2023 Scottish Challenge Cup final

The 2023 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the SPFL Trust Trophy final for sponsorship reasons,[1] was a football match that took place on 26 March 2023 between Raith Rovers and Hamilton Academical.[2] It was the 30th 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 eighth since the SPFL was formed. It also marked the return of non-Scottish teams to the competition for the first time since the 2019–20 edition.[3]

2023 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event2022–23 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date26 March 2023
VenueFalkirk Stadium, Falkirk
RefereeColin Steven
Attendance5,566
2022
2024

Route to the final

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The final took place at the Falkirk Stadium (pictured in 2018)

The competition is a knock-out tournament and was contested by 49 teams from Scotland in 2022–23, as well as 2 teams each from Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.[3]

Raith Rovers

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As a 2021–22 Scottish Championship club, Raith Rovers were given a bye to the third round. The 2023 final was Raith's fourth Challenge Cup final and third consecutive final, having split the 2020 edition with Inverness Caledonian Thistle after the final was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[4] and were reigning champions after winning the 2022 edition against Queen of the South.[5] They also won the 2014 final against Rangers, making them undefeated in all four finals they had been involved in prior.[6]

Round Opposition Score
Third round Cove Rangers (a) 1–0
Fourth round Greenock Morton (h) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
4–2 (p)
Quarter-final Queen's Park (a) 1–0
Semi-final Dundee (a) 2–2 (a.e.t.)
4–3 (p)

Hamilton Academical

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As a 2021–22 Scottish Championship club, Hamilton Academical were given a bye to the third round. This was Hamilton's first Challenge Cup final since the 2012 edition.[7] The 2023 final was Hamilton's fifth Challenge Cup final, having won the cup in 1991 and 1992, and finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2012.[8][9]

Round Opposition Score
Third round Rangers B (a) 3–0
Fourth round Inverness Caledonian Thistle (h) 2–0
Quarter-final Clyde (h) 3–2
Semi-final Queen of the South (h) 2–1 (a.e.t.)

Match details

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Raith Rovers0–1Hamilton Academical
Report
Attendance: 5,566
Referee: Colin Steven
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Raith Rovers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hamilton Academical
GK 1   Jamie MacDonald
RB 4   Ross Millen
CB 5   Ryan Nolan   84'
CB 12   Tom Lang  
LB 3   Liam Dick
RM 16   Sam Stanton
CM 6   Brad Spencer   76'
CM 20   Scott Brown
LM 23   Dylan Easton
CAM 10   Lewis Vaughan  
FW 77   Esmaël Gonçalves   55'
Substitutes:
GK 13   Andrew McNeil
GK 17   Robbie Thomson
DF 15   Kieran Ngwenya
DF 30   Adam Masson
MF 7   Aidan Connolly   55'
MF 22   Ethan Ross   76'
FW 11   Connor McBride   84'
Manager:
  Ian Murray
GK 1   Ryan Fulton
CB 4   Daniel O'Reilly   55'
CB 15   Dylan McGowan
CB 3   Matthew Shiels   45'
RWB 22   Reghan Tumilty
CM 14   Marley Redfern   21'
CM 18   Reegan Mimnaugh
CM 8   Scott Martin
LWB 11   Lewis Smith   57'
CAM 23   Lucas De Bolle
FW 9   Benny Ashley-Seal   10'
Substitutes:
GK 31   Jamie Smith
DF 5   Brian Easton   57'
DF 12   Tom Sparrow   21'
DF 25   Fergus Owens
DF 37   Chris McGinn
FW 10   Dario Zanatta   45'
FW 16   Dylan Stephenson
FW 17   Jean-Pierre Tiéhi   10'
FW 19   Andy Winter
Manager:
  John Rankin

Match rules

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

References

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  1. ^ "Challenge Cup to be rebranded SPFL Trust Trophy from season 2021/22". The Edinburgh Reporter. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Raith Rovers 0–1 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Cross-border clubs make return to SPFL Trust Trophy with Courier columnist picked to do first-round draw". www.thecourier.co.uk. The Courier. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. ^ Coyle, Andy (30 April 2021). "Inverness and Raith named as joint winners of 2020 Challenge Cup". STV News. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Raith beat Queens to claim SPFL Trust Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Raith Rovers 1-0 Rangers (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Falkirk 1-0 Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. ^ Academy (25 March 2023). "Our last two winning squads..." Hamilton Academical Website. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. ^ "St Mirren 2-1 Hamilton Accies". 6 November 2005. Retrieved 27 March 2023.