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Cove Rangers -V- Inverness CT - League1 - Preview

Stinky Fish & hard stone Saturday in the Pink

It's off to the bygone land of granite quarries and stinky fish meal factories this weekend as the Caley Jags head for Balmoral Park to tackle Cove Rangers on Matchday Six with League1 business high on the agenda. This will be Cove's 200th League game since gaining promotion to the SPFL. Inverness have made a solid start to the campaign and got themselves into positive figures within two weeks and now sit within the mid table group. On the other hand, Cove have made an inauspicious start with just two points from five games and sit at the bottom. Mind you, with David Eguaibor and his Bro on board adding to the experience of the evergreen Mitch Megginson, they will always pose a threat. However, we have our own threat in the form of Liam Sole. The fleet footed twinkle toed forward is exciting the fans and we can expect the unexpected from the in form player. Don't forget it's a 17:30 kick-off and if you can't make the game, it's live on BBC Alba.
There's a lot to get through in this preview so click on the link to take you to the full preview on Caley Thistle Online
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Match/Ticket/Bus/Info
Caley Jags in the Pink
📺 Game on BBC Alba 5:30pm 📺
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Curses Caution
Scotty is the top dog>>>


Congratulations to our Head Coach Scott Kellacher who has been named the Glen’s Vodka William Hill League 1 Manager of the Month for August 2025
In August, Caley Thistle secured league wins against Kelty Hearts, Peterhead, Montrose and Alloa Athletic while also getting wins in the KDM Evolution Trophy against Elgin City and Aberdeen B.
Kellacher said: “It’s always nice to get an award but this isn’t just for me, it’s for everyone at the club. I’ve got a great staff, really good players and everyone has pulled their weight. Everyone works ever so hard, and this award recognises all our efforts.”  
And the laundry award for clean sheets goes to>>>

Goalkeeper Ross Munro has been named the SPFL William Hill League 1 Player of the Month for August 2025. Munro, 25 years-old, kept clean sheets in our league wins against Kelty Hearts, Peterhead, Montrose and Alloa Athletic.
Upon receiving the award, Ross Munro said: “It’s nice to get recognised, but this is a collective award. I wouldn’t have got this award without all in the boys in the squad, the management and the staff.”

This is our Big Boys Squad for League1 business and the team we had out against the Wasps two weeks ago. The Wasps came North on Ladies day but it was the Caley Jags that took the three points with a deflected Liam Sole strike just enough to swat away the Wasps. We were somewhat wasteful throughout the game and by the end of the match had to rely on keeper Ross Munro to keep our noses just in front.
Last weekend we were just as wasteful in the KDM Trophy and had Liam Sole to thank for saving our blushes with a 94th minute corner kick that ended up in the net after Binos keeper Robert Duffy had denied us with a series of wonderful saves during the ninety minutes. Ross Cuningham opened the scoring for the visitors with a stunning strike before Chanka Zimba levelled before the interval. We made heavy weather of seeing off the Binos and the sending off of Stewart Murdoch led to the cavalry charges that eventually paid off with the Sole goal deep into time added on.
Ross Millen remained on the bench against Stirling Albion, so that might mean he is a real thing and he could be included this week again. Paul Allan missed out last week but is back in contention and Adam MacKinnon has been getting more game time recently as he gets up to speed.
Scott Kellacher has plenty of attacking options available to him despite losing Robbie Thompson and Ben Gardiner who have both been loaned out to Brora Rangers until January. Robbie has bagged three goals in the two games he has played for the Cattachs so far with Ben also scoring in the last one in midweek.
Caley Jags will be in the Pink on Saturday and that should brighten up the TV screens>>> LINK TO ICTFC
The kit will be worn by the team for the first time tomorrow in our William Hill League 1 match against Cove Rangers, which is a 5.30pm kick-off live on BBC Alba. 
The club will also have a pop-up shop in Tesco Extra Inverness, Eastfield Way for the in-service days on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th September from 10am until 4pm on both days, with both our new 2025/26 Home and Away kits on sale. 

