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Inverness CT -V- Queens Park - Sc Cup 4th Rnd

Weather Permitting...
 
The Spiders will be back a week and a bit on from the no scoring Championship draw at the Caledonian Stadium. Not too much has changed within either camp although plenty has changed weather wise. There had been nearly a foot of snow dumped across the area since Monday into Tuesday over a week ago. That caused the original tie to be called off. Conditions have improved since then but there is a strong wind warning in force from this Tuesday night into Wednesday. The prize for the winner is an away tie at Livingston. The League game was as entertaining a goalless encounter as you will see with plenty of chances and big saves at both ends. However, this week it's Scottish Cup action. It's nearly eight years since the Caley Jags lifted the trophy. Spare a thought for Spiders fans, their last success in this competition was 1893, although they have won it 10 times: 
1874, 1875, 1876, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1884, 1886, 1890, 1893. 
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Match Info/Tickets
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Mind you, plenty has changed over the last 150 years, although there was a lot of scurrilous goings on back in the day including Vale of Leven refusing to turn up for the final in 1884. Even the 1993 final had controversy surrounding it. I wonder why they never told anyone until half the game had been played.  
Final: 25 February 1893 (see Wiki links)
Celtic 1 – 0 Queen's Park Towie      Ibrox Park, Govan Attendance: 30,000 Referee: R. F. Harrison Match declared void due to frozen pitch (decided pre-match after inspection, but not announced to spectators until the second half) What, no undersoil heating?
Cup Final replay (11th March 1983) From Wikipedia
Queen's Park 2 – 1 Celtic Sellar    Blessington Ibrox Park, Govan Attendance: 15,000 Referee: R. F. Harrison The winning goal was believed by some observers not to have fully entered the goal before being cleared, and Celtic protested but the score stood. Although their use would not have resolved that particular incident, this controversy and debate led to goal nets being introduced in the latter stages of the Scottish Cup from then on. 
Same old Celtic, always greeting 
I'm told Mantis and Gringo were at that replay. Anyway, nostalgia is great, but let's get back to the future>>>
Last Time Out
Inverness came from behind twice to earn a point at Raith Rovers. Not a great spectacle in the first half where Rovers went ahead when a Vaughan shot from near thirty yards caught out Ridgers who seemed to be wrong footed as the ball bounced into the net. A tidy move saw Billy Mckay feed Jay Henderson to rifle the ball home from outside the corner of the six yard box just after the interval. Rovers went ahead again when Aidan Connolly shot round Ridgers into the bottom of the net for another seemingly loose strike but a tremendous early run and head glance saw Mckay level the game from a Sean Welsh free kick.
 
Queens Park got a sharp lesson at Dundee as the hosts scored three goals in a twenty minute period in the second half to run away with the points. Interestingly enough, only since Euan Henderson entered the game. 
The recent Championship draw was an entertaining affair with chances aplenty. More of the same would make for an entertaining game, if we could just add some goals to that all will be well. 
Latest Team News 2023
Billy Dodds has seen Nathan Shaw, Sean Welsh and Zak Delaney, return in recent weeks. However we have lost Max Ram for around a month. Scott Allardice and Cammy Harper returned to the squad at Raith Rovers on Saturday with Allardice getting nearly half an hour and Harper made his 100th appearance in a final  ten minute cameo at the end. Austin Samuels still nowhere to be seen as the plot thickens.
The Spiders may well be along the same lines as their Dundee defeat and Manager Owen Coyle has added a late arrival as the transfer deadline window drew to a close. He has secured the loan of Euan Henderson the 22 year old attacking left winger from Hearts who joined Queens on 27th January and came off the bench in the 3-0 defeat at Dens Park. It was 0-0 at the time...
By tm4tj in Previews 2022-23 ·

