Punchless and Pointless

Inverness toiled to make any headway in a dour first half, the poor fare on display being matched only by the miserable weather. We improved in the final ten minutes before the interval but clear chances were at a premium. After the break and some initial half chances for the hosts, McKenna scored with a cross/shot free kick that caught out the keeper, possibly wind assisted. Inverness still struggled to create clear openings, an all too familiar habit of late. They could have doubled their lead soon after but Ridgers was in the right place to put Little's header over the bar. Thereafter we ruined what little chances we had by a lack of quality around the box and stout defending by Arbroath. Well done to them, they did what they had to do, we need to take a long hard look at how we are going about our business.

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The Caley Jags were looking to get back to winning ways after dropping points to Hamilton and Raith in recent games and Arbroath were looking for their first win in five games which has seen them slip just off the pace at the top of the table.

The pitch was watered more heavily than Starks Park after a day of dark clouds and rain with a blustery wind getting stronger heading towards kick-off.

Duku and Mckay were the preferred partners up front with Gardyne and Sutherland on the bench. David Carson and Cammy Harper were still missing and Allardice was at right back. Bobby Linn was on the bench for Arbroath with Nouble and Dowds up front and scoring midfielder Michael McKenna in behind them.

After a minutes silence in memory of Walter Smith, play got underway with Arbroath attacking the North Stand.

A scrappy opening to the game saw the ball being moved around like a hot potato with nether side keeping possession for any length of time.

In the 14th minute Manny Duku chased a lost cause and when he whipped the ball into the box it appeared to graze the face of the crossbar before running out.

Arbroath forced a series of corners which we eventually hoofed clear to take the pressure off the defence.

A free kick from Aaron Doran almost bounced into the net as the wind played havoc with the flight of the ball, but it was a difficult watch in the first quarter of the game.

Nouble bounced a couple of players off him as he cut into the box on the left but we eventually blocked his route to goal.

Walsh snatched at a ball on the edge of the box and Gaston made a bit of a meal of it but gathered it at the second time of asking. Moments later Doran almost curled an effort into the net after turning his marker inside the box but his shot drifted just wide. 

The hosts had upped the intensity just before the break but had still not made the breakthrough. 

Half Time: 0-0

Shooting towards the North Stand after the break we found ourselves a goal down out of nothing. Top scorer Michael McKenna took a free kick out wide from a crossing position. Unfortunately for Ridgers, he curled it into the net with the keeper flapping at the ball as the wind held the ball back. He might not want to see that one again. Like the weather, we spoiled the fans night by being totally useless in front of goal with most efforts going wide or being blocked and the visitors still looked menacing on the break when they stopped their time wasting. Last chance fell to Saturday's saviour Sean Welsh but he hooked his shot high over the bar and that summed up our night. Horrendous!

We looked like a Highland League side at times and our inability to fashion out clear opportunities is worrying. Good week for Killie who started it 5 points behind us and now sit top of the table.

with Killie scoring a late penalty at Ayr, they have taken the lead at the top of the table on goal difference as we appear to be found wanting when the push comes to the shove.

Thoroughly disappointing game, performance, result and weather and it gets even tougher at the weekend as we take on Partick Thistle.

From CTO SteveA, he's not pulling any punches...

From CTO caley100 is no a happy bunny either:

Hopeless, inept, clueless and that was the referee! ICT were not far behind, As has been said before we have been very poor and tonight showed that we are papering over the cracks. So many poor passes, and failed lay offs to nobody, and a complete lack of idea's in the opposition box. The ref was awful, truly awful, He let them get away with murder, then ignored the time wasting **** of a keeper.

Not happy. 

Just let this Arbroath FC tweet sink in...

What a win!

The boys were all working this morning and then a few hours driving and then on to the team bus.

A tremendous hardworking resolute performance followed on the pitch to get the win!

Outstanding team performance and 3 points! pic.twitter.com/pFur3uA7j2

— Arbroath FC (@ArbroathFC) October 26, 2021

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