Ticket's Here
Adult: £15,
Concession: £9,
Youth (12-17): £6,
Under 12s: Free
ICT Supporters Travel Club 🚍
Travel Club Bus leaves Sarens PSG Stadium at 1pm???.
£20 a seat. Book through the Travel Club’s Facebook 
Or call 07462 218717

Cove drew 0-0 with Hamilton Accies in their last League1 encounter to gain just their second point this season. Their other point came in a 3-3 draw with Montrose a couple of weeks ago. Note that they only had two subs on the bench v Accies, one of which was keeper Bálint Demus. Striker David Eguaibor appears to be a handful for defences having scored all four of Coves League1 goals including a hat-trick in a dramatic encounter against Montrose. He also scored the only goal of the game against Dundee B recently. They lost 1-0 to Elgin City in the KDM Trophy game on Saturday. Blair Yule was against Peterhead and missed the game against Accies but should be back for this one. Cove have a few injuries to contend with and Arron Darge and Declan Glass out and defender Michael Doyle is a doubt.
Mitch Megginson: Mitch’s tally of eighty-six league goals represents just over a quarter of the total Cove have scored during their time in Leagues One, Two, and the Championship, and he has been top marksman in four of their six campaigns to date. Always a danger and still the man that needs shackled.
Tale of the Tape League1:
Cove 0-2 QotS - Match 1
Muir 1-0 Cove - Match 2
Cove 3-3 Mo - Match 3
Heid 3-1 Cove - Match 4
Ham 0-0 Cove - Match 5
KDM Trophy
Cove 1-1 Spartans (Darge ⚽)
Cove 1-0 Dundee B
Elgin 1-0 Cove
From BBC Sport
In: Robbie Mutch, (GK Ayr Utd); David Eguaibor, forward (Cobh Ramblers); Justin Eguaibor, defender (Cobh Ramblers); Liam Parker, defender (St Johnstone, loan to perm); Layton Bisland, defender (Arbroath); Mackenzie Strachan, midfielder (Annan). Loan in: Lewis O'Donnell, midfielder (Arabs); Jackson Mylchreest, forward (St Johnstone).
Out: Nick Suman, goalkeeper (Aberdeen); Will Gillingham, defender (Port Melbourne); Myles Gaffney, forward (Annan); Finlay Murray, defender (Formartine); Connor Scully, midfielder. Loan ended: Adam Emslie, midfielder (Aberdeen); Dylan Lobban, midfielder (Aberdeen); Findlay Marshall, midfielder (Aberdeen); Liam Parker, defender (St Johnstone).
League1 Table
Pos
Team
Pld
Gd
Pts
1
Queens
5
4
10
2
Alloa
4
2
9
3
Stenny
5
1
8
4
ICTFC
5
7
7
5
Accies
5
3
7
6
E Fife
5
-2
7
7
Peter
5
-2
6
8
Mo
5
-4
4
9
Kelty
4
-4
3
10
Cove
5
-5
2
Some dates for your diary over the next few months.
First up is the comedy night next Friday night and it's not at the next home game at the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall. Maybe not as funny, but it will be held in the Kingsmills Lounge at the Caledonian Sarens PSG Stadium.
It's fantastic to see so much now happening at the club since Alan Salvage came to the rescue and at a meeting on Friday Mr Savage put an end to our time in administration and banished our years of anguish and floundering in the doldrums in the bin.
Alan Savage confirmed he has 100% control of the club and that the club is officially out of administration.
Statue incoming!
More to come on this story as the full details of the press conference will be released in due course. Suffice to say it's great news for the club.
He reiterated plans to turn part of the car park into a music venue, replacing the Ironworks, but he believes that could also double up as a conference centre and multiple five-a-side football pitches.
He also has plans to install a petrol station, or an electric vehicle charging station, on the ground around the club, and is in discussions with Highland Council regarding that. Before any of those plans come to fruition though, Savage will have to appoint a board of directors.
He confirmed that Supporters’ Trust chair George Moodie will have a seat at the table, while it was confirmed on Companies’ House that Savage’s wife, Dawn, has been appointed too.
Cove, near Aberdeen, is famous for its history as a fishing village and the local quarrying of hard, export-grade granite, and for the infamous Aberdeen Fish Meal Factory, known as "the stinker".
The "Stinker":
From 1894 to 1937, the Aberdeen Fish Meal Factory operated in the area, producing manure and earning the infamous nickname "the stinker" due to its processing smell. The local entertainer Harry Gordon even made a famous parody about it, "A Song of Cove". 
It's said that smell still lingers to this very day and that's where the saying "he's had a right stinker the day min" came from...Right eenufff!


