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Hey big spenders We're back! The season begins on Saturday with the group stages of the League Cup. This season it's known as the Premier Sports Cup and Inverness travel to the artificial surface of New Central Park, Bath Street, to take on newly promoted Kelty Hearts in a Group G encounter. The 'Maroons' have a good mix of seasoned professionals and some exciting emerging talent and that saw them promoted to League One last season as Champions with five games of the season still to play. Tempted by the generous wage income were seasoned campaigners like Kallum Higginbotham, Joe Cardle, Michael Tidser Thomas O'Ware and of course former Inverness striker Nathan Austin. All players who could perform at a higher level. The usual merry-go-round of players saw many leave Inverness for pastures new, with some new faces coming in to bulk out the squad. Out went loan players Reece McAlear, Logan Chalmers, Joe Hardy with Kirk Broadfoot returning to the central belt. Former Inverness and Clach defender Harry Nicolson has joined League of Ireland club Finn Harps. In come Stephen Boyd, Nathan Shaw, Zak Delaney and the man with the cool name, Max Ram. George Oakley has returned to Inverness after a three year hiatus. They will meet up with those still on contracts which will be the core of our squad. Shane Sutherland is out long term after his knee injury during the play-offs. Tom Walsh is another who will miss the start of the season. We also have an excellent youth academy with a number of players ready to break into the first team squad. Eric has been doing his homework: Kelty Hearts open the season with newly appointed manager John Potter, a one time Dunfermline, Clyde and St Mirren player who since retiring has been in a coaching role under Jack Ross at St Mirren, Sunderland and Hibs. He replaces Kevin Thomson, who resigned after Kelty lifted the Scottish League 2 title. The 42-year-old Potter had 20 games in charge of Dunfermline in season 2014-15 and later assisted Jack Ross at Sunderland and Hibernian. More recently, he coached at Queen's Park, who won promotion to the Championship via the play-offs. They have added to the defence with the signing of Lewis Martin from Dunfermline on a free transfer. Up front ex ICT player Nathan Austin is in the squad, Nathan joined ICT Jan 2018 until summer of 2019 but had limited appearances due to injury. Experience in the forward line include Joe Cardle (35) of numerous clubs including rivals County season 2014/15. Also 33 year old Kallum Higginbotham who spent last season with Real Kashmir in India, and previously with Dunfermline. Latest Team News Daniel Mackay is the latest player to do the olde Peters & Lee as he has returned North on a season long loan from Hibs. That will be a welcome addition to the squad along with George Oakley, two players that we know will fit in with our work ethics and already know the routine up here. With Shane Sutherland and Tom Walsh missing the start of the season, these will be ready made replacements to add to the other new summer signings. Scott Allardice will be like a new signing after he made his comeback in the play-off games at the end of last season. We still have the core of our defence with Duffy, Devine, Deas and Harper all available. Welcome home, welcome Come on in, and close the door You've been gone, too long Welcome, you're home once more TICKET INFO Tickets available now in advance via Fanbase and Pay at the Gate will be available from Central Park on Saturday. Kelty have said that there is no segregation in place for these matches Adults: £12 Concessions: £8 Under 16s: £4

Smokies Kippered On a blustery day more akin to AA Milne and Winnie the Pooh, Arbroath and Inverness battled it out to see who would get the final nails hammered into their coffins. Arbroath were in the last chance snug in the last chance saloon, whilst Inverness have one foot in the grave. I don't believe it! Arbroath tried everything, they even took their own wind with them. However, they had Murray, Bird and Slater on from the start but O'Brien missed out. Zak Delaney also started for the Red Lichties. A bright opening spell saw Alex Samuel denied twice inside five minutes. Once by a combination of Max Boruc and his crossbar, the second by Boruc on his own as Samuel got his shot away from inside the box. Wallace Duffy got the goal we deserved on the interval as he drove across the keeper from the right side of the box to put us in ahead at the break. Leighton McIntosh restored parity on the hour as he drilled home from eighteen yards, but Alex Samuel won the points with a late strike to all but relegate ten man Arbroath who had Ricky Little sent off. