Montrose 2-1 Inverness CT - League 1
After much speculation over the Links Park pitch, this game went ahead as scheduled at the home of the Gable Endies. Montrose are one of the form sides over recent games with three wins over the last four, and Inverness, despite also losing last week, were still top of the table with two wins and a draw over the last four. Scott Kellacher rang the changes after last weeks lacklustre performance at Stenhousemuir with Sole, Bavidge, Wotherspoon and MacKinnon rested, Zimba restrained and Millen, Stewart, Longstaff and Mckay starting. Full squad from Montrose but no Machado. Twelve points separated the teams ahead of kick off and when the dust settled Montrose were three points closer to us. A third minute strike from Alfie Stewart got the visitors off to a great start in a grim first half. Blair Lyons tied the game on the hour with Ross Millen sent off in the aftermath of that goal. The winner came from Ker Waddell after 74 minutes. Meh!
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The Caley Jags were quick out of the blocks and the reinstated Alfie Stewart fired us ahead after just three minutes shooting home from inside the box into the top corner off a precision pass from Danny Devine (never thought I'd be writing that). That'll do his prospects of extending his loan here no harm. Mitchell Robertson was put through on goal after Luis Longstaff's equally precise ball sent him in on the left side but he shot just wide. Montrose were seeing plenty of the ball in the opening quarter and forced a couple of corners which came to nothing. Top scorer Graham Webster shot wide of the top corner as the hosts looked to get back on level terms. Billy Mckay was set free by another long ball forward but Cammy Gill was equal to the effort to keep it out and Ross Millen picked out Paul Allan coming in from the left but his effort was weak whilst at the other end the dangerous Callum Sandilands brought Ross Munro into action as he saved his close range header brilliantly towards the bottom corner with half an hour gone. Paul Allan had another effort before the break where he appeared to slip as he shot with Gill gathering the trundled effort easily after another tremendous long ball from Danny Devine. Montrose were knocking on the door though as half time approached and Terry Masson shot over as we maintained our precarious advantage to the interval in a half devoid of serious goalmouth action. Here's hoping we can be more clinical after the interval.
HALF TIME: 0-1
Montrose were first to threaten after the break and Ross Munro denied Webster five minutes after the restart. He then missed the target three minutes later as the hosts again dominated proceedings. Chances at both ends as Cammy Gill saved from Paul Allan where he appeared to slip as he shot with Gill gathering the trundled effort easily after another tremendous long ball from Danny Devine and Ross Munro kept out an effort from Sandilands. Paul Allan then headed a Longstaff chip into the ground which took the sting out of the ball and made it an easy catch for the keeper. Can't say we weren't warned and Blair Lyons levelled the game just after the hour from close range and we were reduced to ten men when Ross Millen was red carded in the aftermath of the equaliser, presumably for talking out of turn. Alfie Stewart hit a free kick off the underside of the bar as we plodded on before Montrose took the lead after 74 mins through Waddell as he showed how to head down and up into the net. Inverness rang the changes with Alfie Bavidge, Chanka Zimba and Oscar MacIntyre on for Billy Mckay, Luis Longstaff and Alfie Stewart. All five subs were on before the end and Alfie Bavidge was denied by Cammy Gill as injury time came and went.
FULL TIME: 2-1
Another festive flop from the Caley Jags and a man sent off into the bargain for his discussion with the referee.
First back to back defeats for Kellacher in a disappointing end to the year.
Scott Kellacher could not hide his disappointment after this one which he felt was a sore one to take citing that we created enough chances, especially in the first half.
We got into some great positions with lot's of defence splitting passes, unfortunately an extra touch, poor decision or fluffed shot meant we made it easy for Cammy Gill and his defenders to mop up our efforts. Nothing Gill could do about the well taken goal from Alfie Stewart with a great finish and Alfie was very unlucky with his free kick that struck the underside of the bar with the keeper beaten. And Paul Allan: He did the Paul Gascoigne bit well before slipping onto his arse as he shot. Meh!
All in, it's a wake up call as the pack close in behind us with Queen of the South looking serious contenders after a big win over Hamilton Accies. Alloa and Stenhousemuir drew and Kelty and Cove did everyone else a favour beating East Fife and Peterhead.
Pos
Team
Pld
Gd
Pts
1
ICTFC
18
20
33
2
Stenny
19
5
31
3
Queens
19
4
31
4
Alloa
19
10
29
5
P'Head
19
-11
26
6
E Fife
18
-3
25
7
Monty
19
-9
24
8
Accies
19
12
16
9
Cove
19
-4
16
10
Kelty
19
-24
12
No Listen!
Date: 27/12/2025 Venue: Links Park, Montrose Attendance: **** Referee: Gary Hanvidge
Montrose FC: 2
Manager: Stewart Petrie
Lineup: Gill; Williamson (Waddell 70), Quinn, Dillon, Steeves, Masson (Brown 69), Freeman,
Sandilands, Webster, Louden (May 94), Lyons (Stevenson 84)
Subs (not used): Millar; Bertie, Clark, McClenents, Mochrie
Scorers: Lyons (62), Waddell (74)
Booked: Gill (82)
Sent Off: none
Inverness CT: 1
Manager: Scott Kellacher
Lineup: Munro; Millen, Devine, Savage, Robertson (Alonge 85), MacLeod, Allan (Sole 85),
Stewart (McIntyre 75), Chalmers, Longstaff (Bavidge 75), B Mckay (Zimba 75)
Subs (not used): Ross; S Thompson, Wotherspoon, MacKinnon
Scorers: Stewart (3)
Booked: Longstaff (42)
Sent Off: Millen (62)
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tm4tj in Reports 2025-26 ·
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