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Warriors come North

Warriors head North

 

Second top Stenhousemuir come North to face the Caley Jags in this re-arranged fixture on Tuesday night, 11th of March. Kick off is 7:45pm and you can get to the Stadium on the Footie Bus at 17:45 or 19:00 from the bus station in the centre of the City. Bar94 will open from 17:30. We are now into phase 4 of the League season and the only team we play twice in the run-in is Stenhousemuir. The only team we don't meet again is Dumbarton. After beating Dumbarton on Saturday and Stenhousemuir beating Annan, we have now crawled out of the relegation play-off zone for the first time since we entered administration. Great achievement by Scott Kellacher and his mostly young side and this has not gone unnoticed by the fans. Kellacher has gone on record as stating that the home games will be crucial over the next few weeks with five out of the nine games remaining played at the Caledonian Stadium starting with this one on Tuesday night. Of these five sides only Arbroath play on grass. That will be his focus as the season reaches boiling point.

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Match/Ticket/Bus/Bar94/Info

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Venue H2H Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / -
Home 4 3 1 0 11 3 +8
Away 6 4 1 1 11 5 +6
Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 10 7 2 1 22 8 +14

Only the ten competitive matches against Stenhousemuir and this is the third one this season. We first crossed swords with the Warriors in a Scottish Cup tie in 1996 when we recorded a narrow one goal win, going on to play Rangers in the next round.

A tremendous victory for the Inverness side and a place in the last 8 of the cup. We 'scored' in 2 minutes through Thomson but Christie was offside. After that their defence had to withstand tremendous pressure. Mathieson was a real handful and he came close on 3 occasions - chances also fell to Brannigan, Sprott, Roseburgh, Aitken & Bannon. Caley Thistles only other first half chance was a shot from Thomson in 15 minutes but it went past.
In the second half Caley Thistle took control and in 53 minutes Thomson was unlucky when his 25 yard shot was tipped over.
In 60 minutes Stewart beat the offside trap but keeper McKenzie came off his line well. 2 minutes later a great shot from 18 yards by Christie was held by McKenzie. On 75 minutes Teasdale set off on a run down the right wing and sent a low cross to
 Brian Thomson just outside the penalty area - his shot into the corner was unstoppable. With a minute to go Stenhousemuir had the ball in the net but it was chalked off. Caley Thistle held out for a famous victory and the prospect of Rangers at home in the next round. ***We did of course play Rangers at Tannadice going down 3-0 in the Quarter Finals.

Starting XI
McKenzie
Sprott
Bannon
Armstrong
Brannigan
Roseburgh
Aitken
Fisher
Mathieson
Hutchison
Little
Jim Calder
Mike Noble
Richard Hastings
Iain MacArthur
John Scott
Graeme Bennett
Charlie Christie
Mike Teasdale
Alan Hercher
Iain Stewart
75mins  Brian Thomson
Subs
Haddow
Hunter
Scott
Dave McGinlay
Davie Ross
Colin Mitchell

 

 2024
 Dec 21st League (League 1) 1 - 0  A   719    
 Sep 28th League (League 1) 0 - 0  H    1,601    
 2012
 Sep 25th League Cup (Rd 3) p 1 - 1  A    705    
 1999
 Jul 31st League Cup (Round 1) 3 - 1  A    534    
 1998
 Apr 11th League 2 - 1  H    1,414    
 Feb 28th League 3 - 0  A    463    
 1997
 Nov 8th League 4 - 1  H    1,669    
 Aug 30th League 2 - 3  A    400    
 Aug 2nd League Cup (Rd 1) 5 - 1  H    1,735    
 1996
 Feb 17th Scottish Cup (Rd 4) 1 - 0  A    2,300    

 

INVERNESS CT  The Season So Far

D L  D  D W D D D L   / W L(11)D W W W L  W L  

W W W W W W /   ? 