By tm4tj in Previews 2025-26 ·

Inverness CT 2-1 Stirling Albion - KDM Trophy

Late Sole Goal Sinks Binos

The third set of fixtures in the KDM Trophy brought Stirling Albion North to face Inverness at the Caledonian SarensPSG Stadium. The hosts had won their previous two Challenge Cup fixtures and the Binos have one win and one defeat.
Inverness went with a strong squad, both on the bench and on the park with plenty of attacking options and Ross Millen appeared on the bench. Stirling once again put Robert Duffy between the sticks with their danger expected to come from Ross Cunningham and Russell MacLean. And it was Cunningham that opened the scoring after half an hour with a superb strike before Zimba levelled four minutes later in an open first forty-five. Less action after the break until Stewart Murdoch was red carded for clattering Oscar MacIntyre. Liam Sole waited until the 94th minute before grabbing the winner to make it three from three for Inverness.
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 After a minutes applause for Jimmy Bone the match got underway and Ross Cunningham was first to make a keeper work with a shot from just outside the box, Ross Munro saving low down. A second effort from Cunningham slipped wide and at the other end Danny Devine was blocked at close range and Alfie Bavidge shot wide. It had been a bright opening fifteen by both sides. Adam Brown's free kick was comfortably saved by Munro and there was no takers for Liam Sole's low cross into the box to the relief of the Binos defence. Joe Chalmers was denied by Duffy and Alfie Bavidge was unlucky not to open the scoring after great play by Sole down the left with Chanka Zimba's follow up looking like it came off the bar. Just after the half hour Cunningham's willingness to have a go paid off as he cut inside after beating two defenders before firing high into the net from twenty plus yards for a tremendous goal for the Binos. That lead was short lived when Zimba scored from close range four minutes later, who else but Liam Sole with the assist. Zimba was blocked from adding a second near to the interval from close range and on the interval Mckay headed over before also shooting wide.
HALF TIME: 1-1
 Billy Mckay continued where he left the first half with Duffy saving at the expense of a corner. Substitutions littered the final third of the game with play becoming disjointed. Plenty huff and puff in the second half but we failed to blow the house down. With fifteen minutes left the Binos were reduced to ten men when Stewart Murdoch was sent off for a late challenge on Oscar MacIntyre. We laid siege on the valiant defenders of the Albion thereafter and Mckay, Sole, Longstaff and MacLeod were all thwarted. Mitchell Robertson had a couple of go's late in the game as we tried to snatch a win from the jaws of a draw. Aaaaand finally, after sixteen corners, we eventually score from one. Liam Sole was yer man as he won the match in the 94th minute. Talk about leaving it late.
Pic from CaleyJags.com
 FULL TIME: 2-1
 More detail to follow


Sole Goal...
No Listen...


Date:  05/09/2025  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 0543 Referee: Graham Grainger
 
Inverness CT: 2
Manager: Scott Kellacher
Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Robertson, MacIntyre, Sole, Chalmers (Alonge 84),
Wotherspoon, Bavidge (Longstaff 63), B McKay, Zimba (MacKinnon 72)
Subs (not used):  Ross; Millen, Kerr, Strachan, Savage, R Thompson
Scorers: Zimba (35), Sole (90+4)
Booked: Wotherspoon (52)
Sent Off: none
Stirling Albion: 1
Manager: Alan Maybury
Lineup:  Duffy; McGeachie, Murdoch, Hamilton (McNab 72), C Thomson (Banner 72), Carse,
Cunningham, Brown, Ewen (Featherstone 72), McLean (Harkness 59), Cannon
Subs (not used): Gaston; Knox, K Thomson
Scorers: Cunningham (31)
Booked: none
Sent Off: Murdoch (76)

By tm4tj in Reports 2025-26 ·

Inverness CT -V- Stirling Albion - KDM Trophy - Preview

Binos KDM Challenge

This game has been brought forward to Friday night with an 8:00pm kick-off. That's the same night as Scotland play Denmark in a World Cup Qualifier, but surely there won't be much interest in the flogging of a dead horse and the Caledonian SarensPSG Stadium will be bursting at the seams instead. The Binos have been busy this in August playing seven games in total with three wins, three defeats and a draw. The Caley Jags bowed out of the North of Scotland Cup this week in what suspiciously looked like a tactical decision to leave the competition for Highland League sides to battle for the trophy in the final where Forres Mechanics will line up against Inverness Clachnacuddin, who disposed of Ross County in the other semi-final.

