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.

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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

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