2009–10 Scottish Challenge Cup

The 2009–10 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the ALBA Challenge Cup due to sponsorship reasons with MG Alba, was the 19th season of the competition, competed for by all 30 members of the Scottish Football League. The previous winner was Airdrie United, who defeated Ross County 3–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in the 2008 final.^[1] Airdrie United were knocked out in the first round by Partick Thistle after a 1–0 loss.

2009–10 ALBA Challenge Cup

Tournament details
Country	Scotland
Teams	30
Defending champions	Airdrie United
Final positions
Champions	Dundee
Runners-up	Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Tournament statistics
Matches played	29
Goals scored	83 (2.86 per match)
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

The final was contested by Dundee and Inverness Caledonian Thistle at McDiarmid Park, Perth on Sunday 22 November 2009. The competition was won by Dundee who came back from 2–0 down to eventually clinch the victory, 3–2.^[2]

Schedule

Round	First match date	Fixtures	Clubs
First round	Sat/Sun 24/25 July 2009	14	30 → 16
Second round	Tuesday 18 August 2009	8	16 → 80
Quarter-finals	Sunday 6 September 2009	4	8 → 4
Semi-finals	Sunday 4 October 2009	2	4 → 2
Final	Sunday 22 November 2009	1	2 → 1

First round

The first round draw was conducted on 28 May 2009.^[3]

North and East region

Dundee received a random bye to the second round.^[3]

Dunfermline Athletic v Arbroath

25 July 2009	Dunfermline Athletic	2–1	Arbroath	East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00	Kirk 50' Bell 79'	Report	Redman 73' Dobbins  87'	Attendance: 1,708 Referee: George Salmond

East Fife v Forfar Athletic

25 July 2009	East Fife	0–2	Forfar Athletic	Bayview Stadium, Methil
15:00		Report	M Fotheringham 38' K Fotheringham 77'	Attendance: 446 Referee: John McKendrick

Elgin City v Brechin City

25 July 2009	Elgin City	3–1	Brechin City	Borough Briggs, Elgin
15:00	Crooks 1' Frizzel 61' Edwards 74'	Report	McAllister 46'	Attendance: 381 Referee: Colin Brown

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Montrose

25 July 2009	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	1 – 1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p)	Montrose	Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00	Crighton 45' (o.g.)	Report	Leyden 87'	Attendance: 1,072 Referee: Euan Norris

Peterhead v Cowdenbeath

25 July 2009	Peterhead	1–2	Cowdenbeath	Balmoor, Peterhead
15:00	Bavidge 12'	Report	McBride 52' McQuade 61'	Attendance: 361 Referee: Mat Northcroft

Ross County v Alloa Athletic

25 July 2009	Ross County	3 – 2 (a.e.t.)	Alloa Athletic	Victoria Park, Dingwall
15:00	Gardyne 58', 106', 118'	Report	Watt 4' (o.g.) Spence 99' Carroll  110'	Attendance: 748 Referee: Douglas McDonald

Stirling Albion v Raith Rovers

25 July 2009	Stirling Albion	2–1	Raith Rovers	Forthbank Stadium, Stirling
15:00	Graham 45' McKenna 54'	Report	Walker 90'	Attendance: 713 Referee: Anthony Law

Source: BBC Sport

South and West region

East Stirlingshire received a random bye to the second round.^[3]

Airdrie United v Partick Thistle

25 July 2009	Airdrie United	0–1	Partick Thistle	New Broomfield, Airdrie
15:00		Report	Buchanan 51'	Attendance: 1,325 Referee: Eddie Smith

Annan Athletic v Queen's Park

25 July 2009	Annan Athletic	2–0	Queen's Park	Galabank, Annan
15:00	Jack 27' (pen.), 90' (pen.)	Report	Reilly  90'	Attendance: 411 Referee: Mike Tumilty

Ayr United v Albion Rovers

25 July 2009	Ayr United	0–2	Albion Rovers	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00		Report	Barr 79' McFarlane 85'	Attendance: 797 Referee: Eddie Smith

Dumbarton v Greenock Morton

26 July 2009	Dumbarton	0–1	Greenock Morton	Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton
15:00		Report	Jenkins 25'	Attendance: 1,122 Referee: Stephen Finnie

Queen of the South v Livingston

25 July 2009	Queen of the South	1–0	Livingston	Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00	Wilson 9'	Report		Attendance: 1,558 Referee: Steve Conroy