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Match/Ticket/Bus/Info
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ℹ️ Matchday Info: Stirling Albion (H)
🎟️ Tickets available from HERE
🚗 North & South Car Park Open £5🚗 £10🚌
🛍️ Club Shop open from 10am - KO
🍺 Bar 94 open from 1730
⚽ Kick-Off 8:00pm - KDM Trophy
🚌 Stagecoach bus from the Bus Station at 1915
🚌 Return 10 minutes after the full time whistle.
⚽💰 ENTRY: Adults: £10, Concessions: £5 (+ 65s or -16s)
🚍 Bus: £2.70 single
Contactless payments or cash accepted
Over 60/Disabled and Under 22 Concession passes are valid
giving free travel on the service to passholders.


Our last KDM Trophy fixture saw us beat Aberdeen B 4-1
It took a while for us to subdue the eager Young Dons side but eventually we did thanks to a hat-trick from Chanka Zimba on the night. The young Dons had taken an early lead through Tristan Steven before Zimbal levelled just before the break. It wasn't until the final ten minutes before we broke their resistance with Zimba netting a further twice and old Billy Mckay coming on to notch a fourth in the dying embers. We also beat Elgin City 4-1 in our opening KDM fixture where goals from Alfie Bavide (x2 one pen), Robbie Thompson and a Paul Allan penalty earned us the win. Mark Gallagher got Elgin's goal, and a screamer it was.
We have been rotating our squad for these games as opposed to our League1 side as you would imagine given our own hectic start to the season, however, the bench has always looked stronger in the KDM cup just in case. Last Saturday we beat League leaders Alloa so our main squad seems to be in fine fettle.
We are now out of the NoS Cup having 'lost' to Forres Mechanics. Not the strongest side we put out in that game with little to no cavalry on the bench although Zimba did play and got our goal in a 2-1 defeat at Mosset Park. Forres go on to play Clach in the final who beat Ross County 2-1 at Grant Street.
Scott Kellacher now bigging up this event.... he must have got a row for originally criticising the format. Hey ho, it does appear to be a bit of overkill, but I'm sure by the time the knockout stages come along, people will treat it with a bit more respect.


Albions squad that beat Stranraer last week to round off a hectic opening month schedule after which they sit third in League2 and have one win and one defeat in the KDM Trophy. Keeper Robert Duffy has played in both their KDM fixtures so far.
Dale Carrick will be a big loss for them this season, however they have brought in some decent players. Cannon, Harkness Cunningham and Banner to name a few.
Players In: Aidan Cannon, midfielder (Celtic); Jack Harkness, defender (Rangers, loan to permanent); Ross Cunningham, midfielder (Kelty Hearts); Kyle Banner, defender (Stenhousemuir); Kane Thomson, defender (Alloa Athletic); Stewart Murdoch, defender (East Fife); Lee Hamilton, defender (Clyde); Russell McLean, forward (Forfar Athletic).
Scottish League Two August Results
Stirling Albion 1-0 Stranraer (30th)
Stirling Albion 2-3 East Kilbride (23rd)
Forfar Athletic 4-2 Stirling Albion (16th)
Stirling Albion 0-0 Annan Athletic (9th)
Edinburgh City 1-2 Stirling Albion (2nd)
KDM - League Stage August Results
Stirling Albion 3-1 Hibernian B (26th)
Stirling Albion 0-3 Dundee United B (12th)
This was their starting XI in their last KDM Trophy fixture on 26th August which shows six changes from their League2 starting XI last Saturday.
R. Duffy
S. Murdoch L. Hamilton (c) C. Crane
J. Harkness M. Carse H. Ewen A. Cannon
C. Thomson
R. Shanley R. Cunningham