Raith Rovers 2-2 Inverness CT - Report

Record Intact
 
The last time Raith Rovers beat us at Stark's Park, it was jumpers for goalposts, three corners a penalty, Donview and Mantis had cranial hair and Groovejet by Spiller featuring Sophie Ellis Bextor topped the charts. Well, are we still waiting? Yes we are and here's why.
Jamie Gullan saw an early header come off the crossbar as the hosts bossed the early pace of the game. Lewis Vaughan opened the scoring on the half hour after a period of home pressure when the ball fell to him outside the box after a succession of corners and he shot low beyond Ridgers. Inverness would need to up their game if they wanted to preserve that record. Jay Henderson levelled the game shortly after the break scoring from a tight angle. Unfortunately for Inverness Aidan Connolly restored their advantage with an hour gone. Scott Allardice returned to action after months out and after a couple of near things for Raith, Billy Mckay popped up to level the game once more seven minutes from the end with a header from a Sean Welsh free kick. That's how it ended and the wait goes on for Raith Rovers fans.
 
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With George Oakley off to Morton, Dodds had more space to fill on the bench and back into the frame came long term injured Scott Allardice and Cammy Harper. New signing Ben Woods was missing and still no sign of Austin Samuels. Raith had loan signings midfielder Scott MacGill from Hearts and forward William Akio from Ross County in their squad.
Raith got the game underway and were first to show but Mark Ridgers gathered Lewis Vaughan's effort comfortably in the fourth minute. Jamie Gullan headed off the crossbar a couple of minutes later, possibly tipped onto the bar by Ridgers and the follow up by Dylan Easton was blocked as the hosts made a bright start. Daniel Mackay brought Jamie MacDonald into action as Inverness came out of their defensive shell with fifteen minutes on the clock and Billy Mckay was also denied by the keeper moments later as he tried to clip the ball past MacDonald after being fed through the left channel by Aaron Doran, the keeper shutting him down quickly. Gullan took a knock in a clash with Ridgers and Nolan had some treatment soon after. Raith forced a series of corners and the opener came through Lewis Vaughan who shot home from distance outside the box bounced into the bottom corner, probably wrong footing Ridgers. 
Not a great half of football with meagre picking for both sides.
Half Time: 1-0
It only took Inverness four minutes to do something about it after the interval when Jay Henderson levelled the game scoring from a tight angle beyond the six yard box after a brilliant cut back from Billy Mckay, Henderson rifling the ball across the keeper to round off a tremendous move. However Aidan Connolly put Raith back in front on the hour with a  curling shot into the corner of the goal with Ridgers stranded, the ball hitting the side net as it beat the keeper low down. Scott Allardice made a welcome return to action replacing Lewis Hyde soon after with Nathan Shaw replacing Dan Mackay as we looked to rescue something from the game. Billy Mckay showed his defensive qualities clearing the ball off the line to prevent a third for Raith and substitute William Akio was denied by Ridgers as the hosts looked to kill off the game. Mckay preserved the record with a headed goal from Sean Welsh's free kick, timing his run to perfection to flick the ball behind MacDonald. Raith's Brown shot just over in injury time to ensure it ended all square at 2-2.
Full Time: 2-2
MotM Billy Mckay not only scored his 92nd goal for Inverness and fifth since the turn of the year but also made a valuable contribution at the back clearing off the line. Jay Henderson scored his second goal in four games since coming in on loan from St Mirren and it was tremendous to have Scott Allardice back on the pitch after a lengthy lay-off through injury. 
A decent point given Raith's recent resurgence and another game on our road to recovery as well.
 
 
 
Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table after todays games, January 28th 2023 1. Queens Park 22 12 4 6 44 30 40 2. Ayr United 22 11 6 5 46 29 39 3. Dundee 21 11 5 5 36 25 38 4. Partick Thistle 22 10 3 9 42 37 33 5. Inverness CT 22 8 7 7 32 30 31 6. Morton 21 8 6 7 29 24 30 7. Raith Rovers 23 8 6 9 30 31 30 8. Cove Rangers 22 5 7 10 30 47 22 9. Arbroath 23 4 9 10 22 37 21 10. Hamilton Ac. 22 4 5 13 18 39 17 SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY 2023
   Dundee 3-0 Queen's Park
Morton 1-2 Arbroath   
Partick 0-1 Accies     
Raith Rovers 2-2 Inverness CT    
 
