Airdrie claim Alba Challenge Cup in penalty shoot-out

AIRDRIE United defender Marc Smyth held his nerve in a tense penalty shoot-out to capture the Alba Challenge Cup at McDiarmid Park yesterday.

Two years after winning silverware on the same turf, having edged a penalty decider against Clyde, County endured the pain of defeat in a final which ebbed and flowed over the course of 90 minutes and extra-time.

Sean Higgins and Ritchie Hart netted their spot-kicks but David Winters, Scott Morrison and ultimately Martin Scott failed, with Diamonds keeper Stephen Robertson pulling off vital saves.

While Simon Lynch and Matthew Hazely missed for United, Scott McLaughlin, Kevin McDonald and finally Smyth maintained their composure to trigger jubilation among fans of a club which, in a previous guise, had claimed the trophy on three occasions.

County seemed en route to victory after a David Nixon own goal but Airdrie snatched a late lifeline through Stephen McKenna. In extra-time, a Sean Higgins strike cancelled out an Andy Dowie own goal.

Delighted Airdrie manager Kenny Black said: "I thought we deserved it over the piece. I won the trophy when it was the old B&Q Cup at this stadium against Dundee and I feel proud to it win as a manager. I told keeper Stephen Robertson he'd need to save three and I was spot-on."

County immediately seized the initiative, with Michael Gardyne's pace and trickery posing problems for the Airdrie defence.

The former Parkhead youngster quickly made ground and Airdrie relied on skipper Paul Lovering's intervention at the expense of a corner to frustrate the fleet-footed attacker.

Richard Brittain's delivery picked out Dowie and only a brilliant reflex save from Robertson and the aid of an upright denied County a perfect start.

At the other end, Tony Bullock was forced into a fine stop to frustrate Stephen McKenna when the midfielder sought out a probing Joe Cardle free-kick on nine minutes.

No quarter was being asked or given and referee Callum Murray had to have words with occupants of the County technical area even before a yellow card was flourished as Smyth belatedly caught one-time Partick colleague Adam Strachan on the half-way line.

Ironically, when the Highlanders eventually made the breakthrough, their goal had an element of good fortune about it. Brittain's searching cross was headed on by Higgins on the hour mark but Robertson would have remained untroubled had the ball not struck backtracking defender Nixon and trundled agonisingly beyond the bemused Airdrie keeper to squeeze inside the upright.

Airdrie manager Black opted to replace troubled Nixon ten minutes after his traumatic intervention. The Lanarkshire side were hemmed in but stunned County with an 81st-minute equaliser, fashioned by a weaving Paul di Giacomo run into the danger area. The cutback was inch perfect and supporting midfielder McKenna thrashed a stunning right-foot shot into the top corner from 18 yards.

Before the final advanced to extra-time, Airdrie survived a dramatic 90th-minute penalty claim when Smyth clearly handled in the area.

The final swung Airdrie's way in the 103rd minute when Dowie was caught out desperately trying to cover Joe Cardle at the near post and turned Matthew Hazley's cross into his own net.

But in the 113th minute, spirited County responded in style when striker Higgins headed home a disputed corner.

Despondent County manager Derek Adams said: "It's hard to take and it was a lottery in the end. Take nothing away from Airdrie but we should have had a late penalty in 90 minutes. We won the trophy two years ago so maybe it was someone else's turn."

Airdrie Utd: Robertson, Smyth, Lovering (Hazley 47), McDonald, Donnelly, Nixon (Smith 70), McDougall (Lynch 67), McKenna, di Giacomo, McLaughlin and Cardle. Subs not used: Noble, Hollis.

Ross County: Bullock, McCulloch, Keddie, Dowie, Boyd, Gardyne (Winters 105), Hart, Brittain (Scott 105), Daal, Higgins and Strachan (Morrison 114). Subs not used: Watt, Malin.