Stirling Albion were founded in 1945. I never knew they were losted to be honest.
Wikipedia told me: Stirling Albion was founded in 1945 after the town's previous football team King's Park had failed to survive the Second World War. King's Park's ground (Forthbank) had been damaged during the war, having been hit by a German bomb on 20 July 1940. This was one of only two bombs to fall on the town during the Second World War.
The new club was the brainchild of local businessman Thomas Fergusson, a local coal magnate, and he purchased the Annfield estate to build a new stadium. Annfield was situated within a quarter of a mile from the town centre and would be the home of The Binos until 1992.
The name 'Albion' supposedly came from the make of Fergusson's coal trucks. This however is an urban myth Albion Coal lorries were used as grandstands but the club was named at a meeting of fans long before a ball was kicked. (Reference, Stirling Journal Newspaper, 1945.) The name Albion was chosen because it was an old word for Great Britain and held meaning for the founder.

By tm4tj in Previews 2025-26 ·

Forres Mechanics 2-1 Inverness CT - NoS Cup - Semi-Final

Can Cans Can

The Caley Jags had made it to the Semi-Final after putting six goals past Lossiemouth & Strathspey Thistle to face Forres Mechanics at Mosset Park after they had defeated Rothes 3-0 in the quarter final. Not such a strong line-up tonight for the Caley Jags which will make for a much more even game but another opportunity to see Chanka Zimba and what can Jordan Alonge do against his former club.
Forres got themselves into the final after a 2-1 win. See report below.
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There was an early goal and it came for the hosts after some poor defending with Lewis MacKenzie ending up scoring from a very tight angle in the fourth minute. The Caley Jags equalised just before half time when on the counter following a free kick in the Inverness half, Archie Kerr's cross was not cleared properly by the defence and Chanka Zimba was able to get the tap in. Almost another for the Mechanics as on the interval, MacKenzie went on a solo run into the visitors box but his shot was just wide of the mark.
HALF TIME: 1-1 
Soon after the restart and with the Caley Jags showing a bit more urgency, Jordan Alonge rattled the bar but Adam MacKinnon couldn't get the rebound on target. Unfortunately we never seemed up for this one and on the hour an inviting cross in by Cohen Ramsay found the head of Calum Frame who flicked it into the far side of the net. That was the end of the scoring and the end of our involvement in the NoS Cup for this season.
Good luck to Forres in the final.
FULL TIME: 2-1
ICTFC HT Sub: Jake Rodgers on, Sam Reid of
ICTFC Subs: Archie Beaton and Kenzie Harkness on, Chanka Zimba and James Clark off

On CTO Robert summed up: The early goal gave Forres confidence and they deserved their win.
We lacked fluency and either tried long balls which were ineffective or passed sideways or backwards so we didn’t really cause them problems. Our goal came from one of the few fast breaks we made. It all got a bit frantic as we chased a late goal but we never really looked like getting one. I can’t fault the effort and the fact that one of our coaches got booked highlights that we were taking it seriously.
It is good to see the younger players and Kerr was the stand out. As well as pace he has a long throw. Reid grew into the game but was subbed at half time. Clark is always composed and, with experience, could become a really good player.





Date:  02/09/2025  Venue: Mosset Park, Forres Attendance: **** Referee: ******** 
 
Forres Mechanics: 2
Manager: Steven MacDonald
Lineup:  McCarthy; Connolly, MacDonald, Ramsay, McRitchie, Grant, Sutherland,
McLauchlan (Taylor 88), MacKenzie (Newlands 90+3), Jamieson, Frame (Hayllar 90+9)
Subs (not used):  Miele (GK), McPherson
Scorers: MacKenzie (4), Frame (61)
Booked: none
Sent Off: none
Inverness CT: 1
Manager: Scott Kellacher
Lineup:  Ross; Clark (Harkness 74), Robertson, J Walker, Strachan, S Thompson, S Reid (Rodgers 46),
MacKinnon, Kerr, Alonge, Zimba (Beaton 74)
Subs (not used): Rebilas; , Leo Walker, Thomson, Leighton
Scorers: Zimba (43)
Booked: none
Sent Off: none

By tm4tj in Reports 2025-26 ·

Forres Mechanics -V- Inverness CT - NoS Cup Semi-Final

NoS Cup Semi-Final

Short trip to Mosset Park, Forres to see the Mechanics in the Semi-Final of the North of Scotland Cup on Tuesday evening 2nd of September. The game kicks off at 8:00pm. A place in the final up for grabs with Ross County playing Clach @ Grant Street the following night, also an 8:00pm kick-off.

