2012 Scottish Challenge Cup final

{{See also|2011–12 Scottish Challenge Cup}}

The competition is a knock-out tournament and in 2011–12 was contested by 32 teams: the 30 clubs that played in the First, Second and Third Divisions of the Scottish Football League and two Highland Football League clubs by invitation. For the first round only, the draw was divided into two geographical regions made up of 16 clubs – north/east and south/west. Teams were paired at random and the winner of each match progressed to the next round and the loser was eliminated.

Falkirk were placed in the north/east region for the first round and were drawn against Second Division side Brechin City away from home. All of the goals came in the first half but Darren Dods's debut goal in the 33rd minute proved to be the decider in the 2–1 win at Glebe Park.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14244472.stm "Brechin City 1-2 Falkirk"], BBC Sport. 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-10-13. In the second round Falkirk faced fellow First Division side Dundee at the Falkirk Stadium. The only goal of the game came from Moroccan, Farid El Alagui in the 43rd minute and was enough to send Falkirk through to the quarter-final stage.[http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/challenge-cup/results/3434879/ "Falkirk 1 – 0 Dundee : Tuesday, 9th August 2011"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625185750/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/challenge-cup/results/3434879/ |date=25 June 2013 }}, Scottish Football League. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-10-13.{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14459144.stm | title=Falkirk 1-0 Dundee | publisher=BBC Sport | date=2011-08-09 | access-date=2011-10-18}}

The reward for reaching the quarter-final stage was an away game against East Fife of the Second Division. The Methil based club took the lead on the 27th minute courtesy of a right-foot curler from Ryan Wallace.[http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/challenge-cup/results/3441889/ "East Fife 1 – 4 Falkirk : Sunday, 4th September 2011"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123224119/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/challenge-cup/results/3441889/ |date=23 November 2011 }}, Scottish Football League. 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2011-10-13. However, two goals in quick succession from Kallum Higginbotham and Craig Sibbald to make the score 3–1 was enough to overcome East Fife, with Higginbotham sealing the scoreline at 4–1 on the 87th minute in the match at Bayview Stadium.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14770053.stm "East Fife 1-4 Falkirk"], BBC Sport. 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2011-10-13.

The semi-final draw paired Falkirk with high flying Annan Athletic of the Third Division. Annan Athletic had played 12 games and won 10 in all competitions leading up to the semi-final tie and had knocked out First Division club Ayr United in the previous round. However, three first half goals, one from Mark Millar and two from Farid El Alagui[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15223602.stm "Annan Athletic 0-3 Falkirk"], BBC Sport. 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2011-10-13. saw off Annan Athletic in front of a record official attendance of 1,575 at Galabank.[http://www.annanathleticfc.com/matchdetails.asp?mid=518 "Annan Athletic 0 – 3 Falkirk"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004145938/http://www.annanathleticfc.com/matchdetails.asp?mid=518 |date=4 October 2011 }}, Annan Athletic F.C.. 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2011-10-13.[http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/record-day-at-annan/ "Record day at Annan"], Scottish Football League. 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2011-10-13.

Hamilton Academical competed in the south/west region for the first round and faced Third Division side Queen's Park at Hampden Park. Two debutant senior goals from Ali Crawford and David Hopkirk in the 72nd and 80th minutes respectively ensured a 2–0 victory{{cite web | url=http://www.acciesfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1516:queens-park-v-accies-news&catid=44:news&Itemid=140 | title=Queens Park 0 Accies 2 | publisher=Hamilton Academical F.C. | date=2011-07-23 | access-date=2011-10-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615061407/http://www.acciesfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1516:queens-park-v-accies-news&catid=44:news&Itemid=140 | archive-date=15 June 2012 | url-status=dead }} for Accies and a clean sheet to progress to the second round. The opponents drawn were Partick Thistle of the First Division. A late penalty goal from Irishman James Chambers in the 86th minute at New Douglas Park was enough to book a place in the quarter-final stage.{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14459146.stm | title=Hamilton 1-0 Partick Thistle | publisher=BBC Sport | date=2011-08-09 | access-date=2011-10-18}}

