2017–18 Scottish Challenge Cup

The 2017–18 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the IRN-BRU Cup[1] due to sponsorship reasons, is the 27th season of the competition. The tournament took on a similar format from the previous season, however, two teams from the Republic of Ireland's Airtricity League (Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers) entered the competition for the first time taking the total number of participating clubs to 56. This was the second season with two clubs from both Northern Ireland and Wales competing alongside the 30 members of the 2017–18 Scottish Championship, 2017–18 Scottish League One and 2017–18 Scottish League Two, four teams from the 2017–18 Highland Football League and four from the 2017–18 Lowland Football League as well as the Under-20 teams of the teams competing in the 2017–18 Scottish Premiership. The Welsh teams were The New Saints and Connah's Quay Nomads while the Northern Irish teams were Crusaders and Linfield.[2]

2017–18 Scottish Challenge Cup
CountryScotland
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Wales
Teams56
Defending championsDundee United
ChampionsInverness Caledonian Thistle
Runners-upDumbarton
Matches played55
Goals scored169 (3.07 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Stephen Dobbie & Lewis Vaughan (4 goals)

Dundee United were the defending champions after they beat St Mirren 2–1 in the 2017 final,[3] but were eliminated in the Quarter-finals by Crusaders.

Irn Bru replaced Petrofac as the main sponsor of the competition in June 2016.[1]

Format
Round Date[4] Fixtures Clubs New entries
First round15–16 August 20172456 → 32Teams placed 3rd–10th from 2016–17 Scottish Championship
10 teams from 2016–17 Scottish League One
10 teams from 2016–17 Scottish League Two
4 teams from 2016–17 Highland Football League
4 teams from 2016–17 Lowland Football League
12 U20s teams from 2017–18 Scottish Premiership
Second round2–3 September 20171632 → 1612th placed team from 2016–17 Scottish Premiership
2nd placed team from 2016–17 Scottish Championship
2 teams from 2016–17 NIFL Premiership
2 teams from 2016–17 Welsh Premier League
2 teams from 2017 League of Ireland Premier Division
Third round7–8 October 2017816 → 8
Quarter-finals11–12 November 201748 → 4
Semi-finals17–18 February 201824 → 2
Final24 or 25 March 201812 → 1

First round

The draw for the first round was made at 1 pm on 27 June 2017 at the Summerlee Industrial Museum in Coatbridge and was streamed live on the SPFL's Facebook page. The draw was regionalised into northern and southern sections with each section containing 14 SPFL clubs, four Highland Football League or Lowland Football League clubs and six U20s teams with any team able to face any other within their section.[4]

Draw

Teams in Bold advanced to the second round.

North section

Matches
15 August 2017 Ross County U20s 2–1Forfar AthleticDingwall, Scotland
19:30
  • Mckay  25'
  • MacIver  27'
 Report Millar  89' Stadium: Victoria Park
Referee: Billy Baxter
15 August 2017 Aberdeen U20s 1–0St Johnstone U20sBrechin, Scotland
19:45 Ross  42' Report Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 155
Referee: Alex Shepherd
15 August 2017 Stirling Albion1–3 Montrose Stirling, Scotland
19:45 Smith  90' Report
Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 413
Referee: Peter Stuart
15 August 2017 Dundee United 2–0CowdenbeathDundee, Scotland
19:45 N'Koyi  61', 67' Report Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 1,655
Referee: Mat Northcroft
15 August 2017 Formartine United2–3 (a.e.t.) Heart of Midlothian U20s Pitmedden, Scotland
19:45
  • MacPhee  17'
  • Berton  35'
 Report
Stadium: North Lodge Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Dan McFarlane
15 August 2017 East Fife0–2 Peterhead Methil, Scotland
19:45 Report
  • Lawrence  2'
  • Adams  64'
 Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 333
Referee: Mike Roncone
15 August 2017 Stenhousemuir0–2 Cove Rangers Stenhousemuir, Scotland
19:45 Report
Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 169
Referee: Scott Lambie
15 August 2017 Raith Rovers 3–0Brora RangersKirkcaldy, Scotland
19:45
Report Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 971
Referee: Steven Reid
15 August 2017 Dunfermline Athletic 2–0ArbroathDunfermline, Scotland
19:45 Ryan  24', 40' Report Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 1,462
Referee: Euan Anderson
15 August 2017 Hibernian U20s1–2 Elgin City Edinburgh, Scotland
19:45 Murray  48' Report
  • McLeish  19'
  • Bronsky  89'
 Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 387
Referee: Alan Newlands
15 August 2017 Buckie Thistle 2–1Brechin CityBuckie, Scotland
20:00 Fraser  56', 82' Report McLean  14' Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 453
Referee: Graham Beaton
16 August 2017 Dundee U20s2–4 Alloa Athletic Dundee, Scotland
19:30 Henvey  40', 79' Report
Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 110
Referee: Stephen Brown