ICTFC Supporters Bus
North of Scotland Cup semi final has been changed to 2nd September. We will still be running a bus leaving 6pm. If you are already booked and can’t make the Tuesday let us know. Get in touch on Facebook Page or call
07462 218717 if are looking to get the bus through to Forres...
Wonderful History Lesson from the Forres Mechanics website. Some fascinating info on here.
https://www.forresmechanics.net/history-at-the-heart-of-our-town/
The league was conceived at the Inverness Workman’s Club on August 4th 1893, all the clubs present expressing an enthusiastic willingness to become part of a league. After discussing the logistical matters, the Scottish Football Association blessed the venture and The Highland Football League was born. By February 7th 1894, after undergoing the teething problems of a new venture and having lost one of the original teams from the fixture list, the League reported a surplus of five pounds. This rocky first season was concluded, and Thistle became the first champions of the Highland Football League. The league consisted of seven teams in 1893-94, those of Thistle, Caley, Clachnacuddin, Forres Mechanics, Union, Citadel and Camerons.
Forres Mechanics were founded in 1884 and are the oldest Highland League side. Despite being the oldest Association Football Club in the North of Scotland, Forres Mechanics were not at the time of their formation the oldest club in the town of Forres, there having been in existence for fully two years the St. Lawrence Club.
MATCH INFO
FMFC Bar Lounge: ❌ Unfortunately ❌ this facility will not be open for this evening.   The closest establishment for liquid and food requirements is the Mosset Tavern 😀
Refreshment Kiosk:  Will be open from 7.15 pm until around 10-15 minutes after half-time. 
Ground Opens:  7.00pm onwards.
Ticket Pricing:  As follows:
     £12.00 for Adults.
      Free for Children U12 if accompanied by a paying adult.
     £ 7.00 for concessions, U18 and students with their student ID.
     £ 2.00 additional cost for the stand.
Fanbase Link for tickets: Fanbase | Dashboard (fanbaseclub.com)
Please note: If the match is postponed after purchase of this type of ticket, it is valid for the rearranged fixture only.  There is no financial reimbursement.
Payment options: 🤑
         Lounge Bar:                      Cash and Card
         Gate entry:                       Cash, limited card entry and Via Fanbase app
         Refreshment Kiosk:      Cash Only.
         Half-time Raffle:              Cash Only
Pyrotechnics:  FMFC has CCTV in use and anyone found in possession or in the use of such items, will be reported to the appropriate authorities
Having beaten Lossiemouth 6-0 in the first round, the Caley Jags were drawn at home in Rnd2 against Strathspey Thistle who were given a bye into this round. The Highland League outfit had made their best ever start to a season winning four of their opening six games.
This was the Caley Jags side that cruised through the last round beating Strathspey Thistle 6-0 with all the damage being done in the first half. The second half was just about player management and avoiding unnecessary injuries. Plenty of attacking options in this squad and good game time for those less involved in the first team games
FULL TIME: ICTFC 6-0 Strathspey Thistle
We advance to the next round of the North of Scotland Cup thanks to first half goals from
Robbie Thompson (2)
Liam Sole (2)
Jordan Alonge
Mitchell Robertson
Robert summed up: Not much to say about that second half. Useful game time for the five young subs, more good saves by Logan Ross and nearly a last minute hat trick for Robbie Thompson, and that was about that.


Forres beat Rothes 3-0 to get to this game. Their scorers on the night were:
Shaun Sutherland (17) volleys us into the lead from the edge of the box!
Calum Frame (76) an inch perfect ball into the box by Aidan Cruickshank finds the head of Calum Frame to double our advantage.
Calum Frame again (83) Calum Frame gets his second and our third of the game! 3-0
Good win for the Mechanics using the old 'shoot on site' policy...




Can the Can Cans can the can whilst doing the Can-Can as Suzi Quatro once asked in 1973?
This will be a stiffer test for the Caley Jags after two 6-0 wins in previous rounds. Forres look to have a shoot on sight attitude and it certainly pays off on occasion.
The Mechanics sit in the middle of the Highland League in tenth position after three wins and a draw in their opening eight League games. However, they have lost their last three games and now have a minus six goal difference having scored eleven times.






