Stalemates in the Highlands

The olde training ground derby saga continued in the Highlands with Kelty Hearts visiting the Caledonian Sarens PSG Stadium. Up until this meeting, Kelty have struggled to make headway this season lingering near the bottom with the Caley Jags near the top end. Last time the clubs met here back in April Kelty went home with all three points. This term, we opened our League1 campaign with a 3-0 win at Kelty. Could we consolidate our League position, or will Kelty get back on track? All would be revealed at five o'clock. As it happened, it was a disappointing performance and result where we lost ground on Accies and Stenhousemuir after a frustrating 2-2 draw against a poor Kelty side who could not believe they took a two goal lead before we pegged them back. Two goals from Innes Murray, one of them from the spot gave Kelty something to defend. Danny Devine reduced the leeway just before the break and Chanka Zimba powered in a second half header but we were unable to breach the defence again and a share of the spoils was the end result.

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 Alfie Bavidge was preferred to Billy Mckay up front and Calum MacLeod was at right back in place of the injured Ross Millen. We looked to have plenty of attacking options with , Sole, Spoony, Longstaff and Allan all starting. Zimba, Mckay, Stewart and MacKinnon were all on the bench. Ricco Diack was suspended for the visitors with Innes Murray one of the main threats and on loan Aberdeen youngster Joe Teasdale starting.

It was a tentative start from both sides as they eased into the game on a calm Saturday afternoon which should have been conducive to good football. Kelty were first to threaten when they benefitted from the break of the ball and Joe Teasdale was slipped in on the right side of goal, however, under pressure from Oscar MacIntyre, he scuffed his shot wide from a great position around twelve yards out. We failed to heed this early warning and eight minutes later Teasdale fed Innes Murray through and he was given the freedom of our penalty box to slot the ball in from just wide of the same area that Teasdale almost did. Shoddy defending and keeper Munro might want to sharpen up on his angles when he watches this one back. Calum MacLeod got himself into a great position on the end of a bit of team ball retention around the Kelty box, alas his neat turn and shot went high and wide. A blocked shot from Aaron Arnott had to be tipped out for a corner with the keeper and defender combining to keep it out. From the resulting short corner, Joe Chalmers was harshly adjudged to have fouled Alex Ferguson as he tried to dribble inside the box. It appears as though there was minimal contact but Ferguson made the most of is to go down spreadeagled and con the referee into awarding a penalty. Soft award but Murray cared not a jot as he stroked in his and Kelty's second from the spot. We had to wait nearly twenty minutes for a response and it came in the shape of Danny Devine. A deeeeep corner that Richard Hastings would have been proud of saw Danny make a late run towards the back post for him to half volley a first timer into the net for a well worked training ground goal. Kelty almost got another gift when Munro slipped as he went to gather a harmless ball forward to just outside the edge of the box. He slipped as he took the ball back into the box and was able to gather at the second attempt as the vultures closed in. Moments later we almost levelled after MacIntyre let fly from twenty-five yards, but Adamson was equal to it flying across goal to his left to claw the ball away one handed for a superb save.

HALF TIME: 1-2

Longstaff had limped off badly at the break and was replaced by Chanka Zimba. He tried to make an early impact as he was played in on the left side of the box but his powerful low drive towards the near post was blocked away by the keeper and mopped up by the defenders with attackers in close attention. He would do better five minutes later when he got on the end of a brilliant reverse cross from Spoony to plant his header solidly behind Adamson. Liam Sole had been relatively quiet so far but he cut in off the left and brought out another blocked save from Adamson at his near post with around half an hour left to find a winner. Sadly, that winner was somewhat elusive as half chances came and went, mainly for the hosts. Sole, Devine and Zimba failed with headers as Inverness flattered to deceive and Kelty wasted more time than a Swiss watch factory. Billy Mckay fired one wide across the face of the goal. The closest we came to achieving our goal was in a frantic penalty box melee, when Alfie Stewart's snapshot was deflected agonisingly wide as it spun the wrong side of the post and out for a corner. MacKinnon and Stewart again had the final opportunities but we failed to find the net again on a frustrating afternoon for the home fans.

