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Jags Raid the Wasps The Caley Jags got back to winning ways in midweek in a gruelling tussle at the Bayview Gulags and were looking to consolidate their position at the head of the table today against an Alloa side that had other ideas. They would be hell bent on closing the gap at the top end of the table after their big win over Montrose in midweek. With Stenhousemuir playing in Kelty at 17:30, we will have to wait another couple of hours to see how todays results impact at the head of the table on matchday 22. The two Alfie's were on from the start with MacLeod replacing Millen and MacIntyre and Alonge retaining their starting position with Chalmers and Robertson on the bench. Kieron Willox was also on the bench after impressing as a substitute in midweek. Alloa looked to be unchanged from midweek with Connor Sammon no doubt waiting to come on for the last half hour. Always a danger we need to put this to bed before the fightback begins. Bit different this time as we had to come from behind to run out comfortable winners with second half strikes from Chanka Zimba x2 and Jordan Alonge. A result that consolidates our position at the top of the table for now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It had been a bright eenuff morning in the Sneck but by kick-off a chill wind was swirling around the stadium as the teams entered the field of play. A couple of minutes in and after Chanka Zimba had been fouled, Alfie Stewart's free kick bounced wide. Stewart fired wide of the target from inside the box and had efforts blocked after ten and fifteen minutes as his shoot on site policy manifested. No surprise that the hosts were dominating the early possession as that has been a familiar story. However the problem of breaching the defence remains an issue so far. First big action for a keeper came after Liam Sole's ball in the box allowed Jordan Alonge to have a pop but Liam MacFarlane was equal to it. Another Sole assist saw Alfie Bavidge fire over before, against the run of play, Stewart scored. Alas it was Lewis Stewart of Alloa who shot home from the right side of the box after some sloppy play at the back. Definitely has a familiar ring to it. Bavidge found the side netting after Zimba had been blocked following good pressure from the Caley Jags, looking to get on level terms before the interval. Alonge was denied again ten minutes before the break after good work by Danny Devine. Alloa ventured forward five minutes before the break with Adamson having an effort blocked and scorer Lewis Stewart going close to a second. Sadly, it's a familiar tale for Inverness as stats don't win matches. HALF TIME: 0-1 A big second half needed and no changes during the interval as the game got underway, Kurtis Roberts first to have a go, shooting wide. Parity was restored eight minutes after the restart when Zimba headed high into the net assisted by the industrious Alfie Stewart from a corner kick. Zimba would be denied another twice soon after McFarlane saving low down to deny the big striker on the second attempt. Inverness turned this game on it's head with twenty minutes remaining when Jordan Alonge slotted home from Stewart's long diagonal ball towards the back post. Three minutes later Zimba added his second and a third for the Caley Jags from inside the box aided by Stewart's long diagonal again, Alonge's header and Bavidge with the cut-back. With Inverness now in total control, the substitutions flowed from both sides and that broke up the play over the final twenty odd minutes. Spoony went close just after coming on but as it was, we saw out the game untroubled. Good win to keep us on top with Stenhousemuir v Kelty to come at half five. Maybe stats do win games after all! 😂 FULL TIME: 3-1 Great comeback win after the early set back against the run of play. We kept our heads down and deservedly ran out worthy winners when previously we might have come up against a brick wall and settled for less. Zimba with two goals and Alonge with the other after Lewis Stewart had given Alloa the lead in the 23rd minute. Our own Stewart, Alfie, was a wee buzzbomb and instrumental in getting us back on track and this time, maybe the stats don't lie as we overwhelmed Alloa. Robert kept his ear to the ground in Bar94: 👂 Interesting listening to the players in Bar 94 at full time. Alfie Stewart said that Billy Mckay had been vocal at half time about wasteful set plays and that we were sitting deeper to try to combat Alloa having wind advantage. Alfie Bavidge said that, even 1-0 down at the break, they knew we’d win the game and it was a question of how many we’d score. Great to see that confidence surging through the young players. Date: 24/01/2026 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2259 Referee: Lewis Hogarth Inverness CT: 3 Manager: Scott Kellacher Lineup: Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, McIntyre, Sole (Longstaff 78), Alonge (Chalmers 90+1), Stewart, Mackinnon (Allan 77), Bavidge (B Mckay 83), Zimba (Wotherspoon 83) Subs (not used): Ross; Robertson, Davidson, Willox Scorers: Zimba (53, 72), Alonge (69) Booked: Devine (56), Bavidge (61) Sent Off: none Alloa Athletic: 1 Manager: Andy Graham Lineup: McFarlane; Foster, Dewar, Taggart, O'Donnell, Scougall, Adamson (Clarke 78), Roberts (Hetherington 65), Stewart, Donnelly (Sammon 65), Gentles (Burnside 78) Subs (not used): Ogayi; Graham, Rankin, McKay, Buchanan Scorers: Stewart (23), Booked: Adamson (63), Dewar (69) Sent Off: none