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2023 Scottish Challenge Cup final

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2023 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event2022–23 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date26 March 2023
VenueFalkirk Stadium, Falkirk
RefereeColin Steven
Attendance5,566
2022
2024

The 2023 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the SPFL Trust Trophy final for sponsorship reasons,[1] was a football match that took place on 26 March 2023 between Raith Rovers and Hamilton Academical.[2] It was the 30th final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the now defunct Scottish Football League, and the eighth since the SPFL was formed. It also marked the return of non-Scottish teams to the competition for the first time since the 2019–20 edition.[3]

Route to the final

[edit]
The final took place at the Falkirk Stadium (pictured in 2018)

The competition is a knock-out tournament and was contested by 49 teams from Scotland in 2022–23, as well as 2 teams each from Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.[3]

Raith Rovers

[edit]

As a 2021–22 Scottish Championship club, Raith Rovers were given a bye to the third round. The 2023 final was Raith's fourth Challenge Cup final and third consecutive final, having split the 2020 edition with Inverness Caledonian Thistle after the final was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[4] and were reigning champions after winning the 2022 edition against Queen of the South.[5] They also won the 2014 final against Rangers, making them undefeated in all four finals they had been involved in prior.[6]

Round Opposition Score
Third round Cove Rangers (a) 1–0
Fourth round Greenock Morton (h) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
4–2 (p)
Quarter-final Queen's Park (a) 1–0
Semi-final Dundee (a) 2–2 (a.e.t.)
4–3 (p)

Hamilton Academical

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As a 2021–22 Scottish Championship club, Hamilton Academical were given a bye to the third round. This was Hamilton's first Challenge Cup final since the 2012 edition.[7] The 2023 final was Hamilton's fifth Challenge Cup final, having won the cup in 1991 and 1992, and finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2012.[8][9]

Round Opposition Score
Third round Rangers B (a) 3–0
Fourth round Inverness Caledonian Thistle (h) 2–0
Quarter-final Clyde (h) 3–2
Semi-final Queen of the South (h) 2–1 (a.e.t.)

Match details

[edit]
Raith Rovers0–1Hamilton Academical
Report
Attendance: 5,566
Referee: Colin Steven
Raith Rovers
Hamilton Academical
GK 1 Scotland Jamie MacDonald
RB 4 Scotland Ross Millen
CB 5 Republic of Ireland Ryan Nolan downward-facing red arrow 84'
CB 12 Scotland Tom Lang Yellow card
LB 3 Scotland Liam Dick
RM 16 Scotland Sam Stanton
CM 6 Scotland Brad Spencer downward-facing red arrow 76'
CM 20 Scotland Scott Brown
LM 23 Scotland Dylan Easton
CAM 10 Scotland Lewis Vaughan Yellow card
FW 77 Guinea-Bissau Esmaël Gonçalves downward-facing red arrow 55'
Substitutes:
GK 13 Scotland Andrew McNeil
GK 17 Scotland Robbie Thomson
DF 15 Malawi Kieran Ngwenya
DF 30 Scotland Adam Masson
MF 7 Scotland Aidan Connolly upward-facing green arrow 55'
MF 22 Scotland Ethan Ross upward-facing green arrow 76'
FW 11 Scotland Connor McBride upward-facing green arrow 84'
Manager:
Scotland Ian Murray
GK 1 Scotland Ryan Fulton
CB 4 Republic of Ireland Daniel O'Reilly Red card 55'
CB 15 Australia Dylan McGowan
CB 3 Scotland Matthew Shiels downward-facing red arrow 45'
RWB 22 Scotland Reghan Tumilty
CM 14 Scotland Marley Redfern downward-facing red arrow 21'
CM 18 Scotland Reegan Mimnaugh
CM 8 Scotland Scott Martin
LWB 11 Scotland Lewis Smith downward-facing red arrow 57'
CAM 23 Scotland Lucas De Bolle
FW 9 England Benny Ashley-Seal downward-facing red arrow 10'
Substitutes:
GK 31 Scotland Jamie Smith
DF 5 Scotland Brian Easton upward-facing green arrow 57'
DF 12 Wales Tom Sparrow upward-facing green arrow 21'
DF 25 Scotland Fergus Owens
DF 37 Scotland Chris McGinn
FW 10 Canada Dario Zanatta upward-facing green arrow 45'
FW 16 England Dylan Stephenson
FW 17 France Jean-Pierre Tiéhi upward-facing green arrow 10'
FW 19 Scotland Andy Winter
Manager:
Scotland John Rankin

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.

References

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  1. ^ "Challenge Cup to be rebranded SPFL Trust Trophy from season 2021/22". The Edinburgh Reporter. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Raith Rovers 0–1 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Cross-border clubs make return to SPFL Trust Trophy with Courier columnist picked to do first-round draw". www.thecourier.co.uk. The Courier. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. ^ Coyle, Andy (30 April 2021). "Inverness and Raith named as joint winners of 2020 Challenge Cup". STV News. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Raith beat Queens to claim SPFL Trust Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Raith Rovers 1-0 Rangers (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Falkirk 1-0 Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. ^ Academy (25 March 2023). "Our last two winning squads..." Hamilton Academical Website. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. ^ "St Mirren 2-1 Hamilton Accies". 6 November 2005. Retrieved 27 March 2023.