FULL TIME: 2-2

A thoroughly disappointing result and a frustrating watch having helped Kelty to a two goal lead. We were cut open too easily for the opening goal and if you want my opinion then the referee could just as easily have booked the Kelty player for diving having left his foot in there to ensure he made contact with the defender (Chalmers).

At the end of the day we lost ground on the top two and struggled to create clear openings. We also had too many passengers today.

Accies pumped Montrose 4-0 and Stenhousemuir beat Cove 1-0, both away from home. East Fife drew with Alloa and in the late game, Peterhead beat Queens 3-0.

Kelty Hearts Highlights>>>

Date:  18/10/2025  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2137 Referee: Jamie Wilkie
 
Inverness CT: 2

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, MacIntyre, Sole (Stewart 71), Allan (B Mckay 71),

• Chalmers (Alonge 95), Longstaff (Zimba 46), Wotherspoon, Bavidge (MacKinnon 87)

• Subs (not used):  Ross; Clark, Robertson, Strachan

• Scorers: Devine (42), Zimba (54)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

Kelty Hearts: 2

• Manager: Thomas O'Ware

• Lineup:  Adamson; Carrol (McInally 82), Brydon, Clay, Thomas, Murray, Ferguson, Arnott (Wyllie 82),

• Teasdale (Callaghan 70), Johnston, Moore (McCarvel 56)

• Subs (not used): Bexfield, Campbell, Leitch, Miller

• Scorers: Murray (11, 24pen)

• Booked: Arnott (36), Adamson (78)

• Sent Off: none

Still unbeaten in KDM

Matchday 5 of of the KDM Trophy saw Inverness travel to Station Park to take on Jim Weir's League2 side Forfar Athletic. Inverness had won their four previous fixtures in this seasons Challenge Cup and topped the table ahead of this fixture where their opponents had won three of their four fixtures. In the League campaigns, the Caley Jags had lost just their second game last week and sit third in League1. Forfar went down 2-1 at Elgin City in a League2 fixture last Saturday and they sit at the top end of mid-table.

Billy Mckay and Alfie Bavidge were up top for the Caley Jags with Liam Sole and Adam MacKinnon the providers. Ross Millen and Mitchell Robertson came into the back four with Devine dropping to the bench and MacLeod moving into midfield. Alfie Stewart has been representing Aberdeen B in this competition and he is at Elgin City today.Forfar had top scorer Martin Rennie up front with Scott Shepherd and Neil Stafford swapped with Marc McCallum in goal.

Inverness continued their winning run in the KDM Trophy. However, Forfar took a deserved first half lead through top scorer Martin Rennie who was injured in the process and promptly substituted. A stern talking to at the interval brought about a change in fortune as MacLeod and MacKinnon put the visitors ahead within ten minutes. Luis Longstaff added a third and Billy Mckay got a wonderful fourth at the end.

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A relatively quiet opening but there was a timely reminder that we would have to work hard to get anything from this game. Ten minutes in and Ross Munro produced a tremendous save to stop Stuart Morrison opening the scoring. Almost immediately after this warning, Paul Allan's curling free kick shaved the outside of the post. The hosts were prepared to have a go though and Craig Slater fired high and wide with Scott Shepherd going closer without troubling the keeper. Alfie Bavidge dragged an effort wide before the warning became a reality. Martin Rennie opened the scoring after waltzing through the visitors defence. Unfortunately for him he was replaced by Nathan Cannon minutes later after getting injured scoring his goal. That woke us up from our slumber and Paul Allan had an effort blocked before Billy Mckay and Adam MacKinnon were both denied by Neil Stafford in the home goal. Ross Millen took a knock before the break and was replaced by Joe Chalmers with MacLeod dropping deeper to right back. Still, it was the hosts that were creating the better opportunities and Jake Sutherland fluffed his cross and a grateful Munro Gathered. Bavidge and Billy Mckay tried to respond right on the interval but failed to find the target.