 
Date:  28/01/2023  Venue: Stark's Park, Kirkaldy Attendance: 2025 Referee: Scott Lambie 
 
Raith Rovers: 2
Manager: Ian Murray Lineup:  MacDonald; Millen, Nolan, Lang, Dick, Brown, Spencer, Connolly, Vaughn (McBride 87), Easton (Stanton 77), Gullan (Akio 71) Subs (not used):  Thomson; Ngwenya, McNeil, Mitchell, Masson, Frederikson Scorers: Vaughan (29), Connolly (61) Booked: Brown (58) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 2
Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup:  Ridgers; Carson, Duffy, Devine, Delaney (Harper 81), D Mackay (Shaw 66), Welsh, Hyde (Allardice 66), Henderson (L Nicolson 87), Doran (Boyd 81) B Mckay Subs (not used): C Mackay; Strachan, Cairns, Thompson Scorers: Henderson (49), B Mckay (83) Booked: Welsh (37), Duffy (54) Delaney (71) Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2022-23 ·

Raith Rovers -V- Inverness CT - Preview

 
Maybe this Time
 
It seems like forever since Raith Rovers beat Inverness in a League Game. In fact the reality is almost longer than the legend. This Saturday Rovers get another chance to see if they can win all three points as we head to Stark's Park in a Championship encounter that is scheduled for a 3:00pm kick-off. We have an incredible near 23 year record to uphold. Can we continue or will depleted squads eventually take their toll? We missed out because of the weather last week in the Scottish Cup but Raith moved into the next round after beating Linlithgow Rose. in midweek. Mid table supremacy or staying clear of the relegation scrap is up for grabs: Bring it on!
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Match/Ticket/Supporters Bus Info
Queens Park Cup rescheduled
Scottish Cup Draw
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Venue H2H v Raith Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 20 13 5 2 38 15 +23 Away 16 9 4 3 32 19 +13 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 36 22 9 5 70 34 +36 In all competitions it's an astonishing record to be honest. Only five defeats in thirty-six games. The last League defeat was on 28th October 2000. Last League defeat at Stark's Park was two months previous in August 2000. It's fair to say that Raith held the upper hand back then, but ooft, since then it's been mostly one way traffic.
Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Raith Rovers
1 - 1
(H)
2 - 0
(A)
3 - 2
(A)
1 - 1
(H)
0 - 0
(H)
1 - 1
(A)
1 - 0
(H)
1 - 0
(A)
0 - 0
(H)
2 - 0
(H)  
Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts   1. Queens Park 21 12 4 5 44 27 40 2. Ayr United 21 10 6 5 41 29 36 3. Dundee 20 10 5 5 33 25 35 4. Partick Thistle 21 10 3 8 42 36 33 5. Morton 20 8 6 6 28 22 30 6. Inverness CT 21 8 6 7 30 28 30 7. Raith Rovers 22 8 5 9 28 29 29 8. Cove Rangers 21 5 7 9 30 42 22 9. Arbroath 22 3 9 10 20 36 18 10. Hamilton Ac. 21 3 5 13 17 39 14 FRIDAY 27TH JANUARY (19:45)
Cove R v Ayr Utd
SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY (3:00)
*Big game at Dens Park*
Dundee v Queen's
  Morton v Arbroath
Partick v Accies
Raith Rovers v Caley Jags  
This Month
Have we turned a corner or just steadied the ship? Two resounding wins scoring ten goals against Cove and Arbroath got us up and running in 2023. A home 0-0 draw against Queens Park followed but there was plenty to enthuse over in that game from both sides. The cup tie was postponed last week with the pitch still under the grip of winter. Nonetheless, a fairly productive start to the year with the prospect of more players returning from injury, so all is not lost yet.
Raith have been busy. A 1-0 win over Accies was followed by a 1-1 draw with Dundee. There was the small matter of a Challenge cup win over Queens Park, albeit with much changed squads. A 2-2 draw at Cove thanks to a 92nd minute equaliser from Cove's Neill and a midweek Scottish Cup win at Linlithgow Rose has set them up nicely for this encounter. Raith are unbeaten in their last six Championship games since losing 2-0 to Ayr United at the beginning of December.
Latest Team News
We are slowly getting numbers back but have released George Oakley (who has subsequently joined Morton and has a tale to tell on another day) and Aly Riddle who had been involved with ICTFC since he was 12. Here's hoping the release of Oakley will signal the return of Austin Samuels or another couple of attacking options with Shane Sutherland, Tom Walsh and Roddy MacGregor still on the crocks list. Samuels, Allardice, Harper and Sutherland are allegedly getting closer to a welcome return. Defensively we are in a better place with Duffy, Devine and Delaney back in the squad. Scott Allardice and MacGregor would be the icing on the cake for this season with Robbie Deas still to come later.
Here's Billy being a reluctant as ever to impart much info
 
