9 September: Connah’s Quay through, TNS miss out on pens

Welsh Premier pace-setters Connah’s Quay produced one of the results of the second round of the Irn-Bru Scottish Challenge Cup as Michael Wilde’s header seconds into the second half earned them a 1-0 win away at Scottish Championship side Falkirk.

But Welsh Premier champions TNS missed out on penalties after a thrilling finale to their tie with Queen’s Park at Park Hall saw the game finish 2-2, with the Scottish League Two side winning the shoot-out 4-2.

The Saints went ahead after 30 minutes when Jon Routledge’s shot hit the post and bounced back into the net off Queen’s Park’s unfortunate keeper. But with TNS down to 10 men after Routledge’s second yellow card on 81 minutes the Spiders scored twice in the closing minutes to go 2-1 up before Joash Nembhard’s powerful strike deep into stoppage time took the tie into a shoot-out.

But missed spot-kicks from Jamie Mullan and Ryan Brobbel saw Queen’s Park win the shoot-out 4-2, with Dean Ebbe and Chris Marriott converting for the Saints.

16 August: Irn-Bru Cup Second Round Draw

The draw for the second round of the Irn-Bru Scottish Challenge Cup sees The New Saints welcome Scottish League Two side Queen’s Park to Park Hall, while Connah’s Quay Nomads travel to face Scottish Championship outfit Falkirk.

The tournament, for teams outside the Scottish Premier League, includes under-20 sides from each Scottish Premiership club and four teams from the Highland League and Lowland League.

For the 2018–19 edition 58 teams entered the competition: 30 from the SPFL, 12 under-20 Scottish Premiership clubs, four each from the Highland League and Lowland League, plus two guest teams from the NIFL, Welsh Premier, English National League and League of Ireland Premier Division.

Full Second Round Draw:
The New Saints v Queen’s Park
Falkirk v Connah’s Quay Nomads
Boreham Wood v Dunfermline Athletic
Airdrieonians v Sutton United
Coleraine v Formartine United
Queen of the South v Crusaders
Sligo Rovers v Livingston Colts or Forfar Athletic
Peterhead v Bohemians
East Fife v Partick Thistle
Arbroath v Annan Athletic
Dumbarton v Montrose
Dundee United v Alloa Athletic
Dundee Colts v Motherwell Colts
East Kilbride v Edinburgh City
St Mirren Colts v Hamilton Academical Colts
Ross County v Raith Rovers