Draw

Teams in Bold advanced to the second round.

South section

Matches
15 August 2017 Kilmarnock U20s0–2 Berwick Rangers Kilmarnock, Scotland
19:45 Report
  • Thomson  19'
  • McKenna  39'
 Stadium: Rugby Park
Referee: Duncan Williams
15 August 2017 Clyde2–3 (a.e.t.) Stranraer Cumbernauld, Scotland
19:45
Report
Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 319
Referee: Grant Irvine
15 August 2017 Hamilton Academical U20s 1–0Edinburgh CityHamilton, Scotland
19:45 Tierney  4' (pen.) Report Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 153
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
15 August 2017 Albion Rovers0–3
(Awarded)[A]		 Spartans Coatbridge, Scotland
19:45 Report Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 155
Referee: Kevin Graham
Penalties
  • Ross Allum
  • Ian McFarland
  • Michael Herd
  • Adam Corbett
  • Jamie Dishington
  • Dachi Khutsishvili
15 August 2017 St Mirren 2–1East KilbridePaisley, Scotland
19:45
Report McLaren  81' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 1,357
Referee: John McKendrick
15 August 2017 Partick Thistle U20s 6–1Stirling UniversityGlasgow, Scotland
19:45
  • McLaughlin  15', 57', 79'
  • Lamont  52'
  • Nisbet  60'
  • Fitzpatrick  67'
 Report Lyons  75' Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Referee: Stewart Luke
15 August 2017 Queen of the South 4–0AirdrieoniansDumfries, Scotland
19:45
Report Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,012
Referee: Barry Cook
15 August 2017 Greenock Morton0–2 Livingston Greenock, Scotland
19:45 Report
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,036
Referee: Colin Steven
15 August 2017 Annan Athletic 3–1Celtic U20sAnnan, Scotland
19:45 Smith  17', 23' (pen.), 84' Report Hendry  30' Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 278
Referee: Chris Graham
16 August 2017 Motherwell U20s 2–1Queen's ParkStirling, Scotland
19:30
Report Cummins  29' Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 168
Referee: David Dickinson
16 August 2017 Dumbarton 2–1Rangers U20sDumbarton, Scotland
19:45
Report Hardie  72' Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 389
Referee: Gavin Ross
16 August 2017 East Stirlingshire1–5 Ayr United Stenhousemuir, Scotland
19:45 Ure  40' Report
Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 318
Referee: David Munro
Notes
  1. ^
    A-Spartans were awarded a 3–0 win against Albion Rovers at a disciplinary hearing on 24 August 2017. Albion Rovers pleaded guilty to fielding Liam McGuigan as a second half substitute when he was ineligible to play in the match. The match had ended 0–0 with Albion Rovers winning 5–4 on penalties. Albion Rovers were also fined £2,000 for the breach of IRN-BRU Cup regulations.[5] Both teams were included in the draw for the second round on 17 August 2017.[6]

Second round

Draw

The draw for the second round was made at 1 pm on 17 August 2017 at the Falkirk Wheel and streamed live on the SPFL's Facebook page. The draw was unseeded but the six non-Scottish teams were kept apart with one team from each country drawn at home and one away. Linfield were allocated an away tie due to the unavailability of Windsor Park so Crusaders played at home.[7]

Teams in Italics were not known at the time of the draw. Teams in Bold advanced to the third round.

