Inverness CT -V- Stenhousemuir - ***GAME OFF***

**GAME OFF **GAME OFF**

Top of the table Stenhousemuir are the visitors this weekend at the Caledonian Stadium for a 2:00pm start looking to keep themselves as the leaders of the pack. In contrast, the Caley Jags will be looking to bounce back after they were whitewashed 3-0 at second placed Arbroath last weekend as we lost a little ground on the teams above us. It's a tight division this year with Arbroath probably looking the likeliest to get their act together as witnessed by the way they easily disposed of the Caley Jags last Saturday. Despite a good run of results, it's a sharp learning curve for most at this time, including the fans, where expectations will need to be tempered during the healing process.

 Don't forget it's an early kick-off at 2:00pm 

With that in mind, revised bar and bus times in operation this week. Everything is an hour earlier than normal.

Bar 94 will open at 1100 and close at 1700. 

 The matchday buses will leave the Bus Station at 1200 and 1315 

 Return from the stadium 10 mins after the full time whistle and at 1700. 

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Match/Ticket/Bus/Bar94/Info

Keith Bray to Dunfermline

***Early Kick Off 2:00pm***

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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.

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

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 L  W W L  

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 last 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.

Billy Mckay speaking to the Courier has said that Jake Davidson will miss the rest of the season after the extent of his knee injury was revealed to be more extensive than at first thought. Jake, who was shaping up well in midfield, was looking promising before his injury against Alloa Athletic in the middle of November and is now in re-hab after his operation. The only other injury concern appears to be Billy himself who was subbed off at Arbroath last weekend as a precaution having come on as a second half sub at the break.

As far as signing anyone else: Billy said our hands are tied due to administration. We can only now get players in on loan as long as they are under 20 and the window closes at the end of the month.

<<<That was the Warriors line up in the 2-1 win over Queen of the South last weekend.

Warriors Last Six: W D D L  W W 

They started their last six with a resounding 3-1 win at Alloa at the end of December. There followed draws with Annan Athletic and Kelty before being hammered 4-0 at home by Cove. In February they have had a 3-0 win at Montrose and a home win over QotS (2-1) in their last game ahead of the visit to Inverness. That back to back wins have put the Warriors heads above the parapet again with Arbroath handily placed behind them with two games in hand. They also went out of the Cup at East End Park with the Pars easing through 3-0 in the middle of January.

Corey O'Donnell and Blair Alston are joint top scorers on six apiece with both scoring in the win over Queens last week. Matty Aitken is on 5 goals but has been out injured since before Xmas. Former Inverness player and man mountain Nat Wedderburn recently made his 150th appearance for Stenhousemuir.

The Warriors come North looking to pillage three points from the Bridge and Castle but the Eagle will be doing his best to stop the looting and get the Admin Express back on track after the Smokies derailed us momentarily.