Stranraer v Berwick Rangers

25 July 2009	Stranraer	4–2	Berwick Rangers	Stair Park, Stranraer
15:00	Jack 11' Mitchell 18' (pen.), 59' Montgomerie 87' Noble  45'	Report	Ewart 33' Little 86' Ewart  46'	Attendance: 245 Referee: Steven Nicholls

Stenhousemuir v Clyde

25 July 2009	Stenhousemuir	2–0	Clyde	Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir
15:00	O'Reilly 75' Dalziel 90'	Report		Attendance: 603 Referee: Brian Colvin

Source: BBC Sport

Second round

The second round draw was conducted on 28 July 2009 at Hampden Park, Glasgow.^[4]

Dunfermline Athletic v Queen of the South

18 August 2009	Dunfermline Athletic	1–2	Queen of the South	East End Park, Dunfermline
19:45	Cardle 53'	Report	Kean 12' Tosh 90'	Attendance: 941 Referee: Crawford Allen

Ross County v Greenock Morton

18 August 2009	Ross County	2–1	Greenock Morton	Victoria Park, Dingwall
19:30	Lawson 68' Wood 70'	Report	Masterton 63'	Attendance: 588 Referee: John McKendrick

Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir

18 August 2009	Stirling Albion	3–1	Stenhousemuir	Forthbank Stadium, Stirling
19:30	Mullen 33' Robertson 47' McKenna 80'	Report	Dalziel 49' Stirling  77'	Attendance: 275 Referee: Frank McDermott

Annan Athletic v East Stirlingshire

18 August 2009	Annan Athletic	1–0	East Stirlingshire	Galabank, Annan
19:30	Watson 90'	Report		Attendance: 375 Referee: Thomas Robertson

Forfar Athletic v Partick Thistle

18 August 2009	Forfar Athletic	1–6	Partick Thistle	Station Park, Forfar
19:45	Templeman 60'	Report	Doolan 10' Hamilton 51', 52' Rowson 61' Donnelly 74' Cairney 80'	Attendance: 532 Referee: David Somers

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Stranraer

18 August 2009	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	3–0	Stranraer	Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
19:30	Foran 12', 32' Sanchez 29'	Report		Attendance: 885 Referee: Scott MacDonald

Elgin City v Albion Rovers

18 August 2009	Elgin City	3–0	Albion Rovers	Borough Briggs, Elgin
19:45	Crooks 64' (pen.) Gunn 80', 90' McDonald  76'	Report	Canning  63'	Attendance: 245 Referee: Craig Charleston

Cowdenbeath v Dundee

18 August 2009	Cowdenbeath	0–3	Dundee	Central Park, Cowdenbeath
19:30		Report	Griffiths 20' Harkins 82' Antoine-Curier 88'	Attendance: 457 Referee: George Salmond

Source: BBC Sport

Quarter-finals

The quarter-final draw was conducted on 20 August 2009 at Hampden Park.^[5]

Annan Athletic	4–2	Elgin City
Gilfillan 56' Bell 75' Inglis 80' Storey 88'	Report	Cameron 6' Macbeth 43' (o.g.)

6 September 2009

15:00

Galabank, Annan

Attendance: 534

Referee: Steven McLean

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Partick Thistle	1 – 1 (a.e.t.) (3 – 4 pen.)	Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Buchanan 77'	Report	Sanchez 6'

6 September 2009

15:00

Firhill Stadium, Glasgow

Attendance: 1,746

Referee: William Collum

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Ross County	2–0	Queen of the South
di Giacomo 26' Craig 90'	Report

6 September 2009

15:00

Victoria Park, Dingwall

Attendance: 964

Referee: Mike Tumilty

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Stirling Albion	1–2	Dundee
Devine 89' (pen.)	Report	Griffiths 10', 26'

6 September 2009

15:00

Forthbank Stadium, Stirling

Attendance: 1,277

Referee: Euan Norris

Semi-finals

The semi-final draw was conducted on 10 September 2009.^[6]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle	1–0	Ross County
Eagle 44'	Report

4 October 2009

15:00

Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Attendance: 2,275

Referee: Stevie O'Reilly

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Dundee	3–0	Annan Athletic
Higgins 36' Clarke 63' Forsyth 71'	Report

4 October 2009

15:00

Dens Park, Dundee

Attendance: 2,321

Referee: Stephen Finnie

Final

Main article: 2009 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

Dundee	3–2	Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Bulvītis 48' (o.g.) Harkins 53' Forsyth 83'	Report	Rooney 20' Bulvītis 33' Imrie  90'

22 November 2009

15:00

McDiarmid Park, Perth

Attendance: 8,031

Referee: Charlie Richmond