Since Scott Kellacher was handed the reins in game 11, there has been a more positive approach to our matches which has resulted in improved performances and a more enjoyable matchday experience all round. Alas we were brought back to earth with a disappointing result in our last game of 2024, a crushing 1-4 defeat at home to Cove Rangers. We'll have to put that one down to a bad day at the office. However, we bounced back in our first game of the second half of the season in the six pointer against Dumbarton with a hard fought 2-0 win. That win over Dumbarton was a vital one and the introduction of Alfie Bavidge was a welcome one as he opened the scoring early in the first half. Charlie Gilmour slotted in the clincher in the second half to give us a cushion over the Sons and to narrow the gap on Annan to seven points. We took part in the only League1 game next weekend and came away from Annan with a resounding 3-0 win, Alfie Bavidge netting again with Keith Bray and then Billy Mckay from the spot.  It was then on to Palmerston on the Tuesday night but in a five goal encounter we went down 3-2. Alfie Bavidge notched his third goal in three games and Keith Bray added a second but goals from Adam Brooks (2) and Jordan Allan kept the points in Dumfries. We bounced back with a resilient 1-2 win at Alloa in our third away game on the bounce, Dunfermline bound Keith Bray with his fourth of the season and Alfie Stewart. We got our revenge at home to QotS (1-0) with Alfie Bavidge scoring his fourth goal in five appearances. Alas it was a bridge too far at Arbroath last week and we went down losing three without reply. The Stenhousemuir fixture was postponed and is re-arranged for March 11th. We went to Kelty and came away with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to Alfie's 5th goal in 7 appearances. Montrose proved to be stubborn opponents and it took a superb diving header from Keith Bray to rescue a point in a rather turgid encounter after Sandilands had opened the scoring in the first half. A last gasp win at Dumbarton on Saturday with Alfie Bavidge scoring his 6th goal in 9 games and that takes us back home to face Stenhousemuir on Tuesday night in the first of our final nine fixtures with another two home games to follow.

Scott Kellacher will be without Luis Longstaff who has a hamstring injury and missed the game at Dumbarton. Ben Brannan came into the starting XI and did well, helping set up the late winner with his ball into Charlie Gilmour. Brannan went to right back which allowed Keith Bray to take up Longstaff's role. Kellacher has said we have one or two other niggles. Hardly surprising given the state of the surface at Dumbarton after heavy rain during the Arbroath fixture and only a couple of days to get the body back to manageable levels.

image.jpeg
  Team Pld Gd Pts
1 Arbroath 28 17 52
2 Stenny 27 15 47
3 Cove  27 14 44
4 Alloa Ath 28 6 40
5 Kelty Hearts 27 4 35
6 Queen of Sth 28 -6 35
7 Montrose 28 -7 32
8 Inverness CT 27 2 29
9 Annan Ath 28 -24 27
10 Dumbarton 28 -21 0

ImageWarriors Last Six: L  W W W W W 

The best run in the League at the moment, winning their last five on the bounce. They started with a crushing 4-0 defeat at home to Cove Rangers. They bounced back winning the next five starting with a 3-0 win at Montrose. Next was a 2-1 home win over Queen of the South then a 2-0 home win in the top of the table clash against Arbroath. A 3-1 win at Dumbarton and a 2-0 win at Annan sets them up nicely for their third away fixture on the trot at the Caledonian Stadium. Corey O'Donnell is top scorer with nine League goals. Blair Alston has seven. It's been a good season so far for Stenhousemuir and in the first game at the Caledonian Stadium back in September it was a no scoring draw. We nicked the return fixture in December with a 1-0 win thanks to a late Charlie Gilmour strike when he nicked the goal off Paul Allan. 

 

stenny4.jpeg

Some unusual 'facts' on wikipedia: In 1890, the Warriors moved to Ochilview Park following spells at Tryst Park and Goschen Park. In the early 20th century the club had a brief spell of success, winning the Scottish Qualifying Cup twice in 1901 and 1902. In 1902–03, the club reached the Scottish Cup semi-final, losing 1–4 at home to Rangers. The 1921–22 season saw Stenhousemuir compete for the first time in senior Scottish League Football.

In 1925–26, Stenhousemuir goalkeeper Joe Shortt was offered a £50 💰  bribe to throw a match against Broxburn United, but he rejected the offer and the Warriors won the match 6–2. A bookmaker from the Bainsford district of Falkirk, was subsequently jailed for attempted match fixing. 😂

In 1928, the wooden grandstand at Ochilview Park burnt down in a fire 🔥 🚒, which led to a new stand being built in its place, although staircases reputedly had to be added later due to planning errors (was Scot Gardiner in charge). The 1936–37 season saw the club register a record victory – a 9–2 home win against Dundee United. More than a decade later in 1949–50, a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against East Fife drew a record crowd of 12,525 – the highest ever at Ochilview Park. On 7 November 1951, the first floodlit game between two Scottish senior teams occurred at Ochilview Park, a friendly match between Stenhousemuir and Hibernian. The floodlights had been paid for three years earlier by Tommy Douglas, a butcher in King Street, Stenhousemuir.