By tm4tj in Previews 2025-26 ·

Inverness CT 1-0 Alloa Athletic - League 1

Sole Solo Sinks Wasps

The Wasps swarmed North for this one unbeaten and top of the table looking to keep ahead of the rest. Their hosts had lost one of their opening four games and were resplendent in their new back to basics red & blue striped kit (only on the front) looking to climb the table. Something was about to give on a bright afternoon for football before the rain came. Ross Millen missed out again, as did Paul Allan and the long term Jake Davidson (did we just dream we signed Millen or is he an AI image). Inverness started with midweek Hat-Trick hero Chanka Zimba and Liam Sole on the bench. Alloa had made three late signings since yesterday. Striker Callum Gallagher returns after leaving the Smokies and young center back Charlie Dewar comes in on loan from the Arabs with midfielder Calum Adamson arriving as part of a cooperation loan deal from Rangers.
It took a massive stroke of good fortune for substitute Liam Sole to grab the winner with a deflected shot off Charlie Dewar in a match dominated by the hosts, however we allowed Alloa to push for an equaliser late in the game because we had failed to swat the Wasps away when we were totally dominant and Ross Munro had to pull off a good stop to deny Alloa a late leveller. Oscar McIntyre was a deserved MotM with a great display of wing back wizardry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A bright opening once more at home from the Caley Jags with Ogayi saving from Calum MacLeod early on and Alfie Stewart being blocked minutes later. We forced a flurry of corners without troubling the defence and Alfie Bavidge was next to be blocked getting a strike away. However, as previously, we fell away as a cutting edge midway through the first half whilst still dominating possession. Alloa were totally ineffective and looked prepared to do what Stenhousemuir did; park the bus and look to take advantage of set-pieces with the experienced Connor Sammon putting himself about. Minutes before the interval Billy Mckay was denied by Ogayi and Bavidge had another effort blocked.
HALF TIME: 0-0 The second half was a quieter affair until Bavidge drilled one just wide and then just after the hour the introduction of Liam Sole would liven proceedings up. Stewart saw an effort from outside the box saved by the big keeper and moments later shot just wide. Alloa had their first serious effort when Adamson tried his luck but Ross Munro was equal to it. Sole then burst into life with a fleet footed display. Firstly he was denied by Ogayi then he twinkle toed his way in from the left to fire into the box where the ball ricocheted off Charlie Dewar to leave the keeper stranded as the net bulged. Calum MacLeod burst forward only for Ogayi to save. Into the final few minutes and with the game still finely poised, Alloa sensed they might be able to nick a point. First MacKinnon looked to clear a low drive across the box from Charlie Dewar and in the final flurry with keeper Ogayi coming forward for a corner, Luke Donnelly had a shot blocked and Adamson likewise with Munro pulling off a diving save to keep our advantage intact.
LINK TO GOAL ON F/B
FULL TIME: 1-0
Pos
Team
Pld
Gd
Pts
1
Queens
5
4
10
2
Alloa
4
2
9
3
Muir
5
1
8
4
ICTFC
5
7
7
5
Accies
5
3
7
6
E Fife
5
-2
7
7
P Heid
5
-2
6
8
Mo
5
-4
4
9
Kelty
4
-4
3
10
Cove
5
-5
2





 
Date:  30/08/2025  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2160 Referee: Sean Murdoch
 
Inverness CT: 1
Manager: Scott Kellacher
Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, McIntyre, Longstaff (Sole 68), Stewart, Chalmers,
Wotherspoon (Zimba 62), B Mckay (MacKinnon 85) Bavidge (R Thompson 85)
Subs (not used):  Ross; Kerr, Strachan, Robertson, Alonge
Scorers: Sole (72)
Booked: Savage (16), R Thompson (90))
Sent Off: none
Alloa Athletic: 0
Manager: Andy Graham
Lineup:  Ogayi; Foster, Devine, Dewar, O'Donnell, Scougall (Adamson 46), Hetherington,
Roberts, Buchanan (Bruin 85), Sammon, Orsi (Donnelly 76)
Subs (not used): Parry; Graham, Mckay, Mullen, Gallagher, Rankin
Scorers: none
Booked: Buchanan (85)
Sent Off: none