Eck's Raith round-up: 
Not much transfer activity at Stark's Park
Out went defender Connor O'Riordan back to Crewe Alexandra after loan expired. Left winger Quin Coulson was transferred to Alloa and front man Kyle Connell returned to parent club Kilmarnock.
Joining from Heart of Midlothian on a short loan until the end of the season is Central Midfield Player Scott McGill. 20 year old Scott has progressed through the Hearts youth system since the age of fourteen, and had previously worked under Manager Ian Murray while on a loan spell at Ardrieonians.
 
Scottish Cup tie information>>>
   
By tm4tj in Previews 2022-23 ·

Inverness CT 0-0 Queen's Park - Report

Spiders draw a blank
 
League Leaders Queens Park came North in fine form to face Inverness who had also started the new year well. Simon Murray had scored four in his last game against Cove; that's 18 for the season, and Billy Mckay had put three past them the week before. Who would come out on top today? All will be revealed at ten to five. A great afternoon for a game of football saw an even first quarter with half chances at both ends. Calum Ferrie denied Billy Mckay with a great save from a close range header as the hosts forced the pace of the game. Aaron Doran lashed a great opportunity to score on the half hour just wide of the target. Ridgers saved at the back post ten minutes before the break as the visitors began to show more intent. As half time approached the game was now more even. H/T 0-0. Ten minutes after the restart Danny Devine blocked Simon Murray and at the other end Ferrie saved well from Billy Mckay, he would save from Mckay again ten minutes later. Plenty of effort and plenty of half chances, but with 18 goals between them over the last two games, alas this one ends goalless.
No major damage done with only Accies winning today, but maybe an opportunity missed.
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Inverness had new signing, midfielder Ben Woods in the squad and Nathan Shaw returned after injury, but both started on the bench. Daniel Mackay was fit enough to start. Queens had made eight or nine changes to their Championship squad for the midweek Challenge Cup defeat by Raith Rovers, but it was business as usual for the Spiders as they looked to consolidate their lofty position in the Championship.
Overall a draw was just about right with both clubs believing they could have won it. Henderson squandered an opportunity off a long ball out from Ridgers missing the opportunity to lob the keeper on the first bounce and there was a massive save from Ferrie to deny a Billy Mckay snap header from six yards. Dan Mackay was also denied by Ferrie with a full length diving save. Aaron Doran flashed a half volley wide from the right side of the box whilst Inverness were on top. Queens Park came back into the game before the break with Simon Murray prominent and Josh McPake was a constant threat on the wing. Davidson might have done better with his header at the back post but Ridgers got across his line to block his weak effort. McPake saw an inviting ball across the box cleared just before the interval. In the second half Ridgers thwarted Murray on a break forward as he shot from the right edge of the box. Ferrie saved with his legs to deny Billy Mckay as he burst into the box at the other end and Danny Devine produced a timely block to deny Queens. Ridgers pulled off another couple of good saves before the comedy moment arrived when Lee Kilday stood on the ball five yards out with the goal at his mercy, Kilday ending up on his arse instead of scoring. Mckay shot high into the keepers gloves from a great position on the edge of the box as play swung back and fore and Kilday produced another ground swallowing moment when he scooped the ball over from eight yards with the goal at his mercy after a defensive lapse. Lewis Nicolson had the final half chance when his volley from twenty yards brought out another fine save from Ferrie.
Fitting maybe the last close thing was dealt with by a goalkeeper as both on display were in fine form to deny high scoring strikers at both ends. Like Billy Mckay, Simon Murray is in fine scoring form. Mckay covered every blade of grass and Murray was quick to offload when an opportunity came along. Different style of strikers, but both know where the goals are. Ridgers and Ferrie were imperious and Devine, McPake and Boateng the pick of the rest. 
All to do again next week in the Scottish Cup at the same venue.
 