 

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  • big cherly
    big cherly

    Simply fabulous night at the ground. Weird feeling at the outset with the late late kick off. Stenny were no mugs and looked dangerous on more than a few attacks. I wobbled a bit when Alfie B went off

  • DoofersDad
    DoofersDad

    Absolutely brilliant performance.  After a terrific early goal, Stenhousemuir got themselves back in the game and then Bavidge had to go off with an injury.  I thought then that despite the early flou

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Some great attacking football tonight culminating in superb goals. What a transformation from the last home game against Momtrose. A great evening's entertainment

23 minutes ago, STFU said:

What a game and what a result. We've ground out a couple games recently but the team were on top for most of tonight's match and fully deserving of the win.

4 goals and 4 different scorers is great as well with Musa ensuring Stennie didn't take the shine off at the end by saving the penalty.

Bavidge injury didn't look too bad and hoping his early removal was more precautionary than necessary.

Need everyone to remain grounded going in to Saturday. While we should be looking ahead at the next team we also need to be mindful of the gap behind us. What we're doing is working and I'd hate to see us go gung ho and risk undoing the hard work so far.

Isn't it incredible how a great game and result can ward off the cold. Gloves back on now for the rest of my walk home.

I had 10 days in Tenerife, daily24 degrees. Got home midnight last night and been so cold today didn’t attempt the golf. Had the full winter gear on tonight but the decent game meant I didn’t think about the cold until the last 20 mins.

scored good goals, played some good stuff and although Devine and savage were struggling in the air against their big centre forward we were well worth our 4-1 win.

First look at brannan and was the pick for me, great strike for his goal, got up and down the park, crunches into tackles and has a throw in  that reaches the penalty spot. Best right back since Shaun Rooney, but then he was a galloper going forward and not much of a defender. Gilmore was behind him, steady Eddie can take the ball in in any situation, never flustered.

bray scored a “chest in” from about 2 inches after a great cut back from Mackinnon I think.

4th goal was the pick of the 4 after a nice flick from McKay. 
grandson who is 9 said he has never seen us score 4 goal’s before.

Absolutely brilliant performance.  After a terrific early goal, Stenhousemuir got themselves back in the game and then Bavidge had to go off with an injury.  I thought then that despite the early flourish, it might not be our night.  How wrong I was!  The effort from all the players was excellent.  They were always looking to get the ball forward and there were several passages of quick and accurate passing which caused a good Stenhousemuir side all sorts of problems.  What a contrast to the early part of the season!  Big Dunc should watch a video of the game so that he can understand why he's still out of a job.

We should beat Annan at the weekend.  If we do, we will be 8 points clear of them with just 7 games left and a vastly superior goal difference.  If we can maintain this level of performance then we should be mathematically safe from relegation comfortably before the end of the season.  Achieving that status might be a key factor in sorting out issues off the field earlier than might otherwise be the case.

Stats and PotY all done.  Wow that's the best game of football we have seen at home for years :ictscarf: A great credit to all from the manager and players on the park tonight for a fantastic performance even in the final minutes Savage was fighting to keep the ball and get a cross in for goal we didn't manage five :lol: get in there!  We have to keep ourselves grounded though and take one game at a time but really looking forward to Saturday.

Brilliant game tonight, been a long time since I've seen us play so well. Great goals and performances all over the park, thought Billy had a really good game. I'd take a 30 minute delay before every game if we get the win like that!

What a difference a few months can make.

Bring on Saturday, well done boys!

Buzzing over this fantastic result. Does anyone else think Stenny were complacent in their approach to this game by dropped both their top strikers? Maybe they were carrying knocks....but...I really don't care. Well done boys and Sir Scott. It'll take a fair effort to get these boys off cloud 9 before Saturday. 

10 hours ago, Scotty said:

Penalty missed by Blair Alston

Not missed but 'Saved'!! Musa to our goal difference rescue. He is a legend. 

9 hours ago, bishbashbosh said:

First look at brannan and was the pick for me, great strike for his goal, got up and down the park, crunches into tackles and has a throw in  that reaches the penalty spot. Best right back since Shaun Rooney,

Hardly a shock given his pedigree as captain of youth teams at all ages, plays for Scotland and had a trial at Spurs. Yet didnt stop fans questioning why he was signed ahead of our own youngsters who have and are nowhere near this level. Hopefully some of those critics have been attending games and seen Brannan play.

 

 

What a result!

This is my thirteenth season as a proper match going Caley supporter...and its rapidly becoming my favourite season [after the Cup winning year].  Defying the odds, with a rebirth in the club developing after quite a bit of pain, with a real sense of purpose, and the rekindling of the bond between club and its supporters [Dumbarton away was a good demonstration], and playing the sort of football we've been craving for for a while. if we survive [its not really an if] it's a season the players can carry as a badge of honour and a treasured memory.. a 'band of brothers' season

Gosh am I getting too emotional?

