Billy's Balmoor Birthday Present

With Peterhead's home form and current three game winning streak, this was always going to be a tough test of Scott Kellacher's promotion aspirations. Storm Benjamin was due to disrupt at some point and that might have an impact on the way this game pans out. With Alloa hosting leaders Stenhousemuir, could there be the possibility of points being dropped at the top end. In saying that, we have to get our own game back on track after two less than convincing performances.

For the hosts, midfielders Peter Pawlett, Adam Carnwath, Andrew McCarthy and Cieran Dunne have all been under treatment recently and will sit this one out. Cammy Smith, Max Barry and top scorer Kieran Shanks will be ones to watch. Billy Mckay and Chanka Zimba were the preferred up front options for Scott Kellacher. MacIntyre, Wotherspoon and Bavidge started on the bench with Mitchell Robertson and Adam Mackinnon starting.

A bit breezy at Balmoor as Peterhead got the game underway. The first half offered little in the way of goal scoring opportunities, Billy Mckay dragging a shot wide fifteen minutes before the break, but there was little to enthuse over as neither side got to grips with the elements. The hosts would have the benefit of the wind in their sails after the break but Chanka Zimba went close just after the restart, hitting the side netting. Billy Mckay broke the deadlock in the 67th minute with a close range finish after Paul Allan's cross/shot was cleared away from goal by a clumsy defender. Ross Munro tipped over a fierce wind assisted drive from Max Barry as Peterhead looked to salvage a late leveller. Inverness were now mostly on defensive duties as the hosts tried their utmost. Alfie Bavidge did well bursting into the box and chipping across goal with Alfie Stewart denied on the line before Billy was wrongly adjudged to have dived as he clipped the ball over the defenders legs before being brought down. Anyhow, we saw out the game to frustrate the Blue Toon and moved up to within a point of Stenhousemuir who drew with Alloa.

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That is massive!

Billy's goal the difference as we withstood a late charge to come away with all three points.

Wonderful from Billy Mckay as his Birthday present to us was the winning goal and MotM performance at Balmoor just after his 37th Birthday. Banging them in for us since he was 23 years old back in 2011. 124 goals in 355 appearances for the Caley Jags.

Booked for diving in this game. Not a chance! It was a stonewall penalty. We were also denied one when Liam Sole appeared to be wiped out as he burst into the box along the bye line in the first half.

Montrose and Cove at home in the next two games. Bring it on...

Date:  25/10/2025  Venue: Balmoral Stadium, Peterhead Attendance: 0671 Referee: Daniel Graves
 
Peterhead: 0

• Co-Managers: Ryan Strachan & Jordon Brown

• Lineup:  Newman; Goldie, Steele, Jas Brown, Duffy, Forrest, Jack Brown (McGinn 82),

• McGuffie (Horn 75), C Smith, Barry, Shanks

• Subs (not used):  Oluyemi; R Strachan, D Strachan, Mackie, Jor Brown

• Scorers: none

• Booked: Forrest (35), C Smith (58), Jason Brown (64), Goldie (65)

• Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 1

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Robertson, Savage, Sole (Alonge 89), Allan, Chalmers,

• MacKinnon (Stewart 79), B Mckay (Wotherspoon 88), Zimba (Bavidge 65)

• Subs (not used): Ross; Strachan, S Thompson, MacIntyre

• Scorers: B Mckay (67)

• Booked: Zimba (8), Chalmers (30), Allan (52), B Mckay (87)

• Sent Off: none