By tm4tj in Reports 2025-26 ·

Inverness CT -V- Alloa Athletic - League1 - Preview

Wasps Flying High

Top of the table with a game in hand, Alloa Athletic come North on Saturday on Ladies Day for a game scheduled to kick-off at 3:00pm. It's been a great start to the season for the Wasps who were the lowest placed team to get out of the group stages of the League Cup, ousting Dundee in the process and now sit top of League1 after three games whilst almost all others have played four times. It's all happening this week in the Highlands. A hat-trick for Zimba, a lambada, rumba or samba for the ladies, top of the Mickey Mouse League for the CJ's and new strip launched at the Caledonian Sarens PSG Stadium.
The feelgood factor is back. What's not to like!

Bar 94 opens at 1200, last orders at 1430 (the bar must be fully vacated by 1445).
The bar reopens at full time
🚍 Buses will leave the Bus Station for the Stadium at 1245 and 1415.
🚍 Buses return from Stadium to Bus Station 10 mins after the FT whistle and at 1800.
🚍 🎟️ £2.70 single (contactless payments or cash accepted), and Over 60 / Disabled and Under 22 Concession passes are valid, giving free travel on the service to passholders.
If anyone can help us distribute the leaflets at the turnstiles from 1400 until just before kick off, please let us know at [email protected].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Match/Ticket/Bus/Info
New Kit Launch
NosCup v Forres
KDM Trophy v Binos
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We took a deserved win at Links Park last Saturday with this squad. Paul Allan and Ross Millen missed out but Adam MacKinnon started on the bench as he builds up to full fitness, as did Chanka Zimba, Jordan Alonge, Liam Sole and Robbie Thompson. First half goals from Alfie Bavidge and Calum MacLeod did the damage as we eased to the points although questions may be asked why we tailed off in the second half. That's three wins out of four and three clean sheets for the CJ's and that puts us 7th in the table, despite the five point deduction to start the season with. Good to get into the peleton early.
League1 results so far
Kelty Hearts 0-3 (Mckay, Longstaff, Spoony)
Peter Reid 2-0 (Spoony, Sole)
Warriors 1-2 (Allan pen)
Montrose 0-2 (Bavidge, MacLeod)
We unleashed a hungry man in our midweek Mickey Mouse Cup win over the Young Dons. They took the lead through Tristan Stephen but Chanka Zimba soon warmed up. Three minutes later he equalised and was generally too much for the young Dons to handle as he stroked in another couple for his hat-trick before Billy Mckay ended the scoring in the final minute to make it an ultimately comfortable 4-1 win. With Zimba, Sole, Alonge and Thompson all starting, we were always going to be a threat in attack and that was backed up by a superstrong bench.
LADIES DAY IS HERE >>>
📅 Saturday 30th August
⚽ ICTFC v Alloa Athletic
🎟️ £70 per person
🎤 The fantastic Michael Lewis
👉 Book your spot now!
💻 Eticketing
📧 [email protected]
📞 01463 222880✨



Alloa are a game behind the rest (Kelty Hearts excepted) but still top the table being the only side with a 100% record in League1. Not high scoring at the moment, but they have shown a penchant for extra late goals this season and have conceded only once in the League. They started the League campaign with an opening day win at Stenhousemuir, coming from behind to win 1-2. Dale Carrick had opened the scoring for Muir but goals either side of the interval by Steven Buchanan and Kurtis Roberts secured the Wasps win. Another away win followed at East Fife by a solitary Dave Devine strike as they dug deep to come away with another three points. A creditable showing at Ibrox saw them bow out of the League Cup 4-2 against Rangers, although maybe that can now be viewed as a shock result... That was the game that resulted in the League1 encounter with Kelty being put on ice. Their resilience knows no bounds and last week they beat Hamilton Accies 1-0 at home with Devine again knocking in from close range to keep the Wasps buzzing. Manager Andy Graham has been keeping his hand in on the park as well and he featured in the midweek KDM Trophy drama against St Mirren. The wasps came from two down to level the game with 91st and 92nd minute goals from a Lewis Bruin Waspy Special and a Luke Rankin tap in. Alas, they were pipped at the post by a 93rd minute strike by St Mirren's Calvin. Their two KDM fixtures have yielded no points thus far. (St Mirren B @ home & Stranraer away)



By tm4tj in Previews 2025-26 ·

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