From Queens Park TV
 
 
Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts TABLE AFTER TODAYS GAMES (Dundee v Partick postponed) 1. Queens Park 21 12 4 5 44 27 40 2. Ayr United 21 10 6 5 41 29 36 3. Dundee 20 10 5 5 33 25 35 4. Partick Thistle 21 10 3 8 42 36 33 5. Morton 20 8 6 6 28 22 30 6. Inverness CT 21 8 6 7 30 28 30 7. Raith Rovers 22 8 5 9 28 29 29 8. Cove Rangers 21 5 7 9 30 42 22 9. Arbroath 22 3 9 10 20 36 18 10. Hamilton Ac. 21 3 5 13 17 39 14  
 
Date:  14/01/2023  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2038 Referee: Steven McLean
 
Inverness CT: 0
Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup:  Ridgers; Carson, Duffy, Devine, Delaney, Henderson (L Nicolson 83), Welsh, Hyde (Boyd 71), Doran (Woods 71), D Mackay (Shaw 45), B Mckay (Oakley 80) Subs (not used):  C Mackay, Strachan, Thompson, Cairns Scorers: none Booked: Delaney (21), Welsh (56) Sent Off: none Queens Park : 0
Manager: Owen Coyle Lineup:  Ferrie; Davidson, Kilday, Fox, Robson, Thomas, Thomson, Savoury, Boateng, McPake (Jarrett 67), Murray Subs (not used): Heraghty; Naismith, Longridge, Biggar, Williamson, Healy, Bannon, Eze Scorers: none Booked: Kilday (50) Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2022-23 ·

Inverness CT -V- Queens Park - Preview

Spiders are coming
 
High Scoring League Leaders Queens Park come North on Saturday looking to keep ahead of the chasing pack as they face a recently revitalised Caley Thistle in an eagerly awaited cinch Championship encounter. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00pm. We can look forward to this one with a bit more optimism after two high scoring wins since the turn of the year has breathed some new life into the struggling Caley Jags and their ailing fans. However this is a different beast we face after the relatively easy time we had against Cove and Arbroath. Queens themselves are scoring for fun and will be a massive test for us to see if we have really turned the corner or are we still a long way short of the finished article.
 