HALF TIME: 1-0

 Luis Longstaff replaced Liam Sole at the break as Inverness looked to inject a bit more urgency into this lacklustre side. It paid of five minutes into the second half when Calum MacLeod took advantage of pedestrian defending following a corner to level the game and Adam MacKinnon did likewise five minutes later. MacLeod then shot over, but Forfar were far from out of it and Angus Mailer was thwarted by another superb save by Ross Munro. However, the wind might have been taken out of the Loons sails when substitute Luis Longstaff scored a third for the Caley Jags drilling home on the end of a tidy move forward. Munro was heading for a MotM performance as he saved from Nathan Cannon. Billy Mckay took a knock with twenty minutes remaining but recovered and Longstaff was denied a second by Stafford as the subs came in. Billy Mckay headed wide ten minutes from the end. He would do better in the 90th minute though as he shot home from the edge of the box to complete the scoring with a classy finish. He'll be glad he stayed on the park now.

 FULL TIME: 1-4

Good effort by Forfar who caused the Caley Jags plenty of problems, especially in the first half.

The second half fightback was enough to see the Loons off, but it was not as easy as the score suggests.

We complete our KDM group fixtures when Dundee United visit on Tuesday November 11th.

Inverness will be one of the seeded sides which means they will avoid a Championship side in the first knock-out round.

Date:  11/10/2025  Venue: Station Park, Forfar Attendance: 0512 Referee: Euan Anderson
 
Forfar Athletic: 1

• Manager: Jim Weir

• Lineup:  Stafford; Allan (Lemon 71), Morrison, Bright, Martin, Sutherland (McLinden 71),

• Dolzanski, Slater (Richardson 59), Mailer, Shepherd (Lorimer 59), Rennie (Cannon 29)

• Subs (not used):  McCallum; Whatley

• Scorers: Rennie (26)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 4

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; Millen (Chalmers 38), Robertson, Savage, MacIntyre, Sole, Allan (Zimba 77),

• MacLeod, MacKinnon (Alonge 77) (Longstaff 46), B Mckay, Bavidge (Wotherspoon 73)

• Subs (not used): Ross; Clark, Strachan, Devine,

• Scorers: MacLeod (49), MacKinnon (55), Longstaff (63), B Mckay (90)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

CALEY JAGS BLOWN AWAY

With storm Amy raging around the Country, Accies and the Caley Jags faced off at Broadwood Stadium on a drookit and windswept Broadwood Stadium in this top of the table League1 clash. Both sides had made one change from last weekend. For Accies, Steven Bradley returned to the starting XI whilst the visitors Alfie Bavidge replaced Chanka Zimba who suffered a head knock against East Fife.

Accies blew Inverness away with Amy spoiling our day. Goals from O'Hara, McDonald and Shaw were enough to win the three points and send Accies to the top of the table. Bavidge scored our counter but we drop to third with Stenhousemuir second.

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The wind would play a big part in this fixture and three minutes in Connor Smith tried to catch Ross Munro out with a wind assisted free kick from near the halfway line, but the keeper was alert enough to tip it behind for a corner. Accies were well up for this one and Steven Bradley fired wide as the hosts used the conditions to their advantage. Scott Robinson had an effort deflected and grasped by Munro as he shot from outside the box. Robinson was keen to offload and fired another couple of salvo's just wide. In the Caley Jags first meaningful attack, Liam Sole cut in and curled an effort wide after twenty minutes. No surprise really that Accies took the lead midway through the half when Kevin O'Hara shot home after mugging Danny Devine and he almost doubled the lead a minute later with Munro saving. He saved again from a Loughrey header and an O'Hara effort as Accies dominated the first half. Alfie Bavidge broke the monopoly on opportunities but he saw his shot blocked. A wee bit of pressure on the home goal approaching the interval as Wotherspoon's strike from distance was saved by Jamie Smith. The visitors made it to the interval still within touching distance. Let's hope the wind doesn't drop.

