2024 Scottish Challenge Cup final

{{Infobox football match

| title = 2024 Scottish Challenge Cup final

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| event = 2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup

| team1 = The New Saints

| team1association = {{flagicon|WAL|size=30px}}

| team1score = 1

| team2 = Airdrieonians

| team2association = {{flagicon|SCO|size=30px}}

| team2score = 2

| details =

| date = 24 March 2024

| stadium = Falkirk Stadium

| city = Falkirk

| man_of_the_match1a =

| man_of_the_match1atitle =

| man_of_the_match1b =

| man_of_the_match1btitle =

| referee =

| referee1 = Matthew MacDermid

| attendance =

| attendance1 = 3,191

| weather =

| previous = 2023

| next = 2025

}}

The 2024 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the SPFL Trust Trophy final for sponsorship reasons,{{cite web |url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2020/10/challenge-cup-to-be-rebranded-spfl-trust-trophy-from-season-2021-22/ |title=Challenge Cup to be rebranded SPFL Trust Trophy from season 2021/22 |publisher=The Edinburgh Reporter |date=15 October 2020 |accessdate=21 March 2024}} was a football match on 24 March 2024 between the Cymru Premier club The New Saints and the Scottish Championship side Airdrieonians.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/spfl-trust-trophy-final-202324 |title=SPFL TRUST TROPHY FINAL 2023/24 |publisher=SPFL |date=26 March 2022 |access-date=21 March 2024}} It was the 31st final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the now defunct Scottish Football League, and the ninth since the SPFL was formed. It was played at Falkirk Stadium.{{Cite web |url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/spfl-trust-trophy-al-hilal-060000704.html |title=SPFL Trust Trophy & Al-Hilal world record: Harrison keen to write more TNS history |first=David |last=Irvine |publisher=Yahoo Sports |date=2024-03-22 |accessdate=2024-03-22}} It would subsequently be the last Scottish Challenge Cup final to feature a non-Scottish team due to them no longer being invited the following season.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c044zzemkyvo | title=Prize money boost for SPFL Trust trophy as cross-border teams drop out | date=27 May 2024 }}

Route to the final

File:TheFalkirkStadium.jpg (pictured in 2018)]]

=The New Saints=

The New Saints (TNS), as an invited team representing the Cymru Premier, started in the Third Round where they were drawn away at Hibernian B where they won 3–0 at Meadowbank Stadium.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66758002 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=21 March 2024 | title=Hibernian B 0-3 the New Saints | work=BBC Sport }} In the next round they played East Fife at home. At their Park Hall, TNS progressed after winning 5–4 on penalties after a 2–2 draw.{{cite web |publisher=BBC Sport | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cqv94yy7x2pt | title=The New Saints v East Fife |accessdate=21 March 2024}} In the quarter-finals, they overcame Arbroath 4–1 at Park Hall.{{cite web |accessdate=21 March 2024 |work=The Courier | url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/4817043/arbroath-stand-in-skipper-colin-hamilton-on-tns-capitulation/ | title=Arbroath let down 'gaffer, coaching staff, fans and board of directors' with TNS capitulation, admits stand-in skipper | date=20 November 2023 }} In the semi-finals, they played Falkirk away at Falkirk Stadium. TNS won 1–0 becoming the second Welsh team to reach the final after Connah's Quay Nomads in 2019.{{cite news |accessdate=21 March 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68131593 | title=TNS beat Falkirk to set up final with Airdrieonians | work=BBC Sport }}{{ref|TNS|A}} TNS also entered this match looking to match the world record for consecutive wins in all competitions.

class="wikitable"
width=100\|Round ! width=160\|Opposition ! width=80\|Score
Third round \| Hibernian B (a) \| align=center\|3–0
Fourth round \| East Fife (h) \| align=center\|2–2 {{aet}} 5–4 {{pen}}
Quarter-final \| Arbroath (h) \| align=center\|4–1
Semi-final \| Falkirk (a) \| align=center\|1–0

class="wikitable"

width=100|Round

! width=160|Opposition

! width=80|Score

Third round

| Hibernian B (a)

| align=center|3–0

Fourth round

| East Fife (h)

| align=center|2–2 {{aet}}
5–4 {{pen}}

Quarter-final

| Arbroath (h)

| align=center|4–1

Semi-final

| Falkirk (a)

| align=center|1–0

=Airdrieonians=

Airdrieonians also started in the Third Round away at the University of Stirling and won 3–2 at Forthbank Stadium.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/685827/airdrieonians-stirling-university | title=Airdrieonians 3-2 Stirling University (9 Sep, 2023) Final Score - |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=21 March 2024 }} In the next round they played away against Rangers B and progressed after a 4–2 win at Cappielow.{{cite news |accessdate=21 March 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67346763 | title=Rangers B v Airdrieonians | work=BBC Sport }} They then faced Greenock Morton at Cappielow and won 6–5 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67455177 | title=Greenock Morton v Airdrieonians | work=BBC Sport |accessdate=21 March 2024 }} In the semi-finals they played away at Raith Rovers and progressed to the final after a 1–0 win at Stark's Park.{{cite web | url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/02/scotland/challenge-cup/raith-rovers-fc/airdrie-united-fc/4263411/ | title=Raith Rovers vs. Airdrieonians - 2 February 2024 - |work=Soccerway |accessdate=21 March 2024}}

