2004 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

2004 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

The match programme cover
Event 2004–05 Scottish Challenge Cup
Falkirk Ross County
2 1
Date 7 November 2004
Venue McDiarmid Park, Perth
Referee K. Clark (Paisley)
Attendance 7,471

The 2004 Scottish Challenge Cup Final, also known as the Bell's Cup Final for sponsorship reasons, was an association football match between Falkirk and Ross County on 7 November 2004 at McDiarmid Park in Perth.[1] It was the 14th final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Football League.

Falkirk emerged winners after defeating Ross County 2–1 with goals from Neil Scally and Darryl Duffy[2] to win the tournament for a third time after winning the 1993 and 1997 finals.

Route to the final

Falkirk

Round Opposition Score
First round Ayr United (a) 3–0
Second round Stirling Albion (h) 5–3
Quarter-final Gretna (h) 3–0
Semi-final St Johnstone (a) 2–1

The first round draw paired The Bairns with Ayr United at Somerset Park with the home team emerging 3–0 victors.[3] The second round was a home game against neighbours Stirling Albion for Falkirk at Ochilview Park producing a high scoring 5–3 win[4] to progress to the quarter-finals. The opponents drawn were Gretna at home in the quarter-finals and Falkirk won with their second 3–0 victory of the tournament.[5] The reward for reaching the semi-final was an away game at St. Johnstone with Falkirk edging out the opponents to win 2–1 to book a place in the final.[6] Falkirk reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the third time, since winning the 1993 final against St Mirren and defeating Queen of the South in the 1997 final.

Ross County

Round Opposition Score
First round St Mirren (h) 2–1
Second round Peterhead (a) 2–1
Quarter-final Partick Thistle (h) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 pen.)
Semi-final Forfar Athletic (h) 5–2

Ross County were drawn against St. Mirren at home in the first round and County produced a 2–1 victory[3] over the club. The second round draw saw The Staggies drawn against Peterhead away from home with Ross County emerging 2–1 winners[4] for the second consecutive game. The quarter-final draw brought with Partick Thistle all the way to Victoria Park which saw Ross County edging out a 5–3 win on penalties after a 1–1 draw after extra time[5] to progress to the semi-finals. The opposition provided in the semi-final draw was Forfar Athletic and another home game which saw the Dingwall outfit triumph with a 5–2 victory[6] to proceed to the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the first time in the club's history.

Pre-match

Analysis

Falkirk had played two games at their shared home of Ochilview Park and two away in the games preceding the final with Ross County playing a total of three games at Victoria Park and one away from home. In the process Falkirk amassed a total of thirteen goals scored and a mere four goals conceded whilst keeping two clean sheets. Ross County scored ten goals before the final and conceded a total of five, managing to keep no clean sheets. Falkirk progressed winners through all four games in 90 minutes of play, whereas it took penalties before Ross County emerged as winners over Partick Thistle in the quarter-final. This was Falkirk's third time competing in the Scottish Challenge Cup final, whilst holding a 100% record after winning both the 1993 and 1997 finals. Ross County were appearing in the final for the first time in the club's history.

Match

7 November 2004
15:00 GMT
Falkirk 2 – 1 Ross County
Scally  70'
Duffy  75'		 Report Winters  56'
McDiarmid Park, Perth
Attendance: 7,471[7]
Referee: Kenny Clark (Paisley)[2]
Falkirk
Ross County

Teams

Falkirk:
GK 1Scotland Allan Ferguson
RB 2 Scotland Andy Lawrie
LB 3 Scotland Craig McPherson
CM 4Scotland Scott MacKenzie
CB 5Scotland Mark Campbell
CB 6 Scotland Kevin James (c)
RM 7 Scotland John O'Neil  25'
LM 8Scotland David Nicholls  50'
CF 9 Scotland Andy Thomson  72'
CM 10Trinidad and Tobago Russell Latapy
CF 11 Scotland Darryl Duffy
Substitutes:
FW 12Portugal Pedro Moutinho  50'
MF 14 Scotland Neil Scally  25'
FW 15Australia Daniel McBreen  72'
MF 16Scotland Kieran McAnespie
GK 17 Scotland Darren Hill
Manager:
Scotland John Hughes
Ross County:
GK 1Scotland Stuart Garden
RB 2 Scotland John Robertson
LB 3Scotland Mark McCulloch
CM 4 Scotland Jamie McCunnie
CB 5 Scotland Martin Canning
CB 6 Scotland Jim Lauchlan (c)
CM 7 Scotland Don Cowie
LM 8Scotland Charlie Adam  60'
CF 9Scotland Sean Higgins  66'
RM 10Scotland John Rankin
CF 11 Scotland David Winters  80'
Substitutes:
DF 12Scotland Stuart Malcolm  80'
MF 14Scotland Sean Kilgannon  60'
FW 15Scotland Steven McGarry  66'
FW 16Scotland Gary McSwegan
GK 17Scotland Colin Stewart
Manager:
Scotland Alex Smith

MATCH RULES

  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shootout if scores still level
  • Five named substitutes
  • Maximum of 3 substitutions

References

  1. ↑ "Scottish League Challenge Cup Finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 Falkirk 2-1 Ross County, BBC Sport. 2004-11-07. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  3. 1 2 Scottish League Challenge Cup Round 1 Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  4. 1 2 Scottish League Challenge Cup Round 2 Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  5. 1 2 Scottish League Challenge Cup Round 3 Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  6. 1 2 Scottish League Challenge Cup Semi-finals Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  7. ↑ Scottish League Challenge Cup Final Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
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