HALF TIME: 1-0

 No changes at the break, and if anything, the wind was even stronger. Just after the hour we had a manic minute. Alfie Bavidge levelled from just inside the box as he rifled the ball high into the net after a deft backheel from Luis Longstaff. However, a minute later Accies lead was restored by Kyle MacDonald as he slotted into the bottom corner after some shoddy defending on our right side. With Inverness looking to press forward, and a stonewall penalty shout waved away as we tried to salvage something, Oli Shaw put the game to bed with a time added on strike into the bottom corner moments after being denied by the keeper. Meh!

FULL TIME: 3-1

It's not often that we can say this, but we were defensively poor today and were the architects of our own downfall. A poor choice of pass from MacIntyre led to Danny getting the ball nicked off him for the first. The second was a combination of sloppy defending and the wind, and the third we were found wanting when chasing the game.

On the plus side, Alfie Bavidge smashed home a great strike and despite the five point deduction, we are in the group at the right end of the table and just one point off the top. The only two sides to have beaten us are the ones directly above us.

This is the sequel to Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the wind...

It's the remake starring Kevin O'Hara in Gone with the wind.

Date:  04/10/2025  Venue: Broadwood Stadium Attendance: 0384 Referee: Sean Murdoch 
 
Hamilton Accies: 3

• Manager: John Rankin

• Lineup:  J Smith; Hutton, Kilday, Loughrey, Gallacher (Hendrie 74) MacDonald, C Smith, Robinson (McLuckie 66, McKinstry 72), O'Hara, Shaw, Bradley

• Subs (not used):  Marks, Morgan, Newbury, Eadie, MacKinnon

• Scorers: O'Hara (22), MacDonald (64) Shaw (90+2)

• Booked: Robinson (66) (McLuckie 69)

• Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 1

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, MacIntyre (Millen 78) Longstaff, Stewart (MacKinnon 59), Chalmers ( B Mckay 78), Sole (Allan 59), Wotherspoon (Alonge 86), Bavidge

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

• Scorers: Bavidge (63)

• Booked: Millen (90+3)

• Sent Off: none

Fifers Swamped in Second Half Blitz

The rain arrived just in time for kick-off in the Highlands after a few days of late Summer sun. The Fifers were in no mood to be turned over by an on form Inverness and made life difficult for their hosts in the first 45. However, David Wotherspoon headed the Caley Jags in front after seventeen minutes. Nathan Austin levelled just before the interval but Wotherspoon scored his second after an hour and a deflected effort by Alfie Stewart added a third minutes later. 99 bonk as substitute Alfie Bavidge completed the scoring in the 99th minute. That win puts Inverness top of the table for now.

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Plenty of posturing in the opening minutes as both teams tried to suss out their opponents. A Brian Easton header from the centre of the box was saved by Ross Munro in the thirteenth minute but five minutes later Inverness took the lead when David Wotherspoon scored with a looping header. Alfie Stewart tried his luck with a header of his own bur Ruairidh Adams gathered it comfortably. Dick Campbell's side were making it difficult for the hosts to create clear opportunities and Spoony shot wide on the half hour. Danny Devine headed wide with chances at a premium. Former Caley Jags striker Nathan Austin squared matters just before half time when he rose high to send a header into the net off Ewan McLeod's looping cross into the six yard box to stun the home crowd.

HALF TIME: 1-1 

Bustling striker Tommy Goss replaced Lewis Latona at the interval for the visitors but it was the hosts that came out like a scalded cat, creating a number of half chances over the next fifteen minutes. Zimba and Easton were both substituted after a clash of heads before the hour, Easton on a stretcher, Zimba still on his feet. The quality of Wotherspoon restored our advantage firing high into the net after a deft flick over the defenders leg and minutes later a deflected strike from Alfie Stewart took the ball behind Adams to increase our lead. Inverness had turned the screw since the interval and were flooding forward and getting their rewards for it. Deep into stoppage time Alfie Bavidge added a fourth in the 99th minute when a slick ball from Billy Mckay saw him run into the box to drill home with pace, power and precision at the keepers near post. Four superb goals and three points. What's not to like!

