No massacre, but 3 points

It's Valentines day and with Accies and the Caley Jags having an extra two and a half hours to relax before kick-off, we would have to wait and see how the off-field shenanigans would affect the players after Accies were handed a further six point deduction, taking their total points deduction to a massive twenty-one this season. Fortunately for Accies so far, their onfield form has kept them afloat, but that's a crippling sanction for any club, in fact it's a massacre!

Full Time scores for the 3:00 pm fixtures at the top end of the table: QotS 1-2 Alloa & Stenny 2-2 Monty. Those results will put a bit of pressure on the Caley Jags to perform and hopefully extend their lead. Accies will be pleased with results at the bottom end, Cove losing to East Fife and Kelty drawing with Peterhead.

With the game on BBC Alba, it was there for all to see and the end result was three points for the Caley Jags courtesy of a decisive header from top scorer Alfie Bavidge his 18th of the season in all competitions. It may have been the playing surface, but whatever it was, it wasn't the best of games for screening on TV. However, it's an important three points.

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Big shout for a penalty when Zimba went down in the box after five minutes, but to be honest, he never convinced anyone. First big chance of the game came at the back post after a free kick was met by Mitchell Robertson on the corner of the six yard box but he skied it well over the bar. Twenty minutes in and it wasn't much of a spectacle so far, untidy stuff on what looked like a difficult surface. Accies made a hash of scoring after cutting us open down the right, Crookston hitting himself with the ball instead of the back of the net with Munro gathering the loose ball. Plenty possession for the visitors but little in the way of opportunities falling for us. A dangerous chip into the box with half an hour gone was headed behind for a corner to Accies but Munro claimed the corner well. A neat bit of ball juggling by Ben Brannan before he shot goalwards forced young keeper Josh Lane to save the bobbling ball. Accies went close with a Newman header off a corner, the ball hitting the stanchion holding the net back with Munro rooted to the spot. In our next attack we won a corner. It was taken short and laid back to Ben Brannan who fired first time into the box where Alfie Bavidge dived low to head behind Lane from six yards to give us the lead going into the break.

HALF TIME: 0-1

A brisk start to the second half by Accies saw them have two or three swipes at the ball inside the Inverness box but the defence managed to block before scrambling the ball clear. O'Hara then could have done better as he headed wide five minutes after the restart. Inverness were living dangerously in the early minutes of the second half. Nearly an own goal when Robertson's cross spun off the defenders boot and just wide of the far post. From the corner, Calum MacLeod fired a shot over from the edge of the box. Minutes later Bavidge bought himself a yard of space but the keeper was able to smother his shot. Another quick break forward with Liam Sole feeding MacLeod but he dragged his shot wide under pressure from defenders. Accies went up the park and squandered another half chance, but it was the visitors who were now looking more likely to add a second and MacLeod could have done better with a chip after being played in, however he duffed his attempt. Oli Shaw had his head in his hands after he missed a sitter, smashing it off the stanchion again from eight yards after good work down the left flank Inverness were pushing their luck again and unable to get their foot on the ball as Accies sensed they might get something from the game with twenty minutes remaining. It was an untidy affair now with passes going astray and no composure whatsoever. A good interchange ended with MacLeod firing high over from the edge of the box. McKinstry fired over as the clock ticked towards the ninety with the visitors clinging on by their fingernails. At least they had fingernails, the fans had none left. Despite a stirring second half by Accies it was Inverness that stretched their lead at the head of the table.

FULL TIME: 0-1

Scott Kellacher thought it was a good game Not sure what game he was watching but on my telly it was carnage. One man with the one bit of real quality won the points. Alfie Bavidge dived to meet Ben Brannan's ball back into the box following a corner and Bavidge met it with his head to flash the ball into the net from six yards. Great goal but after that there were loads of missed chances from both sides with poor finishing keeping the score at 0-1 to the visitors.

Huisdean on CTO: Poor game with a just about deserved win. Too many players not at their best and seemingly unable to pass to each other especially late in the second half. Still, a vital win and a win next week would put us in a strong position. By the way, the playing surface looked and played, dreadfully at times. These surfaces really need to be banned.

Date:  14/02/2026  Venue: Broadwood Stadium Attendance: 0480 Referee: Cameron Stirling
 
Hamilton Accies: 0

• Manager: Darian MacKinnon

• Lineup:  Lane; Hutton (Gallagher 46), Smutek, Kilday, Hendrie, MacDonald, Newbury,

• Crookston (Black 86), Shaw, McKinstry, O'Hara

• Subs (not used): Eadie, Forrest, Morgan, Shiels, Simpson, Stafford

• Scorers: none

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 1

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; Brannan, Devine, Savage, Robertson, Sole (Longstaff 69), MacLeod,

• Allan (Alonge 86), Stewart Bavidge (Willox 82), Zimba (B Mckay 69)

• Subs (not used): Ross; MacIntyre, Wotherspoon, MacKinnon

• Scorers: Bavidge (37)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none