2004 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

The 2004 Scottish Challenge Cup Final, also known as the Bell's Cup Final for sponsorship reasons, was an association football match between Falkirk and Ross County on 7 November 2004 at McDiarmid Park in Perth.[1] It was the 14th final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Football League.

2004 Scottish Challenge Cup Final
The match programme cover
Event2004–05 Scottish Challenge Cup
Falkirk Ross County
2 1
Date7 November 2004
VenueMcDiarmid Park, Perth
RefereeK. Clark (Paisley)
Attendance7,471

Falkirk emerged winners after defeating Ross County 2–1 with goals from Neil Scally and Darryl Duffy[2] to win the tournament for a third time after winning the 1993 and 1997 finals.

Route to the final
See also: 2004–05 Scottish Challenge Cup

Falkirk
Round Opposition Score
First round Ayr United (a) 3–0
Second round Stirling Albion (h) 5–3
Quarter-final Gretna (h) 3–0
Semi-final St Johnstone (a) 2–1

The first round draw paired The Bairns with Ayr United at Somerset Park with the home team emerging 3–0 victors.[3] The second round was a home game against neighbours Stirling Albion for Falkirk at Ochilview Park producing a high scoring 5–3 win[4] to progress to the quarter-finals. The opponents drawn were Gretna at home in the quarter-finals and Falkirk won with their second 3–0 victory of the tournament.[5] The reward for reaching the semi-final was an away game at St. Johnstone with Falkirk edging out the opponents to win 2–1 to book a place in the final.[6] Falkirk reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the third time, since winning the 1993 final against St Mirren and defeating Queen of the South in the 1997 final.

Ross County
Round Opposition Score
First round St Mirren (h) 2–1
Second round Peterhead (a) 2–1
Quarter-final Partick Thistle (h) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 pen.)
Semi-final Forfar Athletic (h) 5–2

Ross County were drawn against St. Mirren at home in the first round and County produced a 2–1 victory[3] over the club. The second round draw saw The Staggies drawn against Peterhead away from home with Ross County emerging 2–1 winners[4] for the second consecutive game. The quarter-final draw brought with Partick Thistle all the way to Victoria Park which saw Ross County edging out a 5–3 win on penalties after a 1–1 draw after extra time[5] to progress to the semi-finals. The opposition provided in the semi-final draw was Forfar Athletic and another home game which saw the Dingwall outfit triumph with a 5–2 victory[6] to proceed to the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the first time in the club's history.

Pre-match

Analysis

Falkirk had played two games at their shared home of Ochilview Park and two away in the games preceding the final with Ross County playing a total of three games at Victoria Park and one away from home. In the process Falkirk amassed a total of thirteen goals scored and a mere four goals conceded whilst keeping two clean sheets. Ross County scored ten goals before the final and conceded a total of five, managing to keep no clean sheets. Falkirk progressed winners through all four games in 90 minutes of play, whereas it took penalties before Ross County emerged as winners over Partick Thistle in the quarter-final. This was Falkirk's third time competing in the Scottish Challenge Cup final, whilst holding a 100% record after winning both the 1993 and 1997 finals. Ross County were appearing in the final for the first time in the club's history.

Match
Falkirk2 – 1Ross County
Scally  70'
Duffy  75'		 Report Winters  56'
Attendance: 7,471[7]
Falkirk
Ross County

Teams
Falkirk:
GK1 Allan Ferguson
RB2 Andy Lawrie
LB3 Craig McPherson
CM4 Scott MacKenzie
CB5 Mark Campbell
CB6 Kevin James (c)
RM7 John O'Neil 25'
LM8 David Nicholls 50'
CF9 Andy Thomson 72'
CM10 Russell Latapy
CF11 Darryl Duffy
Substitutes:
FW12 Pedro Moutinho 50'
MF14 Neil Scally 25'
FW15 Daniel McBreen 72'
MF16 Kieran McAnespie
GK17 Darren Hill
Manager:
John Hughes
Ross County:
GK1 Stuart Garden
RB2 John Robertson
LB3 Mark McCulloch
CM4 Jamie McCunnie
CB5 Martin Canning
CB6 Jim Lauchlan (c)
CM7 Don Cowie
LM8 Charlie Adam 60'
CF9 Sean Higgins 66'
RM10 John Rankin
CF11 David Winters 80'
Substitutes:
DF12 Stuart Malcolm 80'
MF14 Sean Kilgannon 60'
FW15 Steven McGarry 66'
FW16 Gary McSwegan
GK17 Colin Stewart
Manager:
Alex Smith

MATCH RULES

  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shootout if scores still level
  • Five named substitutes
  • Maximum of 3 substitutions

References
  1. "Scottish League Challenge Cup Finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  2. Falkirk 2-1 Ross County, BBC Sport. 2004-11-07. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  3. Scottish League Challenge Cup Round 1 Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  4. Scottish League Challenge Cup Round 2 Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  5. Scottish League Challenge Cup Round 3 Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  6. Scottish League Challenge Cup Semi-finals Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  7. Scottish League Challenge Cup Final Results - 2004/05, ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
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