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.
| Country | Scotland | 
|---|---|
| Teams | 30 | 
| Defending champions | Airdrie United | 
| Champions | Dundee | 
| Runners-up | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 
| 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 → 8 | 
| 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]
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 25 July 2009 | Peterhead | 1–2 | Cowdenbeath | Balmoor, Peterhead | 
| 15:00 | Bavidge  12' | Report | McBride  52' McQuade  61' | Attendance: 361 Referee: Mat Northcroft | 
| 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 | 
| 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]
| 25 July 2009 | Airdrie United | 0–1 | Partick Thistle | New Broomfield, Airdrie | 
| 15:00 | Report | Buchanan  51' | Attendance: 1,325 Referee: Eddie Smith | 
| 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 | 
| 25 July 2009 | Ayr United | 0–2 | Albion Rovers | Somerset Park, Ayr | 
| 15:00 | Report | Barr  79' McFarlane  85' | Attendance: 797 Referee: Eddie Smith | 
| 26 July 2009 | Dumbarton | 0–1 | Greenock Morton | Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton | 
| 15:00 | Report | Jenkins  25' | Attendance: 1,122 Referee: Stephen Finnie | 
| 25 July 2009 | Queen of the South | 1–0 | Livingston | Palmerston Park, Dumfries | 
| 15:00 | Wilson  9' | Report | Attendance: 1,558 Referee: Steve Conroy | 
| 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 | 
| 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]
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 18 August 2009 | Annan Athletic | 1–0 | East Stirlingshire | Galabank, Annan | 
| 19:30 | Watson  90' | Report | Attendance: 375 Referee: Thomas Robertson | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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.) | 
| Partick Thistle | 1 – 1 (a.e.t.) (3 – 4 pen.) | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan  77' | Report | Sanchez  6' | 
| Ross County | 2–0 | Queen of the South | 
|---|---|---|
| di Giacomo  26' Craig  90' | Report | 
Semi-finals
    
The semi-final draw was conducted on 10 September 2009.[6]
Final
    
    
References
    
- Airdrie 2–2 Ross County BBC Sport – Retrieved 28 May 2009
- Dundee 3–2 Inverness CT BBC Sport – Retrieved 22 November
- "ALBA Challenge Cup 2009/10". Scottish Football League. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
- The ALBA Challenge Cup 2009/10 Second Round Draw Archived 14 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Scottish Football League. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2011
- The ALBA Challenge Cup 2009/11 – Third Round Archived 14 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Scottish Football League. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2011
- The ALBA Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw Archived 14 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Scottish Football League. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2011