2011 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event2010–11 Scottish Challenge Cup
Queen of the South Ross County
0 2
Date10 April 2011
VenueMcDiarmid Park, Perth
RefereeEuan Norris
Attendance5,124

The 2011 Scottish Challenge Cup final was played between Queen of the South and Ross County at McDiarmid Park, Perth. Ross County won 2–0. The game had been postponed from November to April due to inclement weather.[1]

Queen of the South beat Peterhead 2–1 in their semi-final[2] and Ross County beat Partick Thistle 4–3 on penalties after their semi-final ended at 2–2.[3]

Appearances in previous finals

Queen of the South have appeared in the final twice before, winning the 2002 final 2–0 against Brechin City, but losing the 1997 final 1–0 to Falkirk. Ross County have appeared in three Challenge Cup finals to date, defeating Clyde on penalties in the 2006 final[4] but losing the 2004 final to Falkirk,[5] and the 2008 final to Airdrie United on penalties.[6]

Both teams have recently appeared in the Scottish Cup final. Queens were beaten 3–2 in 2008 Scottish Cup final by Rangers. County were beaten 3–0 by Dundee United two years later in the 2010 Scottish Cup final.

Postponement

The game was originally scheduled to be played on 28 November 2010. However the game was postponed at noon the day before the game after consultation with police voicing concerns over weather conditions particularly on the A9.[7] Due to the Scottish football referee strike, the original fixture was scheduled to be officiated by foreign officials. The revised final date was 10 April 2011.[8]

TV coverage

The match was televised live on BBC Alba.

Match summary

The game was played in unseasonally warm conditions with bright sunshine and a good natured atmosphere generated by both sets of fans. An early goal gave County a dream start but it was a nightmare for Queens and in particular goalkeeper David Hutton. Asked to deal with a routine passback by Queens captain David Lilley, a combination or poor decision making and poor ball control on Hutton's part allowed Andrew Barrowman to exert pressure and dispossess him. Barrowman easily rolled the ball into the empty net from one yard in the eighth minute to make the score 1–0 against his former club.[9]

Queens only exerted pressure in the five-minute period leading up to County's second goal when they forced goalmouth scrambles. However, a swift County counterattack led to a ball from the right wing, with Iain Vigurs scoring from close range in 39 minutes to make it 2–0.[9]

County were deserved winners without having to exert themselves against a Queens side who were easily second best in all departments and short of ideas other than aiming long balls at Derek Holmes.[9]

Match Details

Queen of the South0 – 2Ross County
Report Barrowman 9'
Vigurs 39'
Attendance: 5,124
Referee: Euan Norris
Queen of the South
Ross County
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH:
GK1Scotland David Hutton
CB2Scotland Craig Reid
LM3Scotland Bob Harris
CB4Scotland Ryan McGuffie
CB5Scotland David LilleyYellow card
CM6Scotland Stephen McKennaYellow card
RM7Scotland Daniel Carmichaeldownward-facing red arrow 72'
CM8Scotland Paul Burns
CF9Scotland Derek Holmes
CM10Scotland Allan Johnston
CF11Scotland Willie McLaren
Substitutes:
GK12Scotland Roddy McKenzie
MF14Scotland Ian McShane
DF15Scotland Steven Black
FW16Scotland Steven Degnanupward-facing green arrow 72'
FW17Scotland Ryan Smylie
Manager:
Scotland Kenny Brannigan
ROSS COUNTY:
GK1Northern Ireland Michael McGovern
RB2Scotland Gary Miller
LB3Scotland Marc Fitzpatrick
LM4Scotland Paul LawsonYellow carddownward-facing red arrow 90'
CB5Scotland Scott Boyd
CB6Northern Ireland Johnny Flynn
RM7Scotland Michael Gardynedownward-facing red arrow 87'
CM8Scotland Stuart Kettlewell
CF9Scotland Andrew BarrowmanYellow carddownward-facing red arrow 90'
CM10Scotland Richard Brittain (c)
CF11Scotland Iain Vigurs
Substitutes:
FW12Scotland Steven Milneupward-facing green arrow 87'
FW14Scotland Gary Woodupward-facing green arrow 90'
FW15Scotland Steven Craig
DF16Scotland Scott Morrisonupward-facing green arrow 90'
GK18Scotland Joe Malin
Manager:
Scotland Jimmy Calderwood

Road to the final

Queen of the South

Home teamScoreAway team
Round 1Queen of the South2 – 1Albion Rovers
Round 2Dunfermline Athletic1 – 1
5 – 6 (pens)		Queen of the South
Quarter-finalQueen of the South5 – 0East Fife
Semi-finalPeterhead1 – 2Queen of the South

Ross County

Home teamScoreAway team
Round 1Elgin City1 – 2Ross County
Round 2Ross County3 – 1Greenock Morton
Quarter-finalForfar Athletic0 – 2Ross County
Semi-finalRoss County2 – 2
4 – 3 (pens)		Partick Thistle

References

  1. ↑ "Alba Challenge Cup Final: Queen of the South 0 Ross County 2". Daily Record. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  2. ↑ "Peterhead 1-2 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "Ross County 2-2 Partick Thistle (4-3 pen)". BBC Sport. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Ross County 1-1 Clyde (aet)". BBC Sport. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  5. ↑ "Falkirk 2-1 Ross County". BBC Sport. 7 November 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Airdrie Utd 2-2 Ross County". BBC Sport. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "Alba Cup Final is OFF" www.qosfc.com 27 Nov 2010
  8. ↑ "Challenge Cup final rescheduled for 10 April" BBC Sport 17 February 2011
  9. 1 2 3 "Queen of the South 0 - 2 Ross County" www.qosfc.com 11 April 2011 Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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