Keeper Saves a Point

There were no major injury worries for either side ahead of our League1 fixture at the Caledonian SarensPSG Stadium with both gaffers eying up maximum points from this one. Scott Kellacher was looking to stay ahead of the baying pack and Paul Hartley will have his sights set on overhauling Dick Campbell's free falling East Fife. Some key fixtures today with Accies hosting QotS, Stenhousemuir facing a treacherous visit to Peterhead and in the late televised game Montrose entertain Alloa Athletic. A big one at Cove's end of the table as well with bottom club Kelty at home to East Fife. All to play for...

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Liam Sole was missing for Inverness and Balint Demus was favoured in goal for Cove with Robbie Mutch on the bench. Would that prove to be crucial? Well it appears so with Alfie Stewart notching our 100th goal of the season, up popped Demus with a header to level the game with the last play of the game. Two points thrown away in a game we should be looking to win. Scunnered much! We lost our lead at the top in a four point swing with Stenny scoring their winner in the 89th minute and Demus denying us at the death. Alloa looked likely to take full advantage scoring two first half goals to throw their hat into the ring but were pegged back before the break before a rampant Montrose ran out winners in a nine goal thriller.

It's the Caley Jags way. Meh!

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We were eager to get that 100th goal on a brisk afternoon and Joe Chalmers shot over in the second minute and Billy Mckay and Jordan Alonge both had 'goals' disallowed. Plenty early possession but little to show for it as Cove dug deep to keep us at bay. Oscar MacIntyre brought out a save from Demus in the visitors goal and Cooper Masson gave Ross Munro some work to do at the other end. Demus then saved low down from a Bavidge effort and Billy Mckay went close to the top corner as the pressure mounted towards the interval. That 100th goal was coming and it was a tremendous 25 yard plus left footer from Alfie Stewart when it came. His thunderbolt from outside the box found the top corner with the assist from Paul Allan's nod forward. Chris Maguire had the final effort of the half as his shot was blocked just before the break.

HALF TIME: 1-0

Alonge failed to beat the keeper right at the start of the second half after a great ball from Billy Mckay put him in but Demus denied him, blocking inside the six yard box. Alonge then headed well over over from a scoring position inside the box off a corner on the left. On the hour O'Donnell went close and the subs started to flow thereafter. Wotherspoon shot wide for the hosts and Teasdale did the same for the visitors. Big chance for a big lad as Chanka Zimba saw his stretched effort clawed off the line following a flick from Alonge. Great save by the keeper to be honest! More subs followed as everyone thought we would be seeing out the game. Alas a late corner for Cove saw Demus come up into our box and who else but the keeper headed Cove level to claim a vital point as we threw two points down the drain. The mystery is why nobody challenged him as he was given the freedom of the box to nod home.

Gutting!

FULL TIME: 1-1

 We can't say we have not been warned as these type of displays have been happening for weeks. Plenty of possession and shots etc but a one goal lead is never enough and today we paid the price for a lack of sharpness in front of goal. Not a great idea to ignore the Cove keeper in our box, he's a big chap and we paid the price for that defensive lapse. That's four points dropped against the bottom two sides in a fortnight. That's not the form of Champions as we crawl towards the finishing line.

 Yngwie on CTO: On 89 minutes we were gaining 2 points v Stenny, but a few minutes later they have actually gained 2 on us. Can’t do anything about their late winner but we can control our own performances and that was a very disappointing result. We should be winning games like this but often struggle to score goals.

Howdenender on CTO: And so he (Kellacher) should look very unhappy, after another desperately poor performance against a team near the bottom of the table. Strongest squad in the league, full time players, we should be over the hill and out of sight by now, instead no consistency of selection and frankly baffling substitutions have us stumbling towards the finish line.

Alan summed up: An insipid, inept performance from the entire team. It seems that when we play teams in the bottom part of the league the players think they can just turn up and the three points will automatically be handed out.

Date:  14/03/2026  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 1823 Referee: Jamie McCunnie 
 
Inverness CT: 1

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup: Munro; Brannan, Devine, Savage, MacIntyre, Allan (Wotherspoon 62), Alonge (MacLeod 81),

• Chalmers, Stewart (Longstaff 73), Bavidge (MacKinnon 62), B Mckay (Zimba 73)

• Subs (not used): Ross; Robertson, Willox

• Scorers: Stewart (39)

• Booked: Savage (80)

• Sent Off: none

Cove Rangers: 1

• Manager: Paul Hartley

• Lineup:  Demus; Bisland (Carrol 68), Darge, Parker, Harrington, Masson (Teasdale 68), Yule,

• O'Donnell (McAllister 78), Emslie, Megginson, Maguire (D Eguaibor 84)

• Subs (not used): Mutch; J Eguaibor, Strachan

• Scorers: Demus (90+4)

• Booked: Maguire (41), Darge (90)

• Sent Off: none