1995 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

The 1995 Scottish Challenge Cup Final was an association football match between Stenhousemuir and Dundee United on 5 November 1995 at McDiarmid Park in Perth.[3] It was the sixth final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Football League.

1995 Scottish Challenge Cup Final

Event	1995–96 Scottish Challenge Cup
Stenhousemuir Dundee United 0 0
After extra time Stenhousemuir won 5–4 on penalties
Date	5 November 1995
Venue	McDiarmid Park, Perth
Man of the Match	Roddy McKenzie[1]
Referee	J. Rowbotham (Kirkcaldy)[2]
Attendance	7,856[2]

The match was Stenhousemuir's first national cup final in its 111-year history;[4] whilst it was Dundee United's first since winning the Scottish Cup only a year beforehand in 1994.[5] The tournament was contested by clubs below the Scottish Premier Division; Dundee United from the First Division and Stenhousemuir the first club to reach the final from the Second Division.[5]

After 90 minutes of normal time and 30 minutes of extra time the score was 0–0 so the winner was decided by a penalty shoot-out;[6] the first Scottish Challenge Cup final to be decided this way. In a best-of-five, Craig Brewster took the first penalty for Dundee United which was saved by Stenhousemuir goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie.[1][5] Both clubs scored each of their next penalties which meant Stenhousemuir won 5–4.[2][4] The result was notable in that Dundee United progressed through every round of tournament without conceding a single goal and still lost the final.

Route to the final

Stenhousemuir

Round	Opposition	Score
Second round	Montrose (h)	3–1
Quarter-final	Dundee (a)	3–0
Semi-final	Stirling Albion (a)	2–1

Along with Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir received a random bye into the second round. The draw in the second round saw Montrose travel to Ochilview Park with The Warriors winning 3–1. The reward for reaching the quarter-final was an away game against Dundee at Dens Park with Stenhousemuir producing a 3–0 victory and first clean sheet of the tournament to progress to the semi-finals. The opposition was an away game against Stirling Albion, who had ground shared with Stenhousemuir in 1992–93. The game was played at Albion's new Forthbank Stadium which saw Stenhousemuir win 2–1 to send the club into the Scottish Challenge Cup Final for the first time in its history.

Dundee United

Round	Opposition	Score
First round	Stranraer (a)	2–0
Second round	Hamilton Academical (h)	3–0
Quarter-final	Clydebank (a)	1–0
Semi-final	Dunfermline Athletic (a)	4–0

Dundee United faced a trip to Stranraer in the first round which saw the team emerge 2–0 winners. The second round was the first and only home game of the tournament for Dundee United with the visitors in the form of Hamilton Academical with United producing a 3–0 victory at Tannadice. A trip to Clydebank was the reward for reaching the quarter-finals with Dundee United edging the opposition out to win 1–0, in the process completing a third consecutive clean sheet. Dunfermline Athletic provided the opposition for Dundee United in the semi-finals with the team producing a 4–0 victory at East End Park and a fourth consecutive clean sheet of the tournament. Dundee United reached the Scottish Challenge Cup Final for the first time.

Pre-match

Analysis

Stenhousemuir had played only one game at their home of Ochilview Park and two away in the games preceding the final. Dundee United also played one home game but played three away from home. Despite receiving a bye into the second round, Stenhousemuir amassed a total of eight goals scored with only two conceded, whilst keeping one clean sheet. Dundee United scored a total of ten goals and conceded none before the final, thus amassing a total of four clean sheets. This was the first appearance for both Stenhousemuir and Dundee United in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final since its inauguration in 1990.

Match

Details

5 November 1995

GMT

Stenhousemuir	0–0 (a.e.t.)	Dundee United
	Report
Penalties
	5–4	Brewster

McDiarmid Park, Perth

Attendance: 7,856

Referee: John Rowbotham (Kirkcaldy)

Teams

Stenhousemuir: GK Roddy McKenzie MF Eamonn Bannon DF Lloyd Haddow DF Graeme Armstrong DF George McGeachie DF Adrian Sprott MF Paul Hunter MF Jimmy Fisher  118' FW Miller Mathieson MF Gareth Hutchison FW Ian Little Substitutes: DF Neil Aitken FW Tommy Steel  118' MF Paul Logan Manager: Terry Christie

Dundee United: GK Ally Maxwell DF Rab Shannon DF Maurice Malpas DF Steven Pressley DF Christian Dailly MF Ray McKinnon MF Andy McLaren  60' MF Grant Johnson FW Gary McSwegan FW Owen Coyle  73' FW Robbie Winters Substitutes: FW Craig Brewster  73' GK Kelham O'Hanlon DF Jamie McQuilken  60' Manager: Billy Kirkwood

MATCH RULES 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra time if necessary Penalty shootout if scores still level Five named substitutes Maximum of 3 substitutions

Post-match

Dundee United failed to concede a single goal throughout the entire tournament but still lost the final in the form of a penalty shootout against Stenhousemuir. This was Stenhousemuir's first national silverware since 1902.

References

1. McCarra, Kevin. "Shootout victory for Stenhousemuir after 111 years", The Times, 6 November 1995. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
2. Bell's Cup, scottishfootballleague.com. Scottish Football League. 2 November 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
3. "Scottish League Challenge Cup Finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
4. Keevins, Hugh. "Warriors conquer United", The Scotsman, 6 November 1995. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
5. Stenhousemuir 1995-96, wsc.co.uk. When Saturday Comes. March 2005. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
6. Glenn, Patrick. "SOCCER: SPIRITED CELTIC BREAK TREND; Scottish round-up", The Guardian (London), 6 November 1995. Retrieved 22 April 2013.