SFA Powerchair Scottish Cup

The SFA Powerchair Scottish Cup tournament was held on Sunday 22nd May at the Dundee International Sports Complex.

The six participating teams were split into three groups. The winners of each group qualified for the semi-finals. The second placed team played the third placed team from the other group to determine the other semi-finalists.

Both Clyde teams, Alba and Caledonia (pictured), were placed in the same group and faced each other in their opening fixture. This was as tight a match as you could have expected. Caledonia took the lead in the first half but early in the second half Alba equalised. However, heavy pressure from Caledonia eventually paid off and they ran out 2-1 winners.

Alba’s next match was against South Ayrshire Tigers and they comfortably won this 3-0. This meant that if Caledonia won their match against South Ayrshire Tigers then they would qualify for the semi-final but also that Alba would finish second in the group and have the more favourable semi-final play-off fixture. Caledonia duly won the match 2-0.

There then followed Alba’s semi-final play-off against Queens Park Spiders. They won this 6-0, ensuring that Clyde had 2 teams in the semi-finals.

The first semi-final featured Tayside Dynamos, the reigning league champions, against Clyde Alba. There was very little in this match but in the second half, Dynamos manged to force the ball home following a goalmouth tussle and the match finished 1-0 to Dynamos

Caledonia’s semi-final was against Queens Park Strollers. There had been little between those two in the league but Caledonia took control here and ran out comfortable 2-0 winners, setting up a final against Tayside Dynamos.

There was a great atmosphere at the final. Dynamos, being on home territory had a very vocal support. Clyde, however, had brought their own cheer leaders and they made as much noise as the Dynamo fans. In the final, Dynamos decided to play defensively, rarely venturing into Caledonia’s half. Constant Caledonia pressure hadn’t brought any reward when the pivotal moment of the match occurred. In a manner very similar to Dynamo’s goal against Clyde Alba in the semi-final, Caledonia did force the ball home following a goalmouth tussle. However, in this case the referee decided there had been an infringement and disallowed the goal. The match did end 0-0 and the dreaded penalty shoot-out took place.

Scoring penalties is not easy in powerchair football and only one of the regulation three penalties per team was scored. Sadly it was Dynamos who scored it and they added the Scottish Cup to the League Championship and the League Cup.

Whilst it was a disappointing day, it hasn’t been a bad season. Caledonia finished second in the League and were losing finalists in the Cup. Alba finished mid-table in the League and narrowly lost in the cup semi-finals. We look forward to next season.