FULL TIME: 4-1

That combination of results today sees Inverness hit the top of the table on matchday eight. Alloa and Kelty still have a game in hand though and surprisingly Hamilton Accies are the ones leading the chase with Stenhousemuir on the same points as them.

After a towsy first half, the floodgates opened as the hosts pressure paid off once they upped the work rate. Another two goals for Spoony and Alfie Stewart's have a go policy worked in his favour with the deflected strike. Good to see Alfie Bavidge get in on the act with his 99th minute goal. A superb ball through ball from Billy and a great finish by Bavidge.

Next up for Inverness on 4th October could be good indicator to see if we have the cajones to take this League by the scruff of the neck. It's a visit to take on Hamilton Accies at Broadwood Stadium. An early six-pointer if ever there was one with John Rankin's side defying their apparent lack of funding and still getting results,

Good reception for the linesman today. Hope he wasn't too upset and never let it bother him. Mr Ross was his name

Honest as ever, Dick is Sick as a Parrot 🦜

Date:  27/09/2025  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2316 Referee: Cameron Stirling
 
Inverness CT: 4

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod. Devine, Savage, MacIntyre, Longstaff (Alonge 90+6), Wotherspoon (B Mckay 90+6),

• Chalmers, Stewart (Allan 82), Sole (MacKinnon 82), Zimba (Bavidge 58)

• Subs (not used):  Ross; Strachan, Millen, Robertson

• Scorers: Wotherspoon (17, 62), Stewart (65), Bavidge (90+9)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

East Fife: 1

• Manager: Dick Campbell

• Lineup: Adams; McLeod (Newton 77), Munro, Easton (Bah 57), Peggie (Norey 77), Latona (Goss 46), Millar,

• McManus, Culbert, McKenna, Austin 

• Subs (not used): Rollo; Slattery, Jones, Nicol

• Scorers: Austin (43)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

Dundee B Hit for Six - KDM Trophy

Dundee threw in a couple of curve balls in the shape of first team squad players in keeper Kieran O'Hara and centre back Aaron Donnelly. Former Caley Jags loan player Charlie Reilly returned to the Caledonian Stadium for his first comeback game since injury. He looked lively when he played for us but his time here was cut short with a bad knee injury. First half goals from Mitchell Robertson, Jordan Alonge and Billy Mckay had Inverness in the driving seat at the interval. Charlie Reilly had smacked the bar in the best moment for the visitors. After the interval Paul Allan added a fourth and Alfie Bavidge knocked in a fifth with Sole the provider for both goals before he notched one for himself.

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Billy Mckay had the first effort after four minutes but keeper Kieran O'Hara saved low down. Alfie Bavidge was blocked minutes later and Adam MacKinnon saw a shot tipped over after quarter of an hour. Plenty of home pressure and a goal was coming. And boom! It came through Mitchell Robertson from the resultant corner as he headed the hosts in front from Luis Longstaff's corner kick. Oosenburgh headed over as the Dee came forward and MacKinnon was keen to have a go minutes later and he was again denied by O'Hara from distance. Nothing the keeper could do when Jordan Alonge fired into the top corner midway through the half to make it 2-0. What a hit from Alonge! Bavidge went close to number three moments later, the ball going narrowly wide. Dundee had a couple of moments of their own with the excellent Charlie Reilly striking the bar with half an hour gone from long range and Logan Ross was called into action to deny Ashton Leiper. Eight minutes before the interval Billy Mckay added a third goal from inside the box.