Premier Division NIFL Premiership Welsh Premier League SPFL Other Scottish

01. Sligo Rovers
02. Bray Wanderers

03. Linfield
04. Crusaders

05. The New Saints
06. Connah's Quay Nomads

Premiership U20s
25. Ross County U20s
26. Hamilton Academical U20s
27. Motherwell U20s
28. Partick Thistle U20s
29. Aberdeen U20s
30. Heart of Midlothian U20s
Highland Football League
31. Buckie Thistle
32. Cove Rangers

Matches
29 August 2017 Ayr United1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–6 p)		 Montrose Ayr, Scotland
19:45 Moore  29' Report I Campbell  3' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 906
Referee: Grant Irvine
Penalties
  • I Campbell
  • Steeves
  • Callaghan
  • Allan
  • Ferguson
  • Millar
  • McLaren
1 September 2017 Stranraer 2–0Partick Thistle U20sStranraer, Scotland
19:45
Report Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 228
Referee: Steven Reid
2 September 2017 Dumbarton 2–1 (a.e.t.)Connah's Quay NomadsDumbarton, Scotland
14:30
Report Morris  26' (pen.) Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 491
Referee: Ben Connolly
2 September 2017 Elgin City 2–0Bray WanderersElgin, Scotland
15:00
  • Dodd  45'
  • Allan  90+2'
 Report Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 611
Referee: Arnold Hunter
2 September 2017 Crusaders 3–2Motherwell U20sBelfast, Northern Ireland
15:00
Report
Stadium: Seaview
Attendance: 494
Referee: Kris Hames
2 September 2017 Spartans1–2 Linfield Edinburgh, Scotland
15:00 Atkinson  74' Report
Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 902
Referee: Mark Petch
2 September 2017 Peterhead 2–0Annan AthleticPeterhead, Scotland
15:00
Report Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 529
Referee: Craig Napier
2 September 2017 Dundee United 3–1Alloa AthleticDundee, Scotland
15:00
Report Cawley  78' Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 1,763
Referee: Willie Collum
2 September 2017 Berwick Rangers0–5 Queen of the South Berwick-upon-Tweed, England
15:00 Report
Stadium: Shielfield Park
Attendance: 621
Referee: Greg Aitken
2 September 2017 St Mirren 3–1Heart of Midlothian U20sPaisley, Scotland
15:00
Report Currie  81' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 1,130
Referee: Craig Charleston
2 September 2017 Hamilton Academical U20s1–3 Cove Rangers Hamilton, Scotland
15:00 Breen  54' Report
Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 297
Referee: David Munro
2 September 2017 Aberdeen U20s2–4 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Brechin, Scotland
15:00
  • Ross  51'
  • Anderson  89'
 Report
Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 175
Referee: Alan Newlands
2 September 2017 Buckie Thistle0–3 Dunfermline Athletic Buckie, Scotland
15:00 Report
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 606
Referee: Mike Roncone
2 September 2017 Raith Rovers 4–0Ross County U20sKirkcaldy, Scotland
15:00
Report Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,035
Referee: Gavin Ross
2 September 2017 Sligo Rovers1–2 Falkirk Sligo, Ireland
19:45 Sharkey  18' Report
Stadium: The Showgrounds
Attendance: 520
Referee: Keith Kennedy
3 September 2017 The New Saints 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)		LivingstonOswestry, England
14:45 Edwards  20' Report Mackin  64' Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 403
Referee: Robert Harvey
Penalties

The SPFL launched an investigation after two different methods of penalty shootout were used in the second round matches that required the tiebreaker. Montrose's 6–5 win over Ayr United used the traditional ABAB method where one team follows the other whereas The New Saints' 6–5 win over Livingston used the trial ABBA method where one team goes first before the other takes two consecutively and then the first team takes their second. SPFL rules state that the ABAB method should be used. The mix up is suspected to have come after confusion between the Irish referee and Welsh linesmen in The New Saints-Livingston match over which method was to be used. The result of the investigation is not expected to impact the result of The New Saints-Livingston tie.[8]

Third round

Draw

The draw for the third round was made at 1 pm on 5 September 2017 at the Riverside Museum and was streamed live on the SPFL's Facebook page. The draw was unseeded and there were no longer any requirements for non-SPFL sides to be kept apart.[9]

Teams in Bold advanced to the third round.

