1997 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event1997–98 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date2 November 1997
VenueFir Park, Motherwell
RefereeR. T. Tait (East Kilbride)[1]
Attendance9,735[1]

The 1997 Scottish Challenge Cup final was an association football match between Falkirk and Queen of the South on 2 November 1997 at Fir Park in Motherwell.[2] It was the eighth final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Football League.

The tournament was contested by clubs below the Scottish Premier Division; Falkirk from the First Division and Queen of the South from the Second Division. The match was Falkirk's first national cup final in only six months since contesting the final of the Scottish Cup the previous season in May. It was also the club's second appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final since winning in 1993.[1] The match was Queen of the South's first national cup final in its 78-year history. David Hagen scored the only goal, which was enough for Falkirk to win the match 1–0 and the tournament for the second time.[1]

Route to the final

Round Opposition Score
First round Dumbarton (a) 2–0
Second round Forfar Athletic (h) 3–1
Quarter-final Stranraer (h) 3–0
Semi-final Hamilton Academical (a) 2–1

Falkirk

Falkirk were drawn against Dumbarton away from home in the first round and produced a 2–0 victory over The Sons. The second round saw Forfar Athletic travel to Brockville Park and be beaten 3–1. Another home game for Falkirk was drawn in the quarter-finals against Stranraer which saw The Bairns triumph 3–0 winners to progress to the semi-finals. The opposition provided was Hamilton Academical which saw Falkirk win with a 2–1 victory and send the club to a Scottish Challenge Cup final for the second time in its history.

Queen of the South

Round Opposition Score
First round Inverness Caledonian Thistle (a) 2–0
Second round Stirling Albion (h) 2–0
Quarter-final Airdrieonians (a) 3–2
Semi-final Greenock Morton (a) 2–0

Queen of the South faced a long trip to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the first round which saw the team emerge 2–0 winners. The second round was a home game with the visitors in the form of Stirling Albion with The Doonhamers producing a second consecutive 2–0 victory. A trip to Airdrieonians was the reward for reaching the quarter-finals with Queen of the South edging the opposition out to win 3–2. Morton provided the opposition for the Dumfries club in the semi-finals with the team producing their third 2–0 victory of the tournament. Queen of the South reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the first time.

Pre-match

Analysis

Before the final, after four games played each, both Falkirk and Queen of the South had only conceded four goals between them. Queen of the South earned three clean sheets bettering Falkirk's two. At the other end Falkirk had scored ten goals to Queen of the South's nine.

Match summary

Queens performed creditably against the Falkirk side who at the time were playing in a higher division of the Scottish football set up, cheered on noisily by the QoS supporters witnessing their team in their first national cup final since the Scottish Qualifying Cup win of 1923/24.[3] The decisive moment of the game was when Falkirk's David Hagen scored in the sixty fifth minute. Queens' had a late opportunity to equalise when Tommy Bryce teed up Derek Townsley in a good shooting position just outside the Falkirk penalty area. Townsley's shot however failed to trouble Paul Mathers in the Falkirk goal as the ball went over the cross bar. Hagen's goal was enough to separate the sides with Bryce taking the man of the match award.[4]

Match statistics

Falkirk1–0Queen of the South
Hagen 65' Report
Attendance: 9,735
Referee: R Tait

Teams

FALKIRK:
GK1Scotland Paul Mathers
DF2Scotland Martyn Corrigan
DF3England Jamie McGowan
MF4Scotland Scott MacKenzie
DF5Scotland Kevin James
DF6Scotland Neil Berry
MF7Scotland Kevin McAllister
MF8Scotland Albert Craig
FW9Scotland Paul McGrillendownward-facing red arrow 74'
MF10England David Moss
FW11Scotland David Hagen
Substitutes:
DF12Scotland Neil Oliver
MF14Scotland Brian Hamilton
FW15Scotland Marino Keithupward-facing green arrow 74'
Manager:
Scotland Alex Totten
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH:
GK1Scotland David Mathieson
DF2Scotland David Kennedy
DF3Scotland Andy Aitken
DF4Scotland George Rowe
DF5Scotland Jim Thomson
MF6England Derek Townsley
MF7Scotland Marc Cleelanddownward-facing red arrow 74'
MF8Scotland Tommy Bryce
FW9Scotland Stevie Mallan
FW10Scotland Ken Eadiedownward-facing red arrow 48'
MF11Scotland Des McKeowndownward-facing red arrow 83'
Substitutes:
MF12Scotland Craig Irvingupward-facing green arrow 74'
DF14Scotland Jamie McAllisterupward-facing green arrow 83'
FW15Scotland Craig Flanniganupward-facing green arrow 48'
Manager:
Scotland Rowan Alexander

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bell's Cup, scottishfootballleague.com. Scottish Football League. 2 November 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  2. "Scottish League Challenge Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  3. "Club History" www.qosfc.com
  4. ""Tommy Bryce" on Queens Legends on www.qosfc.com". Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
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