsdens Cup Semi-final Draw". Scottish Football League. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- "IRN-BRU SFL Rescheduled List of Fixtures 2011/12". Scottish Football League. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.