class="wikitable"
width=100\|Round ! width=160\|Opposition ! width=80\|Score
Third round \| University of Stirling (a) \| align=center\|3–2
Fourth round \| Rangers B (a) \| align=center\|4–2
Quarter-final \| Greenock Morton (a) \| align=center\|0–0 {{aet}} 6–5 {{pen}}
Semi-final \| Raith Rovers (a) \| align=center\|1–0

class="wikitable"

width=100|Round

! width=160|Opposition

! width=80|Score

Third round

| University of Stirling (a)

| align=center|3–2

Fourth round

| Rangers B (a)

| align=center|4–2

Quarter-final

| Greenock Morton (a)

| align=center|0–0 {{aet}}
6–5 {{pen}}

Semi-final

| Raith Rovers (a)

| align=center|1–0

Match details

{{football box

|date=24 March 2024

|time=16:15 GMT

|round=Final

|score=1–2

|report=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68544471

|team1=The New Saints {{flagicon|WAL}}

|team2=Airdrieonians

|stadium=Falkirk Stadium

|location=Falkirk

|goals1=

Clark {{goal|12}}

|goals2=

McStravick {{goal|22}}
Todorov {{goal|67|pen.}}

|attendance=3,191

|referee=Matthew MacDermid

}}

style="width:92%;"

{{Football kit

| pattern_la = _macronrhodiumeco23n

| pattern_b = _macronrhodiumeco23n

| pattern_ra = _macronrhodiumeco23n

| pattern_sh =

| pattern_so =

| leftarm = 000066

| body = 000066

| rightarm = 000066

| shorts = 000066

| socks = 000066

| title = The New Saints

}}

|{{Football kit

| pattern_la = _airdrie2324h

| pattern_b = _airdrie2324h

| pattern_ra = _airdrie2324h

| pattern_sh = _airdrie2223h

| pattern_so =

| leftarm = FFFFFF

| body = FFFFFF

| rightarm = FFFFFF

| shorts = FF0000

| socks = FF0000

| title = Airdrieonians

}}

width=25\|	width=25\|
style="width:100%"
style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"\| {\| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size:90%"
GK	25	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Connor Roberts
RB	7	{{flagicon\|IRL}} Josh Daniels
CB	22	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Danny Davies
CB	2	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Josh Pask
LB	3	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Chris Marriott
CM	19	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Ben Clark {{suboff\|74}}
CM	21	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Leo Smith {{suboff\|90}}
CM	10	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Daniel Redmond {{suboff\|74}}
RW	18	{{flagicon\|NIR}} Rory Holden {{suboff\|79}}
FW	23	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Brad Young
RW	17	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Jordan Williams {{suboff\|78}}
colspan=4\|Substitutes:
GK	1	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Reece Thompson
DF	12	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Blaine Hudson
DF	26	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Jordan Marshall {{subon\|79}}
MF	8	{{flagicon\|NIR}} Ryan Brobbel {{subon\|90}}
MF	14	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Dan Williams {{subon\|74}}
MF	15	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Jared Harlock
FW	9	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Declan McManus {{subon\|74}}
FW	11	{{flagicon\|POL}} Adrian Cieślewicz {{subon\|78}}
FW	39	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Tom Jones
colspan=4\|Manager:
colspan="4"\|{{flagicon\|England}} Craig Harrison

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|

width=25\|	width=25\|
cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size:90%; margin:auto"
GK	40	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Robbie Hemfrey
RB	2	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Cammy Ballantyne
CB	16	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Craig Watson
CB	6	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Callum Fordyce
LB	5	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Mason Hancock
CDM	4	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Rhys McCabe {{suboff\|45}}
RM	28	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Gavin Gallagher {{yel}} {{suboff\|54}}
CM	10	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Adam Frizzell
LM	21	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Charlie Telfer
AM	12	{{flagicon\|NIR}} Liam McStravick {{yel}} {{suboff\|61}}
FW	11	{{flagicon\|BUL}} Nikolay Todorov {{suboff\|90+3}}
colspan=4\|Substitutes:
GK	43	{{flagicon\|SCO}} David Hutton
DF	3	{{flagicon\|ATG}} Aaron Taylor-Sinclair
MF	8	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Lewis McGregor
MF	14	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Dean McMaster {{subon\|45}}
MF	19	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Elliot Dunlop
MF	26	{{flagicon\|AUS}} Chris Donnell {{subon\|61}}
FW	7	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Josh O'Connor {{subon\|54}}
FW	9	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Calum Gallagher {{subon\|90+3}}
FW	23	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Gabby McGill
colspan=4\|Manager:
colspan="4"\|{{flagicon\|Scotland}} Rhys McCabe

| style="width:50%; vertical-align:top; font-size: 90%;" |

Man of the match: Nikolay Todorov (Airdrieonians)

| style="width:50%; vertical-align:top; font-size: 90%;"|

Match rules

90 minutes.
30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.

Notes

{{note|TNS|A}} TNS are based in Oswestry, England but play in the Welsh Cymru Premier

References

Category:Scottish Challenge Cup finals

Scottish Challenge Cup Final 2024

Final

Scottish Challenge Cup Final

Category:Football in Falkirk (council area)

Category:Sport in Falkirk