HALF TIME: 3-0

Liam Sole replaced Longstaff at the break and as play resumed Mckay saw O'Hara brilliantly save low in the bottom right corner. Substitute Sole brought out another save from the keeper but he couldn't stop Paul Allan making it 4-0, firing high into the net, Sole with the assist. The substitutions started and Howett was denied by Logan Ross before Bavidge shot wide at the other end and Sole saw O'Hara keep out another effort. More subs for both sides into the final twenty minutes but the goals still came as Alfie Bavidge the fifth of the night from close range from another Sole assist. Sole himself ended the scoring with the sixth goal to keep us top of the table after four games.

FULL TIME: 6-0

 What can you say?

Not sure this experiment needs to be repeated but that's another doing for a B team. The bottom 8 places are occupied by B teams. 😮 You've got to feel for some of the B team youngsters getting thrown to the wolves. On the other hand, as mentioned, it's great to get game time for fringe and returning players

Robert on CTO picked out the positives: I’m enjoying the Challenge Cup as it is letting us see players who would otherwise get limited game time, and with a large squad that is valuable.

It’s letting Adam MacKinnon and Paul Allan, for example, get minutes in them after injury.

It was a routine win and could have been more but for several good saves by the Dundee goalie.

MacKinnon ran the show, especially in the second half. Alonge scored a goal of the season contender. Robertson again looked the part. Kerr and Sam Thompson did not look out of place after they came on.

Yes I’d rather see Highland League teams involved rather than B teams, but I cannot see the format changing.

However, win promotion and we go straight in at the last 32 stage and that has to be our aim.

So to sum up, a useful competition given the size of our squad, getting minutes into players and showing the competition we have for places in the league starting line up.

And it’s nice to see us top of the table!

IBM was happy: Another very good performance from all the team including those that have not had much game time and the two young subs that came on later! Good passing and movement and six good goals from different players! The only real chance Dundee had was rattling the bar in the first half. Well done to the management and all the team for a very good game to watch

Jordan Alonge

Date:  23/09/2025  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: **** Referee: Daniel Graves 
 
Inverness CT: 6

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Ross; Millen, Robertson, Savage (Kerr 55), Strachan, Longstaff (Sole 46), Allan (Sam Thompson 55), Alonge, MacKinnon, B Mckay, Bavidge

• Subs (not used):  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, MacIntyre, Chalmers, Zimba

• Scorers: Robertson (15), Alonge (23), B Mckay (37), Allan (52), Bavidge (76)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

Dundee 'B': 0

• Manager: Scott Robertson

• Lineup:  O'Hara; Baird (Scott 64), Browne (L Perrie 75), Crombie, Oosenbrugh, Donnelly,

• Mitchell, Reilly (Howett 46), Bland (C Perrie 64), Rooney (Johnstone 75), Leiper

• Subs (not used): Lynch; Boyd,

• Scorers: none

• Booked: Baird (22)

• Sent Off: none

Longstaff Longshot seals win

Scott Kellacher made two changes from last week with Bavidge and Mckay dropping to the bench and Chanka Zimba and Luis Longstaff coming in from the start. Queens had a sparse bench with only the five subs. It was a second airing for the new away strip and the visitors didn't have to wait long for the pink strip to open the scoring through Chanka Zimba in the 9th minute with a deft back heel flick. Thereafter it was Queens keeper Ross Stewart doing his utmost to stem the flow in a first half dominated by the Caley Jags, but with only one goal and five bookings, would we pay the penalty for not scoring more and picking up yellow cards instead? These two teams had started the day on ten points apiece and just in behind current table toppers Stenhousemuir. By half time, Inverness found themselves at the top. It took a 94th minute long range strike from Luis Longstaff to secure the points after keeper Stewart had come up for a corner only to find himself stranded as we scored on the break forward. Alas Stenhousemuir scored another couple to regain top spot.

