Goals, Drama and Statement Results: The first season of the revamped KDM Evolution Trophy
By Emily Copeland
The 2025/26 re-vamped KDM Evolution Trophy, introduced a new league style format for this season. With new sponsorship secured from The KDM Group, the tournament adopted a seeded and unseeded league structure with teams firstly playing six games, before the top 22 out of 30 go through to the round of 32, with the Championship clubs joining in that stage.
Teams from League One and Two, as well as the addition of 10 Premiership ‘B’ teams, all battled it out for a place in the next round. The addition of the ‘B’ teams was to allow for the continued development of youth players against in a more physical and experienced first-team environment. This, however, seemed to produce mixed results, the learning curved proved to be steep for the young players, with all but two ‘B’ teams finishing in the bottom eight. This will continue to highlight the ongoing debate of whether ‘B’ teams are effective in senior competitions as well as the league.
The round of 32, brought some thrilling ties. High-flying League One leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle, dispatched Dumbarton with a ruthless nine-nil demolition scoreline, with Aberdeen loanee Alfie Bavidge securing a hattrick. After finishing top of the competition league, this set the tone for the rest of their competition journey.
Keith Bray (L) and Mouhamed Niang (R) in Dumbarton vs Falkirk (Getty Images)
League One Queen of the South welcomed Championship Dunfermline to Palmerston Park, a tie that was not for the weak. Queens led 2-1 at the break, before goals from Freddie O’Donoghue and Brennan Dickenson extended the home side’s advantage to 4-1.
Dunfermline found themselves back in the game thanks to a double from Barney Stewart, before thinking they had mounted the perfect comeback, but thankfully for the home side the offside flag was up, and it was Queen of the South who proceeded into the last 16.
No results of surprise and no cup-upsets as such in the round of 16, although many ties proved a tight contest. Raith Rovers continued their journey in the competition with a narrow victory over Queen of the South, Inverness took Partick Thistle to penalties, emerging victorious 4-2. Despite equalising Stranraer were beaten 4-1 by Ayr United, with all other sides winning comfortably against their opposition.
Ayr United manager Scott Brown (Getty Images)
In the quarter finals, three out of the four ties went to penalties, with Inverness the only side winning outright on the day, edging out league opposition Stenhousemuir. Raith Rovers who opened the scoring in Glasgow against Queens Park, relied on goalkeeper Josh Rae, saving two penalties to head to the semi-finals.
St Johnstone completed their comeback against Ayr United with two goals in the dying minutes of the match, to take the game to penalties, but it was Ayr who went through to the quarter finals after penalty kicks. Arbroath also advanced from their tie with Airdrieonians after another penalty shoot-out.
In the first semi-final of the week, Inverness Caledonian Thistle seen off Championship opponents Ayr United thanks to a double from Jordan Alonge. Liam Sole was lucky to stay on the park, after a headbutting incident, with Scott Brown’s Ayr side battling for an equaliser, but that never came and it was the current League One leaders who emerged victorious.
In dramatic fashion, Raith Rovers claimed victory on penalties thanks to goalkeeper Josh Rae’s heroic save once again, to set up a re-run of the final with Inverness Caledonian Thistle (, a final which should have been played in 2020, but was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The final of the KDM Evolution Trophy takes place at a neutral venue, which is still to be announced. The game will be played on the weekend of the 28th/29th March or the 4th/5th April, but with Scotland hosting Japan at Hampden on the 28th of March, the Scottish Professional Football League face a big decision on when they will play the game.
The revamped competition format has undoubtedly delivered goals, drama, and statement scorelines as well as providing opportunities and experience to younger players – but should this format continue? This is something which will remain a talking point, particularly regarding the ‘B’ team’s inclusion.