With just seven League1 games left this season we are off to face another form side on the fringe of the promotion race. Alloa Athletic were flying and looking like real contenders until they suffered two defeats in a row at Peterhead and Montrose, conceding eight goals in the process and that might just have knocked the stuffing out of them. However, they are still one of three teams that have reaped twelve points from their last six games, the others being Stenhousemuir and ourselves. Recreation Park has never been an easy place to extricate points from, but needs must and we should be looking to take all three with the Warriors likely to grind out another win over Kelty Hearts on Saturday. Of the three previous fixtures against Alloa, the Caley Jags won the two home games. Liam Sole's deflected strike was enough to win the first one and a brace from Zimba and a strike from Alonge won the other home fixture 3-1. In the away fixture, Luis Longstaff's goal on half time was cancelled out by Cameron O'Donnell with 15 minutes remaining in a 1-1 draw. Inverness will be Soleless again on Saturday and next week as well.
We bounced back to top the table on our own in midweek against Peterhead with a fine performance as we caught up on the rest of the table on matchday 29 for ourselves and Peterhead.
Last Six League1:
W D D W DĀ W
The first W was our BBC Alba game at Broadwood beating Accies (0-1). The next League game was a tough 1-1 draw with Stenny when we had Ben Brannan sent off with 20m left. (On the Tuesday after we beat Ayr Utd 1-2 to progress into the KDM Trophy Final). A disappointing no scoring draw at Kelty followed where we struggled to create enough clear chances and allowed the pack to close in again before a 3-1 home win over Montrose. With Stenny drawing and Alloa losing in midweek, we had a smidgeon of breathing space going into the home game against Cove but that was taken away by a goalkeeper. Balint Demus headed in an equaliser because we failed to put the game to bed when on top. A common theme throughout the season and one which Stenhousemuir took full advantage of by snatching a last minute winner. We bounced back in midweek with a good 3-1 home win over Peterhead with as bizarre an 'offside' goal as you will see gifting the Head their consolation. Zimba x2 & Alonge were our scorers in that one, three going on six. Liam Sole has missed the last couple of games apparently injured since coming on as a 73rd minute substitute against Montrose, however, he has since been handed an immediate two match ban. The punishment was meted out by the SFA after a notice of complaint about a head butt on Jamie Hislop near the end of the KDM Trophy semi-final. He will be suspended for the next two League1 games but ironically will be allowed to play in the KDM final against Raith Rovers should he be fit. Ross Millen was an unused sub last time out v Peterhead having missed a few games recently. Scott Kellacher playing the olde "we have a few carrying knocks" smokescreen.
Alloa were on a great run until they came unstuck at Balmoor and were pumped 3-1 by Peterhead. It got worse at the weekend in the late TV game where Montrose ran out winners in a nine goal thriller. However their good run prior to that never went unnoticed with Manager Andy Graham picking up the SPFL League1 Manager of the Month Award for February.
Last Six League1:
W W W W L L
This run started with four wins on the trot stating away to QotS (1-2). Next up was 3-0 at home v Accies then another away win over East Fife 2-0 with the last win being 2-1 at home over Kelty Hearts. The curse of the MotM kicked in with a 3-1 reverse at Peterhead in a midweek encounter before the 5-4 loss at Montrose. But for a couple of late goals it was a thrashing although Callum Burnside can be pleased with his contribution of a hat-trick. He also notched a brace against Kelty and singles v East Fife and Accies. Luke Donnelly was also amongst the goals during the last six fixtures scoring three times.
Alloa have one of the better squads in League1 with a good mixture of experience and younger heads with no shortage of quality. Before the season started they were one of the tips to take the title and they will still believe they are capable of reaching the summit with seven games remaining. Certainly a play-off place will be a minimum target.
Do the Wasps still have a sting in their tail
With just seven League1 games left this season we are off to face another form side on the fringe of the promotion race. Alloa Athletic were flying and looking like real contenders until they suffered two defeats in a row at Peterhead and Montrose, conceding eight goals in the process and that might just have knocked the stuffing out of them. However, they are still one of three teams that have reaped twelve points from their last six games, the others being Stenhousemuir and ourselves. Recreation Park has never been an easy place to extricate points from, but needs must and we should be looking to take all three with the Warriors likely to grind out another win over Kelty Hearts on Saturday. Of the three previous fixtures against Alloa, the Caley Jags won the two home games. Liam Sole's deflected strike was enough to win the first one and a brace from Zimba and a strike from Alonge won the other home fixture 3-1. In the away fixture, Luis Longstaff's goal on half time was cancelled out by Cameron O'Donnell with 15 minutes remaining in a 1-1 draw. Inverness will be Soleless again on Saturday and next week as well.
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Last Six League1:
W D D W DĀ W
The first W was our BBC Alba game at Broadwood beating Accies (0-1). The next League game was a tough 1-1 draw with Stenny when we had Ben Brannan sent off with 20m left. (On the Tuesday after we beat Ayr Utd 1-2 to progress into the KDM Trophy Final). A disappointing no scoring draw at Kelty followed where we struggled to create enough clear chances and allowed the pack to close in again before a 3-1 home win over Montrose. With Stenny drawing and Alloa losing in midweek, we had a smidgeon of breathing space going into the home game against Cove but that was taken away by a goalkeeper. Balint Demus headed in an equaliser because we failed to put the game to bed when on top. A common theme throughout the season and one which Stenhousemuir took full advantage of by snatching a last minute winner. We bounced back in midweek with a good 3-1 home win over Peterhead with as bizarre an 'offside' goal as you will see gifting the Head their consolation. Zimba x2 & Alonge were our scorers in that one, three going on six. Liam Sole has missed the last couple of games apparently injured since coming on as a 73rd minute substitute against Montrose, however, he has since been handed an immediate two match ban. The punishment was meted out by the SFA after a notice of complaint about a head butt on Jamie Hislop near the end of the KDM Trophy semi-final. He will be suspended for the next two League1 games but ironically will be allowed to play in the KDM final against Raith Rovers should he be fit.
Ross Millen was an unused sub last time out v Peterhead having missed a few games recently. Scott Kellacher playing the olde "we have a few carrying knocks" smokescreen.
Last Six League1:
W W W W L L
This run started with four wins on the trot stating away to QotS (1-2). Next up was 3-0 at home v Accies then another away win over East Fife 2-0 with the last win being 2-1 at home over Kelty Hearts. The curse of the MotM kicked in with a 3-1 reverse at Peterhead in a midweek encounter before the 5-4 loss at Montrose. But for a couple of late goals it was a thrashing although Callum Burnside can be pleased with his contribution of a hat-trick. He also notched a brace against Kelty and singles v East Fife and Accies. Luke Donnelly was also amongst the goals during the last six fixtures scoring three times.
Alloa have one of the better squads in League1 with a good mixture of experience and younger heads with no shortage of quality. Before the season started they were one of the tips to take the title and they will still believe they are capable of reaching the summit with seven games remaining. Certainly a play-off place will be a minimum target.
Pos
Team
Pld
Gd
Pts
ICTFC
29
32
56
Stenny
29
17
53
3
Alloa
29
15
46
4
QotS
29
6
43
š
P'Head
29
-10
38
6
Monty
29
-13
37
7
E Fife
29
-25
29
8
Cove
29
-5
27
9
Accies
29
12
24
Kelty
29
-29
19