NIFL Premiership Welsh Premier League SPFL Highland Football League

01. Linfield
02. Crusaders

03. The New Saints

16. Cove Rangers

Matches
6 October 2017 Dumbarton 2–1StranraerDumbarton, Scotland
19:45
Report Okoh  90' Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 492
Referee: Greg Aitken
7 October 2017 St Mirren1–3 Raith Rovers Paisley, Scotland
15:00 Reilly  63' Report
Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 1,970
Referee: Euan Anderson
7 October 2017 Montrose1–3 (a.e.t.) Queen of the South Montrose, Scotland
15:00 Masson  23' Report
Stadium: Links Park
Attendance: 534
Referee: Kevin Graham
7 October 2017 Falkirk 2–0Dunfermline AthleticFalkirk, Scotland
15:00
Report Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 4,082
Referee: Steven McLean
7 October 2017 Cove Rangers0–3 Crusaders Forfar, Scotland
15:00 Report
  • Carvill  45'
  • Glackin  60'
  • Caddell  90'
 Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 268
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
7 October 2017 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–0PeterheadInverness, Scotland
15:00
Report Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 930
Referee: Alan Muir
7 October 2017 The New Saints 4–0Elgin CityOswestry, England
16:30
  • Draper  17', 61'
  • Edwards  39'
  • Mullan  44'
 Report Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 404
Referee: Andrew Davey
7 October 2017 Dundee United 1–0LinfieldDundee, Scotland
17:15 Chalmers  90' Report Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 1,967
Referee: Iwan Griffith

Quarter-finals

Draw

The draw for the quarter-finals was made at 1 pm on 10 October 2017 at the Forth Road Bridge Visitor Centre and was streamed live on the SPFL's Facebook page. The draw was unseeded.[10][11]

Teams in Bold advanced to the semi-finals.

NIFL Premiership Welsh Premier League SPFL

01. Crusaders

02. The New Saints

03. Inverness Caledonian Thistle
04. Falkirk
05. Dundee United
06. Queen of the South
07. Dumbarton
08. Raith Rovers

Matches
11 November 2017 Dundee United1–2 Crusaders Dundee, Scotland
13:15 Fyvie  55' Report
Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 2,048
Referee: Robert Hennessy
11 November 2017 Dumbarton 2–0Raith RoversDumbarton, Scotland
15:00
Report Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 888
Referee: Gavin Duncan
11 November 2017 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–0FalkirkInverness, Scotland
17:15 Bell  57' Report Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 1,078
Referee: Euan Anderson
12 November 2017 The New Saints 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		Queen of the SouthOswestry, England
14:45 Report Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 808
Referee: Raymond Crangle
Penalties

Semi-finals

Draw

The draw for the semi-finals was made at 1pm on 14 November 2017 at the SEC Armadillo and was streamed live on the SPFL's Facebook page. The draw was unseeded.[12]

Teams in Bold advanced to the final.

NIFL Premiership Welsh Premier League SPFL

01. Crusaders

02. The New Saints

03. Inverness Caledonian Thistle
04. Dumbarton

Matches
17 February 2018 The New Saints1–2 Dumbarton Oswestry, England
19:35 Ebbe  52' Report
Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 825
Referee: Neil Doyle
18 February 2018 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–2CrusadersInverness, Scotland
17:15
Report Heatley  57', 79' Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 1,044
Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones

Final
Main article: 2018 Scottish Challenge Cup Final
24 March 2018 Dumbarton0–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Perth, Scotland
16:15 Report Tremarco  90+2' Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 4,602
Referee: Andrew Dallas

