The Clean Sheet Derby No More

Midweek at the Indodrill saw the two best defences in League1 battle it out for three points. Inverness made three changes with Liam Sole, Chanka Zimba and David Wotherspoon on the bench and Luis Longstaff, Alfie Bavidge, and Alfie Stewart starting. Billy Mckay and Ross Millen made the bench after their injury lay off. Both sides looked to have strong benches with plenty experience in reserve.

It was a chilly night at the Recreation Park but unlike last weekend, the first half was pretty even with little of note up for discussion as defences were on top in a mainly midfield battle. Both keepers made a couple of routine saves with Adam MacKinnon having our best effort and Cameron O'Donnell's header being denied by Munro seven minutes before the break. However, just on the whistle, up popped Luis Longstaff to break the deadlock as he shot into the bottom corner from a Paul Allan assist after we moved the ball across the park from the left side. Four touches later Longstaff shot across the keeper who got a hand on it but neither he nor the defender on the line were able to keep the ball from bouncing into the net.

HALF TIME: 0-1 

 Kalvin Orsi replaced Lewis Stewart at the start of the second half but it was the visitors that went about their business with intent as Paul Allan and Alfie Bavidge both missed the target from a tight angle five minutes into the half. MacKinnon followed suite minutes later. The Wasps hit back with Callum Burnside and Luke Rankin having a go before Kurtis Roberts shot over and was replaced moments later by Andrew Clarke. With twenty-five minutes remaining, Chanka Zimba replaced Alfie Bavidge. Alloa won a couple of corners and it was the visitors turn to concede a goal as Cameron O'Donnell levelled the game, knocking in following a corner. The visiting defence posted missing as O'Donnell tapped into an empty net. It was scooped away on the line but it was adjudged to already be over the line. Billy Mckay had an effort blocked near the end and a penalty shout for handball in the Alloa box went unanswered. The sort of appeals that VAR would have given. Meh!

FULL TIME: 1-1

Never an easy place to take points from and tonight was no exception.

A point apiece was probably a fair reflection on the game although a last minute penalty claim for handball was ignored by the referee.

Match reaction from CTO>>>

tm4tj asked: Not sure why we felt the need to make three changes to the side that rolled Queen of the South over.

Mantis answered: At one point we had Saturday’s XI back on the park after the subs and finished strongly. A draw was fair though, Alloa are no mugs.

How the table looks tonight

Superb image of Recreation Park taken by Mantis on CTO

From Alloa TV

No Listen!

Date:  25/11/2025  Venue: Recreation Park, Alloa Attendance: 0581 Referee: Euan Anderson
 
Alloa Athletic: 1

• Manager: Andy Graham

• Lineup:  MacFarlane, Taggart, Devine, Dewar, O'Donnell (Mckay 87), Roberts (Clarke 64), Hetherington, Scougall (Donnelly 75), Rankin (Sammon 74), Burnside, Stewart (Orsi 46)

• Subs (not used):  Ogayi; Buchanan, Foster, Gallagher,

• Scorers: O'Donnell (74)

• Booked: Dewar (36)

• Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 1

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, Robertson, Longstaff (Wotherspoon 74), Allan, Chalmers, MacKinnon (B Mckay 89), Stewart (Sole 74), Bavidge (Zimba 66)

• Subs (not used): Ross; S Thompson, Millen, MacIntyre, Alonge

• Scorers: Longstaff (45)

• Booked: MacKinnon (38)

• Sent Off: none