Meanwhile....5th place looks do-able, a good incentive to keep the foot on the pedal. 

28 minutes ago, bdu98196 said:

Hardly a shock given his pedigree as captain of youth teams at all ages, plays for Scotland and had a trial at Spurs. Yet didnt stop fans questioning why he was signed ahead of our own youngsters who have and are nowhere near this level. Hopefully some of those critics have been attending games and seen Brannan play.

Imagine how it may look to potential investors if we're selling them on the potential of the academy and building a team around it but then not demonstrating it.

If we can't do it in League 1 then what's the chances of doing it if/when we climb any higher?

We may have been able to play the 'poor club in admin' card to get favourable terms for loan players recently but that's not the basis for a successful business model going forward.

I understand the pressure to avoid relegation and the impact the 15pt penalty will have huge baring at the moment but it doesn't change the fact we're being told one thing while doing another.

29 minutes ago, STFU said:

Imagine how it may look to potential investors if we're selling them on the potential of the academy and building a team around it but then not demonstrating it.

If we can't do it in League 1 then what's the chances of doing it if/when we climb any higher?

We may have been able to play the 'poor club in admin' card to get favourable terms for loan players recently but that's not the basis for a successful business model going forward.

I understand the pressure to avoid relegation and the impact the 15pt penalty will have huge baring at the moment but it doesn't change the fact we're being told one thing while doing another.

I think this ignores the basic point. 

We have league 1 training facilities,  recovery infrastructure and training pitches since 2012.

We don't have showers or  toilets at the fort. 

Listen to any player from last 20 years have any said they have moved on  to a club with lower facilities or investment? 

Ryan , Harper, Roddy,  Dan Mackay, Allardice all have commented on how much more professional and supported their new environments are.

 

Elgin has better facilities than we do with multiple all weather pitches,showers and toilets!

 

Our youth and female coaches do brilliantly to get the potential identified and brought forward.  Our board have failed abysmally to support that growth from 18 to 22 with suitable environments and facilities. 

 

Even with these difficulties I watched Adam Mackinnon , Kieth Bray, Calum Macleod, Robbie Thomson, AlfieB , and Alfie S DEMOLISH a good stennie team yesterday. 

On the bench we had 6 kids and our level didn't drop when we brought them on.

Yes some of the youngsters are loans but our kids are seeing 18 to 20 year old outplay good teams with no fear and that belief and exposure will change their expectations and performance levels.

 

You are never happy STFU until the only kids playing all come from your street. 

But I have never seen a younger or better team in our strip and we are doing it in league 1 even if you refuse to see it.

 

STFU STFU

 

 

 

 

 

21 minutes ago, Moogthurso said:

I think this ignores the basic point.

Imagine selling the investors the prospect of a League 2 club and then being challenged as to WHY the club never used the loan markets which were available to at least try establish us at L1 level.

Some folks think we have a class of '92 sitting there being kept out of the squad by other youngsters taken on loan as a conspiracy to destroy their careers. Ignoring the pedigree of those coming in are all key youth players at parent clubs, have international experience at many levels and have shown that only Bray from our stable is remotely near the level of these guys. I'd expect Bavidge & Brannan to be in the Scotland U21s very soon - who from our club can we say that about?

Although I agree that Longstaff has shown improvement this year I felt that last night with Macleod in midfield we had a much better balance, with play going down both flanks regularly, as well as freeing up Mackinnon to push further forward more often.

As the debate continues as to when and how to integrate our younger players and we get closer to a safe league position then its surely beneficial to increase game time for those that are good enough as this is more crucial to their development than availability and quality of shower facilities , toilets and training pitches.

We'll need to have a better indication of their capabilities come next season when our loanees dissappear and other established first teamers move on, otherwise we will be in the same position with 'inexperienced' players with potential that require development.

Kellacher has balanced the team well so far, but expectations will be higher next year, and to win the league a good start will be vital so squad building and player assessment over the summer must be spot on.

  • Author

Best performance of the season against a pretty slick Stenhousemuir. Paul Allan was the sponsors MotM. To be honest we were not short of contenders. How about Remi Savage who doubled up as a twinkle toed left winger at times. Danny Devine who was solid at the heart of the defence against the athletic Yates, Aitken and O'Reilly. Big Musa with a couple of crucial saves and the penalty stop. For me, the performance of Ben Brannan was outstanding. He brings a new dimension to our game with his foraging forward, his loooong throws, precise curling crosses and biting tackles. He was my pick. The only downside was the injury to Alfie Bavidge. Let's hope his substitution was more precautionary than serious.