Statistics

Top goalscorers
As of matches played on 24 March 2018[13]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Stephen Dobbie Queen of the South 4
Lewis Vaughan Raith Rovers
3 Aidan Smith Annan Athletic 3
Mitchel Megginson Cove Rangers
Patrick N'Koyi Dundee United
Andy Ryan Dunfermline Athletic
Neil McLaughlin Partick Thistle U20s
Gavin Reilly St Mirren
9 20 players 2

Player of the Round

The Golden Ball Award is a 'Player of the Round' award given to the player who is adjudged to have had the best performance of that round out of all the players in teams left competing in that round of the competition. The winner is voted for by supporters from a chosen short-list of players, which is posted on the Irn-Bru Football Twitter page.

Round Player Club Match Ref
First Round Kevin Fraser Buckie Thistle 2–1 v Brechin City (H) [14]
Second Round Gavin Reilly St Mirren 3–1 v Heart of Midlothian U20s (H) [15]
Third Round Myles Hippolyte Falkirk 2–0 v Dunfermline Athletic (H) [16]
Quarter-finals Gavin Whyte Crusaders 2–1 v Dundee United (A) [17]
Semi-finals Dimitris Froxylias Dumbarton 2–1 v The New Saints (A)

Broadcasting rights

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held jointly by BBC Alba, S4C (for matches involving Welsh teams) and subscription channel Premier Sports. Prior to the re-format in the 2016–17 season, BBC Alba had exclusive rights.[18]

The following matches are to be broadcast live on UK television:

Round BBC Alba S4C Premier Sports
Second Round The New Saints v Livingston[19]
Third Round Dundee United v Linfield[20] The New Saints v Elgin City[20]
Quarter-Finals Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Falkirk[21] The New Saints v Queen of the South[21]
Semi-Finals Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Crusaders[22] The New Saints v Dumbarton[23]
Final Dumbarton v Inverness Caledonian Thistle[24]

References
  1. "Explained: Here is how the new Challenge Cup will work". pressandjournal.co.uk. Press & Journal. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. "IRN-BRU Cup expanded for 2017/18". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  3. Young, Chick (25 March 2017). "Dundee United 2–1 St Mirren". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  4. "SPFL reveal updated IRN-BRU Cup format". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  5. "Press Release: Disciplinary hearing". spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  6. "SPFL press release: IRN-BRU Cup". spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  7. "IRN-BRU Cup Rd 2 draw on Thursday". Scottish Professional Football League. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  8. Stewart, Craig (4 September 2017). "SPFL probe after 'wrong penalty shoot-out' used in Irn-Bru Cup tie". scotsman.com. The Scotsman. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  9. "Date set for IRN-BRU Cup R3 draw". Scottish Professional Football League. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  10. "Date set for IRN-BRU Cup QF draw". Scottish Professional Football League. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  11. "IRN-BRU Cup quarter-final draw today". Scottish Professional Football League. 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  12. "IRN-BRU Cup semi-final draw". Scottish Professional Football League. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  13. "Scotland Challenge Cup 2017/2018 Predictions, H2H Stats, Match Fixtures, Odds and Results". Soccer Punter. 5 September 2017.
  14. @irnbrufootball (30 August 2017). "Round 1 "Golden Balls" winner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. "Golden Balls award for Reilly". Scottish Professional Football League. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  16. @irnbrufootball (13 October 2017). "Round 3 "Golden Balls" winner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. @irnbrufootball (15 November 2017). "Quarter-finals "Golden Balls" winner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. "Challenge Cup expansion announced". Scottish Professional Football League. 8 June 2016.
  19. "IRN-BRU Cup R2: dates and venues". Scottish Professional Football League. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  20. "IRN-BRU Cup R3 - dates and TV selections". Scottish Professional Football League. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  21. "IRN-BRU Cup TV selections confirmed". Scottish Professional Football League. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  22. "IRN-BRU Cup: Date for ICT v Crusaders". Scottish Professional Football League. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  23. "Date set for TNS v Dumbarton". Scottish Professional Football League. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  24. "McDiarmid Park to host IRN-BRU final". Scottish Professional Football League. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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