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Inverness were looking to come out of the blocks quick and the almost took the lead in the fourth minute after Liam Sole found Alfie Stewart outside the box. His well struck shot smacked the bar for what could have been a sensational start to the game. As it was we only had to wait another five minutes when Stewart fed Chanka Zimba for the big striker to flick into the bottom corner for the start we wanted. Keeper Ross Stewart had to look lively to keep out a Wotherspoon header from an acute angle off a Sole corner. All the early chances going the way of the visitors and the keeper denied Alfie Stewart as he cracked another one goalwards from outside the box, the keeper palming the effort to safety. Zimba was blocked as he tried to get another shot away. Looks like the shoot on site policy was working so far with Ross Stewart denying Alfie Stewart, Calum MacLeod and Zimba on the rebound. It's fair to say Ross Stewart has been the busier keeper in that first half with half a dozen saves and also tipped a Spoony effort over the bar. Guthrie went closest for Queens heading just over. The second busiest guy on the park was referee Chris Graham who booked four five Caley Jags players in a fifteen minute spell before the interval. That could come back to haunt us later in the game.

HALF TIME: 0-1

The second half started like the first with Alfie Stewart on a personal mission with another couple of efforts saved by the keeper with Devine and Sole also being thwarted by him. Ross Munro was eventually brought into action after nearly an hour of play as he tipped a Guthrie header onto the bar and over and at the other end a Luis Longstaff shot came off the bar and bounced off the back of the Queens keeper and then rolled onto the post before he grabbed it. (Keeper Stewart should buy a couple of lottery tickets tonight) Sole was denied by Stewart again. However, with Queens still within touching distance, they came out of their shell a bit and Liam Smith was blocked before Jack Hannah shot high and wide from distance. Stewart denied Alfie for about the fiftieth time with twenty minutes remaining, but there were signs that Queens fancied taking something from the game despite the stats being loaded in our favour. (15 on target to 0). Another Guthrie header cannoned off the bar after a Kai Kennedy free kick with Munro saving from Jack Stott on the line off the rebound. With five minutes left substitute Billy Mckay shot just wide of the post. In a dramatic ending and with MotM keeper Ross Stewart up for an injury time corner, Luis Longstaff sealed the points from ten yards inside his own half on the break after the corner was cleared, the ball landing inside the net on the third bounce. The drive home is much more enjoyable with three points in the bag...

Stenhousemuir came back to win 3-1 and that keeps them at the top of the table a point ahead of the Caley Jags closely followed by Alloa, Accies and East Fife who come North next week.

 FULL TIME: 0-2 

Well, on this occasion, the stats don't lie. 16 shots on target for the Caley Jags. What a performance with Queens keeper Ross Stewart making 14 saves. Outstanding performance by the visitors with the inclusion of Chanka Zimba and Luis Longstaff vindicated. Queens can have no complaints about the result, but a one goal lead is never enough going into time added on. What a dramatic ending with the keeper up for a corner trying to salvage a point and Luis Longstaff scoring from half a mile away!

Date:  20/09/2025  Venue: Palmerston, Dumfries Attendance: 1114 Referee: Chris Graham 
 
Queen of the South: 0

• Manager: Peter Murphy

• Lineup:  Stewart; Hewitt, Douglas, Hannah, Charters, Johnstone, Stott (O'Donoghue 87),

• Smith, Lyon, Kennedy, Guthrie

• Subs (not used):  Green; Rogerson, McLinden, Gray

• Scorers: none

• Booked: Johnstone (51), Hewit (70)

• Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 2

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, MacIntyre, Sole (B Mckay 80), Wotherspoon (Allan 77),

• Chalmers, Longstaff, Stewart (MacKinnon 80), Zimba (Bavidge 71)

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

• Scorers: Zimba (9), Longstaff (90+4)

• Booked: Savage (31), Devine (37), MacLeod (41), Chalmers (41), MacIntyre (45+2)

• Sent Off: none

Three Points on the Road

The Caley Jags were involved in the final game of the day in League1 which was being screened live on BBC Alba at 17:30. This was Cove's 200th game in the Leagues since they came into the SPFL set-up. Our brand spanking new pink kit got it's first airing today. Declan Glass and Michael Doyle being out was obviously a smokescreen as they both start today but Blair Yule and Aaron Darge are still missing. The Caley Jags started with Liam Sole, Alfie Bavidge and Billy Mckay up front with Ross Millen, Paul Allan and Adam MacKinnon on the bench. Also plenty of attacking options on standby. With most early results favourable for the Caley Jags, the opportunity was there to tuck in behind new leaders Stenhousemuir with Alloa and Queen of the south both losing.