The quarter-final draw paired Hamilton Academical with another First Division side, Greenock Morton, whom Accies defeated in the 1992 final. Despite Greenock Morton taking the lead in the 10th minute from a Paul Di Giacomo goal, Hamilton scored two other first half goals from Greig Spence and Simon Mensing to win 2–1 at New Douglas Park to progress to the semi-final stage.{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14770055.stm | title=Hamilton Accies 2-1 Morton | publisher=BBC Sport | date=2011-09-04 | access-date=2011-10-18}}

A third club from the First Division provided the opposition for Hamilton in the semi-final in the form of Livingston. A late first half goal in the 43rd minute from Mark McLaughlin was enough to knock out the West Lothian side in front of a crowd of 1,418 and progress to their fourth Scottish Challenge Cup final in the club's history.{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15222377.stm | title=Hamilton Academical 1-0 Livingston | publisher=BBC Sport | date=2011-10-09 | access-date=2011-10-18}}

File:Almondvale Stadium, Livingston.jpg

The 2012 final marked the first time the event was hosted at Almondvale Stadium in Livingston, the home of Livingston F.C.{{cite web | url=http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/news/news_20111020_1.php | title=Livingston Host Ramsdens Cup Final | publisher=Livingston F.C. | date=20 October 2011 | access-date=20 October 2011}} The venue opened in 1995 and at the time of the final was officially known as the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium after its sponsor. Seating arrangements for spectators in the stadium were segregated with Falkirk supporters occupying the East Stand and parts of the North and South Stands whilst Hamilton fans were allocated tickets for the West (Main) Stand.[http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/ramsdens-cup-final-ticket-info/ Ramsdens Cup Final Ticket Info], spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2013. Falkirk travelled around {{convert|20|mi|km|1}}[http://binged.it/18FPot7 Directions from Falkirk Football Club to Almondvale Stadium], bing.com. Bing Maps. Retrieved 19 August 2013. to the venue and Hamilton Academical travelled approximately {{convert|30|mi|km|1}}.[http://binged.it/18FPJfq Directions from Hamilton Academical Football Club to Almondvale Stadium], bing.com. Bing Maps. Retrieved 19 August 2013.

With the inclusion of two Highland League clubs for the first time, this brought the number of teams competing up to 32 which meant that there was no random bye for any club into the second round so both Falkirk and Hamilton entered the first round. Falkirk eliminated three lower league clubs en route to the final whilst Hamilton eliminated only one; defeating three First Division teams before the final.

Both teams appeared in the final for the fourth time. Falkirk had won the tournament on their three previous final appearances in 1993, 1997 and 2004, whereas Hamilton Academical had won the tournament twice in successive years in 1991 and 1992 and came runner-up in 2005.

{{football box

|date = 1 April 2012

|time = 16:05 BST

|team1 = Falkirk

|score = 1–0

|report = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17558271 Report]

|team2 = Hamilton Academical

|goals1 = Dods {{goal|2}}

|stadium = Almondvale Stadium, Livingston

|referee = Brian Winter

|attendance = 5,210[http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/challenge-cup/results/3487499/ Falkirk 1 – 0 Hamilton Academical : Sunday, 1 April 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923172940/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/challenge-cup/results/3487499/ |date=23 September 2012 }}, Scottish Football League. Retrieved 4 April 2012.

|motm=

}}

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

{{Reflist}}

{{Scottish Challenge Cup seasons}}

{{2011–12 in Scottish football}}

{{Falkirk F.C. matches}}

{{Hamilton Academical F.C. matches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scottish Challenge Cup Final 2012}}

2012

3

Category:Falkirk F.C. matches

Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. matches

Final

Category:April 2012 sports events in the United Kingdom

Category:Football in West Lothian

Category:Livingston, West Lothian