1996 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

Stranraer faced Berwick Rangers away from home at Shielfield Park, producing a 2–0[3] win and clean sheet. The second round draw saw Clyde travel to Stair Park with the home team winning 2–1.[3] The reward for reaching the quarter-final was an away game against East Fife in Methil with Stranraer edging out the opposition in a 1–0 victory[3] and second clean sheet of the tournament to progress to the semi-finals. The opposition was a home game against Greenock Morton, and Stranraer produced a third clean sheet in a 3–0 win[3] against the club, sending The Blues into their first ever Scottish Challenge Cup Final.[3]

St Johnstone faced a trip to Albion Rovers' home of Cliftonhill in Coatbridge in the first round which saw the team emerge 2–1 winners.[3] The second round was another game on the road against Ayr United for St Johnstone with the visitors producing a 3–0 victory[3] to progress to the quarter-finals. A trip to Tayside neighbours Dundee was the reward for reaching the quarter-finals with The Saints triumphing 5–1 winners.[3] The semi-final draw paired the club with Montrose and St Johnstone's only home game of the tournament with the club winning 4–2[3] at McDiarmid Park. St Johnstone reached the Scottish Challenge Cup Final for the first time.[3]

Stranraer had played two home games and two away games in the matches preceding the final, whereas, St Johnstone played only one game at their home of McDiarmid Park and played the other three games away from home. Stranraer scored a total of eight goal and conceded only one goal before the final, in the process keeping three clean sheets. St Johnstone amassed a total of fourteen goals scored and conceded only four, but kept only one clean sheet. This was the first appearance for both Stranraer and St Johnstone in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final since its inauguration in 1990.[3]