A pretty grim first half of few opportunities with Bavidge making a hash of the best opportunity, skying a cross over the bar from ten yards. Calum MacLeod scored the only goal in a tense second half with a deflected strike and that was enough for the Caley Jags to move up to second place.

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 A bit of a cagey opening to the game with Cove content to give us the ball and watch us fail to make much headway. Alfie Stewart was the first to have a proper go after winning the ball in midfield and driving forward before firing a powerful left footer a yard wide. Although we dominated the early possession we only had a shot from Bavidge thereafter that was easily plucked out of the air by Robbie Mutch. Glass only lasted seventeen minutes before hobbling off to be replaced by Mylchreest. Alfie Bavidge missed a great opportunity minutes later when he blazed a low Calum MacLeod cross high over the bar when he really should have been making the keeper work. Cove had their closest effort from a set piece when a Jackson Mylchreest glancing header went a few feet wide with keeper Munro scrambling across his line to cover. To be honest the rest of the half was poor, lacking in quality and urgency and there really was nothing to see here.

HALF TIME: 0-0

Joe Chalmers curled an effort closer than the keeper anticipated methinks eight minutes after the restart. Either way, it was still wide with Cove also looking to be more of a threat this half already. Cove were unfortunate not to benefit from a ball ricocheting around inside our box following a corner. On the hour the changes came with the introduction of Zimba and Longstaff for Bavidge and Mckay who had been increasingly ineffective. The deadlock was broken when a great ball in by MacIntyre was fed out by Wotherspoon for Calum MacLeod to rifle a shot goalwards. It took a deflection off a defenders boot and ended up high into the net. Paul Allan replaced Wotherspoon for the final fifteen. Plenty of graft over the final minutes but not enough guile. Sole turned and shot with five minutes remaining but it was an easy gather by the keeper. Cove went up the other end and Ross Munro had to look lively to deny Lewis O'Donnell. Either side of the keeper and he might have been in trouble, fortunately it was straight down his throat. It all ended a bit frantic and we all held our breath when Danny Devine and David Eguaibor clashed in the box. The referee kept us all waiting before he eventually booked the big Cove striker.

 FULL TIME: 0-1

 Three in a row for the Caley Jags.

Once more, we seemed to make hard work of a simple task, but the three points stuck with us and with other results falling kindly we now sit second in the table.

We did just enough to get the win but the performance was disappointing. Maybe we were lulling the rest of League1 into a false sense of security.

Another difficult away game next week at a ground that we often struggle to take points away from. It's a visit to Palmerston to face Queen of the South who will be smarting after losing out to East Fife earlier today.

Great to see Liam Sole engaging with the fans as he left the field to be substituted. Not his best day on the park, but he knows how to keep the fans happy.

Calum MacLeod was TV MotM. 🏆

Date:  13/09/2025  Venue: Balmoral Stadium, Cove Attendance: 0456 Referee: Alastair Grieve
 
Cove Rangers: 0

• Manager: Paul Hartley

• Lineup:  Mutch, Bisland, Strachan, J Eguaibor, Doyle, Harrington, Glass (Mylchreest 17),

• D Eguaibor, O'Donnell, Megginson, Parker

• Subs (not used):  Demus; Ochmanski, Donaldson, Milnes

• Scorers: none

• Booked: Mylchreest (22), Megginson (45), Parker (86), D Eguaibor (90+6)

• Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 1

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, MacIntyre, Sole (MacKinnon 90+3), Chalmers,

• Wotherspoon (Allan 75), Stewart, Bavidge (Longstaff 61), Mckay (Zimba 61)

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

• Scorers: MacLeod (66)

• Booked: Stewart (80), Sole (90+5)

• Sent Off: none