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Match/Ticket info
Official Preview
New Signing Ben Woods
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Venue H2H v Queens Park Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 10 4 4 2 15 12 +3 Away 7 5 0 2 14 10 +4 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 17 9 4 4 29 22 +7 We've not seen much of Queens park over recent years, but this new improved version are proving to be quite a handful. This is just the third meeting since 2010 when we won 3 - 0 in a League Cup fixture in Inverness.
Last 10 Competitive Meetings. First two are from this season, the rest start at 2010 backwards.
1 - 2
(A)
1 - 1
(H)
3 - 0
(H)
1 - 2
(H)
2 - 0
(H)
2 - 1
(A)
1 - 0
(H)
3 - 2
(A)
2 - 2
(H)
2 - 1
(A) We drew the first fixture 1 - 1 at the Caledonian Stadium this season. Here's the CTO summary from that game in July:
Queens make their point: Queens 39 year hiatus from this tier of football ended as they ventured into the Championship, and it all started well when Jake Davidson opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute. In a half of many chances, Bily Mckay levelled the score a minute before the interval. That's how it stood until the final whistle with neither side able to make the breakthrough despite numerous opportunities at both ends thanks to Callum Ferrie and Mark Ridgers and some wayward finishing. Queens Park showing they are not here just to make up the numbers and were good value for their point.
Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts   1. Queens Park 20 12 3 5 44 27 39 2. Ayr United 20 10 5 5 39 27 35 3. Dundee 20 10 5 5 33 25 35 4. Partick Thistle 21 10 3 8 42 36 33 5. Morton 19 8 6 5 28 21 30 6. Inverness CT 20 8 5 7 30 28 29 7. Raith Rovers 21 8 4 9 26 27 28 8. Cove Rangers 20 5 6 9 28 40 21 9. Arbroath 21 3 8 10 18 34 17 10. Hamilton Ac. 20 2 5 13 16 39 11 SATURDAY 14TH JANUARY (all 3:00pm)
Ayr United v Arbroath
Cove Rangers v Raith Rovers
Dundee v Partick
    Accies v Morton
  Inverness CT v Queens Park
Last Time Out
Our last two games since the turn of the year saw us bang in an unprecedented of late ten goals. Six against Cove was followed by four at Arbroath. Billy Mckay scored a hat-trick against Cove and one at Arbroath to put him on 90 goals. Few would bet against him reaching Dennis Wyness' all time record of 102. 
Queens Park also stuffed six past Cove and beat Partick Thistle 2-0 in 2023. They also played Raith Rovers in the Challenge Cup but went down 1-0 to a late goal from Rovers. I wouldn't read too much into that result, they have bigger fish to fry. Queens are the highest scoring team in the League but they are defensively similar to Inverness.
Latest Team News
Nathan Shaw will return to the squad after injury and Daniel Mackay should be fit enough after taking a knock at Arbroath. Max Ram will require another couple of weeks after being injured at Cove. New signing, midfielder Ben Woods, is available for selection tomorrow.
 
Here's birthday boy Zak Delaney
 

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are delighted to announce the signing of English midfielder Ben Woods on a deal until the end of the season.  
Woods, 20 years-old, spent part of his youth career at Manchester United’s Academy signing for them at age 9 and playing there until he was 16 years-old which included having been called up for England at age 15, before moving to fellow Premiership Academy Burnley at 16 years-old. Ben left the Clarets 4 years later in 2022. 
Welcome aboard Ben  
By tm4tj in Previews 2022-23 ·

