2006 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

The 2006 Scottish Challenge Cup Final was an association football match between Ross County and Clyde on 12 November 2006 at McDiarmid Park in Perth.[2] It was the 16th final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Football League.

2006 Scottish Challenge Cup Final
The match programme cover
Event2006–07 Scottish Challenge Cup
Ross County Clyde
1 1
After extra time
Ross County won 5–4 on penalties[1]
Date12 November 2006
VenueMcDiarmid Park, Perth
RefereeC. Thomson
Attendance4,062

The match was Ross County's second appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final since losing in 2004, whilst it was Clyde's first national final in 48 years since winning the Scottish Cup in 1958. The tournament was contested by clubs below the Scottish Premier League, with both finalists from the First Division.

Roddy Hunter scored first for Clyde in the 43rd minute with Andy Dowie equalising the score at 1–1 in the 80th minute for Ross County to force extra time. Clyde were reduced to 10 men during extra time after Eddie Malone was sent-off after receiving a second yellow card. The score remained 1–1 and the winner was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Both teams scored four of their first five penalties and Jason Crooks scored the winner for Ross County after Neil McGregor missed the decider for Clyde.[3]

Route to the final
See also: 2006–07 Scottish Challenge Cup

Ross County
Round Opposition Score
First round East Fife (a) 3–0
Second round Alloa Athletic (h) 2–1 (a.e.t.)
Quarter-final Gretna (h) 3–2 (a.e.t.)
Semi-final Albion Rovers (h) 4–1[4]

Clyde
Round Opposition Score
Second round Montrose (a) 3–0
Quarter-final Ayr United (h) 1–0
Semi-final Greenock Morton (h) 3–1[5]

Team news

Ross County started with a 4-4-2 formation. Alex Williams, who was Clyde's top scorer the previous season, missed the match through injury along with Sean Higgins and Fergus Tiernan. Craig Samson started in goals for County, with on loan Celtic duo Gary Irvine and Michael Gardyne also getting starts. Gardyne was partnered by Frenchman Amick Ciani, the only non-Scot in both squads, in attack. Experienced duo Don Cowie and Derek Adams were partnered in the centre of midfield. The midfield was completed by youngsters Craig Gunn and Martin Scott. Midfielder Kevin McKinlay found himself in the unfamiliar position of left back, playing alongside Andy Dowie and Alex Keddie. Jason Crooks, who would go on to score the winning penalty, was making his first senior appearance from the bench.

Clyde used their preferred 3-5-2 formation. Star striker Dougie Imrie missed the game through injury, which he picked up in the previous game, as did Steven Masterton, who was suffering from a knee injury. Michael McGowan and Gary Arbuckle were both suspended, after picking up their second yellow cards of the competition at the semi final stage. Goalkeeper David Hutton made only his fourth appearance for the club, with the consistent trio of Craig McKeown, Neil McGregor and Chris Higgins in front of him. The suspension to McGowan meant a rare start for Ryan McCann at right wing back, with Eddie Malone took up position on the opposite flank. Captain Paul McHale played in the middle of the park, alongside Craig Bryson and Stephen O'Donnell, with Andy Ferguson and Roddy Hunter forming the attack. The squad was so stretched that manager Joe Miller named himself amongst the substitutes.

Match details
Ross County1 – 1 (a.e.t.)Clyde
Dowie  80' Report Hunter  43'
Penalties
Gardyne
Robertson
McKinlay
Adams
Irvine
Crooks 		5 – 4 O'Donnell
McGregor
McCann
Miller
McHale
Higgins
Attendance: 4,062
Referee: Craig Thomson
Ross County
Clyde
ROSS COUNTY:
GK1 Craig Samson
RB2 Gary Irvine
CB3 Alex Keddie
CB4 Andy Dowie 39' 80'
LB5 Kevin McKinlay
RM6 Craig Gunn
CF7 Michael Gardyne
CM8 Derek Adams
CF9 Amick Ciani 17' 115'
CM10 Don Cowie (captain) 102'
LM11 Martin Scott 25' 117'
Substitutes:
GK12 Joe Malin
DF14 Mark McCulloch
DF15 Hugh Robertson 102'
MF16 Stuart Anderson 117'
FW17 Jason Crooks 115'
Manager:
Scott Leitch
CLYDE:
GK1 David Hutton
CB2 Neil McGregor 119'
LWB3 Eddie Malone
CB4 Chris Higgins 117'
CB5 Craig McKeown
CM6 Paul McHale (captain)
CM7 Craig Bryson 107'
CM8 Stephen O'Donnell 51'
CF9 Andy Ferguson 79'
CF10 Roddy Hunter 43' 79'
RWB11 Ryan McCann 115'
Substitutes:
FW12 Sean McKenna 79'
DF14 Robert Harris
FW15 Kevin Bradley 79'
MF16 Joe Miller 108' 107'
GK17 Peter Cherrie
Manager:
Joe Miller

MATCH OFFICIALS

MATCH RULES

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

References
  1. The Scottish Football League Challenge Cup Final Results, scottishfootballleague.com. Scottish Football League. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  2. "Scottish League Challenge Cup Finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  3. Ross County 1-1 Clyde (aet), news.bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  4. "Ross County 4–1 Albion Rovers". BBC Sport. 27 September 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  5. "Clyde 3-1 Greenock Morton". BBC Sport. 27 September 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
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