3 hours ago, STFU said:

Imagine how it may look to potential investors if we're selling them on the potential of the academy and building a team around it but then not demonstrating it.

This subject possibly need its own (or revived) topic, as I don’t want anything detract from Tuesday nights outstanding performance or result . 
 

STFU had a point however worth discussing (if nothing more than a priority item for post admin). Equally so Moogthurso, bdu98196 & Satan in their postings bring weight to the importance of the subject. 
I take something from them all that can be supported. Both the youth players that (for the most) has been coming through and the facilities don’t reach the desired level that is needed for a club of IFCTC ‘standing’. 
That’s a tacit qualification as our standing has been below the mark of many comparative clubs IMO,

The bottom line for me is only youth players that can demonstrate potential they have the ability, desire, dedication and mindset to play at the level required and ultimately replace a first team player should be given a chance on the park. Trying youth players of 5-10 minutes in a match ‘secured’ is fine, and I’m sure that’s what is the route for most youth starts. 

The success rate however for the whole over the past 10-15 years has not been overly rewarding. 
 

C Christie has mentioned the club is going to set a higher standard or expectation as a benchmark for youth players coming forward. 
In my view it’s long overdue as in my view we have been treading water too long the level of youth players; failing them in some respect. Taking a D Trump perspective of it, ‘change needs to happen’ when we have new owners.

More than I expected to included, however there it is!! No offence to any previous youth players! 
bc

Edited by big cherly

The support last night was terrific, with the youngsters behind the goal in the North Stand singing and chanting for the whole game.

We need that atmosphere at our remaining home games.

I’m not getting carried away about a play off push as turning round an 8 point deficit against Alloa in 8 games must be highly unlikely, particularly as they have still to play Dumbarton and Annan at home, games you’d expect them to win.

If we can win our next two games (we have Alloa on the 22nd), things may get a bit interesting…..

But most of all, let’s not lose focus as we are not safe yet, and that has to be our primary objective.

Fantastic win. I can’t decide if Stenhousemuir were awful, we were fantastic or a bit of both but it’s another 3 points on the board 

1 minute ago, LisleRightPeg said:

Fantastic win. I can’t decide if Stenhousemuir were awful, we were fantastic or a bit of both but it’s another 3 points on the board 

Stennie we're good . But we were better. 

For a few weeks now I've believed that 6th place was achievable. Looking at the table today I would be disappointed if 5th wasn't reached by the season's end.

It seems unlikely, as Robert said, that an 8 point gap to Alloa can be closed down in 8 remaining games, so the playoffs may be out of reach, but with some luck and a following wind (and a win over Alloa) who knows.

4 hours ago, STFU said:

Imagine how it may look to potential investors if we're selling them on the potential of the academy and building a team around it but then not demonstrating it.

If we can't do it in League 1 then what's the chances of doing it if/when we climb any higher?

We may have been able to play the 'poor club in admin' card to get favourable terms for loan players recently but that's not the basis for a successful business model going forward.

I understand the pressure to avoid relegation and the impact the 15pt penalty will have huge baring at the moment but it doesn't change the fact we're being told one thing while doing another.

I think that the only playing objective this season is to remain in League One (which is now looking fairly likely but not in the bag) and the club has needed to deploy the best forces it can muster to that end, whatever their origin. Let’s not also forget that there’s a game on Saturday that could see the safety margin back at just two points.

Inevitably there’s been some talk about the pretty unlikely chance of making the promotion playoffs and the even more unlikely prospect of going straight back to the Championship. I don’t even see an immediate return to the Championship as especially desirable at the moment and believe that it would carry considerable risks, so it would be far better instead to consolidate and get administration processed. And if an immediate Championship return is neither likely nor desirable, there seems little point being in the playoffs - also remembering that the extra cash per League One place is minimal.

It would be far better to bale out of the season after 36 games, hence avoiding risk of further injuries and disruption to the pre-season, and consolidate both on and off the field from there.

Ideal finishing place - fifth

Wow, don't know where that performance came from but thankful it did. Every player put in a shift and bearing in mind we were missing Longstaff and Bavidge went off injured, even more impressive.  We'll miss Bray next season and how ironic would it be if Dunfermline get relegated and we end up in the same league. Win on Saturday and we are 90% safe in my opinion so onwards and upwards. 

We have 1/3rd share of the Highland Academy facilities ( admittedly based in Dingwall) in conjunction with RCFC and Highlife Highland( Highland Council) Unfortunately we have not had a representative on that Board for years and have never used it on a permanent basis for years . Butcher refused to use it and that opinion has remained with subsequent managers.

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