Montrose 0-2 Inverness CT - League 1

And that's a wrap

The final game of the season was at Links Park, Montrose, with both sides already assured of their League1 status for next season. Scott Kellacher went with the strongest starting XI available with Dibaga, MacKinnon and Strachan missing out and Marcus Gill helping out between the sticks with MacLeod and Nolan outfield. Stewart Petrie had maybe rested a couple of starters with Cammy Gill, Lyons, Dillon and Wighton on the bench but the Gudgie started as did Matheus Machado. Inverness ended the season on a high after dominating Montrose at Links Park. Paul Allan on the break and Billy Mckay after an hour did the damage in a game dominated by the Caley Jags.

What an ending to a turbulent season.

And that's a wrap

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Action in the Montrose goalmouth in the first minute as Paul Allan brought out a save from Ross Mathews in goal as he kept out Allan's goalbound effort. Billy Mckay missed the target five minutes later after connecting with a cross and Graham Webster was denied by Marcus Gill as the hosts hit back and Aidan Quinn had an early effort blocked. Fifteen minutes in and Allan was one on one with Mathews, alas it was the keeper that prevailed. Keith Bray saw a shot blocked as the visitors kept the pressure on the home defence and a couple of minutes later he was denied by Mathews and had another go blocked as well. Sir Lancelot tried his luck from a tight angle but Gill stood firm. Allan was once more thwarted by Mathews and as the game went to the other end, an Owen Stirton shot was blocked. However, it was the visitors who were looking most likely to open the scoring. News coming in near half time was that Kelty were cruising two up on Alloa, thus ring fencing sixth leaving Montrose and Inverness to battle it out for seventh and eighth. Defences were on top at Links Park though and Pollard and Mckay were next to get shots away at either end of the park without troubling the keepers. Just on the interval Gill saved high from Quinn and Machado fired over, but moments later Paul Allan opened the scoring from close range in time added on. Goal stemmed from Billy Mckay’s ball that found Allan in the box and he knocked it into the net! That ended a frantic first half that the visitors had dominated without threatening to run away with the game.

HALF TIME: 0-1

Alloa had pulled a goal back just before half time, so sixth place was back on should they draw level with Kelty. With that in mind the Caley Jags laid siege to the home goal with Alfie Stewart and Keith Bray going close as the corner count mounted. Ben Brannan was next to have a go with Mathews up to the task once more. Montrose subbed the Gudgie off but the shooting practice continued with MacLeod and Bray having a go. Would this profligacy come back to bite us on the rrrs? Not now as Billy Mckay scored his third in three when he shot home from outside the box. Great end to the season for Billy. The procession didn't stop there though as Paul Allan and Callum MacLeod fired goalwards. Everyone and their dog were now having a go with Danny Devine and Robbie Thompson next in line. Marcus Gill saved well from Webster as Montrose tried to grab a consolation. As it was, we ended on a high.

Well done Kells and the boys. What a season, for many different reasons.

FULL TIME: 0-2

Thank you for your outstanding support this season!

We finish 7th in William Hill League 1 with 43 points, despite our 15 point deduction.

What an effort from the players, staff and everyone at the club!

See you all next season#TogetherNess ️ pic.twitter.com/asN6p5BRyk

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) May 3, 2025

Fabulous end to the season for Inverness and Billy Mckay

We fell just short of sixth as Alloa failed to take a point off Kelty.

More match reaction to follow.

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