Arbroath 1-4 Inverness CT

Smokies Smoked
 
Both clubs had big wins in the first games of 2023 and it was Inverness that continued in style with a 4-1 win at Gayfield. Billy Mckay, who scored a hat-trick last week, opened the scoring at the back post in the ninth minute but Ben El-Mhanni levelled fifteen minutes later when he slotted into the bottom corner. Jay Henderson put us ahead just before the break as he lifted a shot high into the net from inside the box. Twenty minutes into the second half Dan Mackay shot into the bottom corner to double our advantage. Substitute Lewis Nicolson concluded the scoring in the 86th minute with a header from sub Steven Boyd's cross. Great win on the road for the Caley Jags that moves us into sixth place in the table, eleven points behind table toppers Queens Park who we face next week. Great start to 2023 for the Caley Jags with two big wins on the bounce.
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Wallace Duffy returned to the starting XI after suspension and Zak Delaney showed no adverse reaction to continue at left back. Jay Henderson played his second game for the club. No other returnees and Max Ram looks to have been added to the still extensive injury list. Arbroath had four new signings in the squad with Ben El-Mhannie, Balde and Adarkwa all starting. 
Arbroath got the game underway but it was the visitors that took an early lead. Good work by Lewis Hyde down the right and his low cross saw Dan Mackay take a swipe at the ball. He sclaffed it somewhat but one again it was poacher extraordinaire Billy Mckay who reacted best to get to the ball at the back post to knock it in from less than a yard. Great start for the visitors.
Sean Ardarkwa cut in from the left but his curling shot from the edge of the box dipped just over the bar. However the hosts were level when the tidy Yasin Ben El-Mhannie met a low João Baldé cross into the box to slot home from around twelve yards, his first goal for Arbroath after two great assists last week against Dundee.
Inverness almost regained the lead immediately but for Thomas O'Brien with a goal line clearance from Billy Mckay. Five minutes before the interval the bustling Ardarkwa shot just wide across the face of Ridgers' goal with the keeper scrambling across his line to cover his far post.
Just on the break Jay Henderson opened his Caley Jags account after a corner fell to him around the penalty spot. It appears that his knee made contact with the ball and it lifted into the top of the net above the floundering defenders. Maybe Inverness could consider themselves slightly fortunate to go in ahead at the interval, but thems the breaks.
HALF TIME: 1-2
After half time it was encouraging to see Inverness looking to build on their first half advantage. Sean Welsh fired a free kick at Gaston, the keeper gathering the curling ball at the second attempt. Gaston did brilliantly to deny Billy Mckay from six yards after Aaron Doran flashed a low ball into the box from the right side. From the resultant corner, Gaston again did brilliantly to deny Mckay as tried to divert Sean Welsh's header into the net, the keeper clawing the header away from danger. Inverness looked likely to run away with the game early in the second half. Dan Mackay gave us the cushion to do just that as he slotted home a through ball from Welsh after we broke play up in the right midfield area. Unfortunately Mackay was replaced by Lewis Nicolson with fifteen minutes remaining after taking a sore one, hopefully just bruising as hinted at by Billy Dodds after the game. 
Ben El-Mhannie drilled a shot just the wrong side of the post as Arbroath tried to respond, but it was a bit of too little too late and Aaron Doran did well down the left before drilling a dangerous low cross into the box that was heading for a tap-in before a defender sliced it over his own bar. The last goal was the icing on the cake when substitute Lewis Nicolson nudged a header back across the six yard box and into an unguarded net. Mckay and then Steven Boyd combined to set up the chance which Lewis executed exquisitely, his second goal for the club enjoyed muchly by the 143 away fans at Gayfield. 
FULL TIME: 1-4
 
Downside of this win was another injury for Dan Mackay. Great to see Jay Henderson and Lewis Nicolson getting amongst the goals and another for Billy Mckay as he chases Dennis Wyness' scoring record of 102 goals. Billy is now on 91.
Arbroath is never an easy place to get a win, never mind a big one, we'll take that.
 
 

 
 
Date:  07/01/2023  Venue: Gayfield, Arbroath Attendance: 1803 Referee: Gavin Duncan 
 
Arbroath: 1
Manager: Dick Campbell Lineup:  Gaston; Oakley (Linn 67), Bitsindou (Hilson 67), O'Brien, Hamilton, Ben El-Mhanni (Dow 77), Mckenna, Gold (Little 45), Balde, Stewart, Adarkwa Subs (not used):  Gill; Hoti, Allan Scorers: El-Mhanni (26) Booked: Gold (35), Hamilton (55) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 4
Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup:  Ridgers; Carson, Duffy, Devine, Delaney (Strachan 88), D Mackay (A Nicolson 75), Welsh, Hyde, Doran (Boyd 84), Henderson (Thompson 88), B Mckay (Oakley 88) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Cairns Scorers: B Mckay (9) Henderson (45), D Mackay (65), L Nicolson (86) Booked: Devine (16), Duffy (33), Henderson (61),  Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2022-23 ·

