Paul's Birthday Stunner

They came North on a seven game losing streak with their Fifer's. Dick Campbell's side are on a worse run than Ross County after opening the season with a solid set of results. They went South with another defeat to add to that list.

Scott Kellacher boosted his squad with the addition of Ben Brannan on loan from Kilmarnock until the end of the season. Ben is no stranger having already made eleven appearances for the Caley Jags last season scoring once and making dozens of loooooong throws. Welcome back Ben. The Fifers had bolstered their squad with a handful of new signings in the sales as they look to stop the rot. Beware to the wrath of the Campbell guys.

It turned out to be a relatively comfortable afternoon for the Caley Jags who got off to the best possible start through Alfie Stewart in the third minute when he drilled home from the left side of the box. We were then profligate as we seemed to make an easy job more difficult. Stewart was on a shoot on sight mission firing at the target from distance a number of times in the opening quarter. Plenty of possession but opportunities came and went. Zimba declined to score off a Bavidge cut-back and Jordan Alonge looked favourite to score when he burst into the box on the inside right position. His venomous shot blurred just wide. We could easily have been three or four up at the interval. Second half was much the same. Just after the restart, Bavidge picked his spot when he curled a low shot goalwards. Unfortunately that spot was two feet wide of the post. However, the introduction of Longstaff and Allan seemed to make us more incisive. Paul Allan's goal was a belter after some intricate work deep on the left flank before Allan smashed his shot high into the net from around sixteen yards to give the keeper no chance; precision and power. Zimba might have shot a step sooner after Alfie Stewart threaded him through on goal with a perfectly weighted pass. Unfortunately the keeper blocked Zimba's effort before the deflected shot was headed clear from goal by a defender. The deal was sealed after a bit of a stramash inside the box following a corner as Alfie Bavidge attacked the loose ball to nut it swiftly into the net ten minutes from the end. Spoony was close to adding a fourth having done all the hard work as he cut in from the left side. Alas his parting shot was blocked.

FULL TIME: 3-0

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Some good performances today. My pick was Alfie Bavidge who ran the channel well and sent some inviting balls into the box that were not pounced on by his team mates. Got his reward before the end as he head butted the ball into the net. Calum MacLeod and Remi Savage were immense at the back snuffing everything out that East Fife had to offer. Alfie Stewart was the sponsors MotM but I thought he faded after a scintillating start.

Great result for the Caley Jags who top the table on their own tonight. Queen of the South dropped two points at Cove in a 1-1 draw.

 Dick's post match should be interesting...

Here's Dick

Date:  07/02/2026  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2160 Referee: Gary Hanvidge 
 
Inverness CT: 3

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, Robertson, Sole (Allan 62), Alonge (Longstaff 62),

• Chalmers (Wotherspoon 79), Stewart (Brannan 84), Bavidge, Zimba (B Mckay 79)

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

• Scorers: Stewart (3), Allan (69), Bavidge (81)

• Booked: Alonge (36)

• Sent Off: none

East Fife: 0

• Manager: Dick Campbell

• Lineup:  Hemfrey; Halsey (Bah 73), Millar, Wilson, McManus, Peggie (80), Munro, Halliday (Healy 63),

• Latona (Norey 80), Rowe (Slattery 63), Oladipo

• Subs (not used): Rollo; Newton, Linton

• Scorers: none

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none