Sole Stunner Sets the Scene

The late game this week saw the Caley Jags who were on a three game winning run face Queen of the South who had lost two of their last three. The covers came off the pitch early and the frost had given up to reveal a pitch in perfect condition for this tea-time fixture. The earlier games saw Stenhousemuir record a big win at Peterhead to move level at the top with the Caley Jags on 23 points. Next Tuesday's opponents Alloa were held at Cove and are on 24points and Oli Shaw scored twice to keep Accies in touch on 21points with East Fife who lost at Montrose 4th on 22points.

Ross Millen was on the bench after returning from injury. Chanka Zimba started with Alfie Bavidge on the bench. Supplier Kai Kennedy started with Kurtis Guthrie the big danger up front for the visitors.

A couple of early opportunities for the hosts with Ross Stewart having to save from David Wotherspoon in the opening exchanges but we didn't have to wait long for the opener, and what a strike it was from Liam Sole. Chanka Zimba set it up with a superb spin on the left wing to leave the defender in his wake. He drilled his cross back to the edge of the eighteen yard line where Liam Sole met it without breaking stride 15 yards out to volley spectacularly behind the keeper. Great goal, great start for the Caley Jags. A Paul Allan free kick was tipped round the post by Stewart as we looked for a second in the twentieth minute. After a bit of a lull, we eased further ahead after half an hour when Sole won a free kick wide right. Joe Chalmers found Adam MacKinnon's head and he flicked it on for Zimba to react quickest to put the ball into the net a la Lawrence Shankland. Calum MacLeod went close as he met a ball inside the box but the keeper and defender managed to divert it just wide for a corner. It remained that way to the interval with Inverness dominant and Queens sporadic in their forays forward.

HALF TIME: 2-0

After the break the Caley Jags continued their possession game before extending their lead after some patient ball retention. Paul Allan and Mitchell Robertson combined for the latter to drill a low ball across the face of the goal where MacKinnon met the ball at the back post to punch it high into the net to give us the cushion to relax. No relaxing for Alfie Bavidge though as one minute after coming on he got on the end of a neat reverse pass from MotM MacKinnon to clip the ball behind the keeper. Queens were bedraggled by now and had we scored another four they could have no complaints. MacIntyre almost manufactured a last second goal for himself after getting through a couple of tackles, his parting shot bobbling across the face of the goal and just wide.

FULL TIME: 4-0

A totally dominant performance from the Caley Jags with Queens in disarray. Great all round display with quality goals. 

 Adam MacKinnon was the TV MotM and few could argue with that. However, there were no failures tonight and this win should put us in fine fettle for the trip to Alloa on Tuesday night.

We go back to three points ahead of Stenhousemuir who easily disposed of Peterhead at Balmoor.

Scott Kellacher was delighted with this

Date:  22/11/2025  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2003 Referee: Jamie Wilkie 
 
Inverness CT: 4

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, Robertson (MacIntyre 78), Sole (Longstaff 74),

• Allan, Chalmers (S Thompson 83), MacKinnon (Stewart 78), Wotherspoon, Zimba (Bavidge 74)

• Subs (not used):  Ross; Clark, Millen, Alonge

• Scorers: Sole (8), Zimba (35), MacKinnon (65), Bavidge (75)

• Booked: Zimba (31)

• Sent Off: none

Queen of the South: 0

• Manager: Peter Murphy

• Lineup:  Stewart; Mackenzie, Douglas, Hannah, Dickenson (Johnstone 76), Luissint, Smith (Charters 46),

• Lyon, Stott, Kennedy (Rogerson 69), Guthrie (Gray 82)

• Subs (not used): Green; Leslie, Ross

• Scorers: none

• Booked: Luissint (79), Mackenzie (85)

• Sent Off: none