Arbroath -V- Inverness CT - Preview

Arbroath Test
 
Inverness and Arbroath started 2023 with a bang, something's got to give as the New Year big hitters collide at Gayfield on Saturday. Both sides had been struggling to build anything before Xmas but found their goal scoring boots in the New Year games. Inverness put six past Cove Rangers and Arbroath had a stunning 4-2 win at League leaders Dundee. Plenty of changes at Arbroath for Inverness to contend with, however Dick and Dom are still going strong at the helm.
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Match/Ticket/Bus Info
Arbroath Audio available
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Venue H2H v Arbroath Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 23 16 4 3 57 19 +38 Away 21 9 6 6 26 22 +4 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 44 25 10 9 83 41 +42 Inverness shading the away fixtures but the games have generally been tight affairs in recent years apart from a rogue 3 - 0 win for the Caley Jags in March 2022. No scoring draw anyone?
Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Arbroath - Honours even over last seven meetings
1 - 1
(H)
0 - 0
(A)
0 - 0
(A)
0 - 0
(H)
3 - 0
(H)
0 - 0
(A)
0 - 1
(H)
1 - 0
(A)
1 - 0
(H)
1 - 1
(A) Last away win at Arbroath was a 1 - 0 win back in July 2021 when Shane Sutherland was the difference between the sides in a tight game on a difficult day for football.
CTO summary: After a goalless first half Shane Sutherland broke through the middle to drink the ball neatly over Gaston for the opening goal with just over twenty minutes left. A late rally from the hosts should have drawn them level but Inverness hung on grimly to take all three points. In the opening forty-five, Sutherland had an effort cleared off the line and Nouble proved to be an awkward customer as he bulldozed his way around the park spurning the Lichties best chance of the first half. It was a welcome three points but a difficult watch throughout.
Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts   1. Queens Park 19 11 3 5 38 27 36 2. Dundee 19 10 4 5 32 24 34 3. Ayr United 19 9 5 5 38 27 32 4. Morton 18 8 6 4 27 19 30 5. Partick Thistle 20 9 3 8 40 35 30 6. Raith Rovers 20 8 3 9 25 26 27 7. Inverness CT 19 7 5 7 26 27 26 8. Cove Rangers 19 5 6 8 28 34 21 9. Arbroath 20 3 8 9 17 30 17 10. Hamilton Ac. 19 2 5 12 16 38 11  
FRIDAY 6TH JANUARY (7:45pm)
Raith Rovers v Dundee Fc
SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY (3:00pm)
  Arbroath v Inverness
Ayr United v Hamilton 
   Cove R v Queen's
    Partick v Morton
Meetings this season
It's the third meeting this season and both previous games had ended all square. No goals back in August in the first fixture and a 1 - 1 draw back at the Caledonian Stadium in November thanks to goals from Nathan Shaw and Kieran Shanks. Mark Ridgers had been benched after the Morton gubbing as we entered our slump. Both sides have only one win in their last six games, but what wins they were. Six of the best including a Billy Mckay hat-trick, his fourth for the Caley Jags, with Devine and a couple of og's. Arbroath stung Dundee with four away from home for the Smokies at Dens Park. McKenna, Hamilton, O'Brien and Hilson put ten man Dundee to the sword and toppled them off their lofty perch.
Latest Team News
Great to see Mark Ridgers back between the sticks against Cove. Hopefully that's the end of the Ridgers Rift. Zak Delaney returned from injury and Sean Welsh played again but no sign of more recent casualties like Nathan Shaw, Cammy Harper. Roddy MacGrgor or Austin Samuels. Jay Henderson fitted in well on his debut and looks to be an asset and we have also taken young loan players back on board. Ryan Barrett has left the building after his loan deal ended. Wallace Duffy should be available for selection after his suspension last week.
 
 
 
Arbroath 
OUT x4: Lot of changes at Arbroath as they try to save their season. Kareem Isiaka has left Arbroath after his loan deal expired and Kieran Shanks has gone on loan to Peterhead with Ryan Dow moving in the opposite direction. Daniel Fosu has left and Mason Hancock has returned to Aberdeen with a knee injury that has ended his season. 
IN x4: Yasin Ben El-Mhanni made his debut against Dundee and ran the show in that stunning away win and has plenty of quality. Former West Ham and QPR striker Sean Adarkwa is another new to the Smokies as is Joao Balde coming in from Hibernian.  As noted above, the experienced Ryan Dow comes in from Peterhead on an 18 month deal.
Midfielder Keaghan Jacobs is in rehab after a knee operation.
 
 
 
 
 
By tm4tj in Previews 2022-23 ·

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