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arbroath were on the back foot from the off as Inverness had the wind at their backs and Austin Samuel was unlucky not to open the scoring in the fourth minute as he turned and shot from the edge of the box. However Max Boruc brilliantly tipped his shot onto the bar. A minute later he got on the end of a ball in the box and forced another save from Boruc as we looked like turning the Smokies over. Max Anderson was also thwarted by Boruc when through on goal when Anderson should have been bulging the net. Despite our superiority, we struggled thereafter to create that premium opening until the stroke of half time when Wallace Duffy drilled in from the right side of the box. Unfortunately we lost Remi Savage to injury just before the goal and he was replaced by Danny Devine after an accidental kick in the face from Kerr. Half Time: 1-0 Just after the break Billy Mckay saw an effort saved from fifteen yards. However, we made heavy weather of a Smokies foray forward and Leighton McIntosh levelled the game fifteen minutes into the second half with a great strike from the edge of the box. Devine headed badly wide when his threepenny bit head nodded astray as we looked to get our noses back in front and Samuel was denied by Boruc as he ran through on goal, the keeper doing well to deny the striker for the third time. Boruc punced away a Cammy Harper free kick Arbroath were reduced to ten men when persistent fouler Ricky Little was dismissed. Alex Samuel got the goal his tenacious display deserved as he won a ball into the box he had no right to win. He then turned and lashed it home from fifteen yards on the left side of the box, I think he enjoyed that one. Great finish from the wee battler. FULL TIME: 2-1 Alex Samuel scored his fifth goal for the Caley Jags and his first since his hat-trick against Raith Rovers at the end of January. He was the difference between the sides today as Arbroath struggled to cope with his aggressive style which eventually led to his winning goal. Good to see the much maligned Wallace Duffy scoring as well, his second in a couple of weeks having also netted at Tannadice. Sadly for Arbroath they will now be relegated at the end of the season unless they perform a miracle. More match reaction to follow>>> Date: 06/04/2024 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2223 Referee: Colin Steven Inverness CT: 2 Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: Ridgers; Carragher, Boyes, Savage (Savage 44), Duffy, Kerr, Anderson, Lawal (Longstaff 73), Harper, Samuel, B Mckay (Doran 88) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Ujdur, MacGregor, Brooks, Pepple Scorers: Duffy (45+1), Samuel (80) Booked: none Sent Off: none Arbroath: 1 Manager: Jim McIntyre Lineup: Boruc; Walker (Lyon 64), Slater, Little, Murray (Dow 73), Gold (McKenna 34), Mackinnon, Delaney, Bird (Stowe 73), Stewart, McIntosh Subs (not used): Gaston; Steele, Teale, Jacobs, Robinson Scorers: McIntosh (61) Booked: Little (31), Little (76) Stowe (85) Sent Off: Little (76) a

The wait is over Having lain idle since the 5th of May Championship flop against Ayr United, the long wait for the Scottish Cup Final is over for the Caley Jags. The Semi-Final was played out on the 29th of April, a 3-0 win over Falkirk guaranteeing our place in the final where we will face the daunting task of stopping forty time Cup winners Celtic from winning the treble. Not an easy task I hear you say. However, you've got to be in it to win it, and we find ourselves in our second Scottish Cup Final in eight years. We have a long way to go to catch up with Celtic though as this will be their sixtieth appearance in the final. I imagine the stattos amongst us will be searching their Guinness Book of Records to find out the biggest winning margin in the Scottish Cup Final. I'll save you the bother. Renton 6-1 v Cambuslang on 4th February 1888. Or, ominously, Celtic 6-1 Hibernian on 6th May 1972. Are we about to re-write the record books? Check all the records at Scottish Cup Records. Win or lose, I hope you all enjoy the occasion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The route to the final Inverness struggled to overcome a stubborn Stirling Albion side at our entry level in the Scottish Cup 3rd round. Dale Carrick had opened the scoring in the 27th minute but Wallace Duffy levelled five minutes later. Max Ram then put us ahead five minutes before the break and we all breathed a sigh of relief. However, the Binos were not finished and Carrick scored a second in stoppage time before the interval. With twenty minutes left Aaron Doran scored what proved to be the winner, but credit to the visitors for making us work extra hard to get through to the fourth round. The 4th round tie with Queens Park turned from gloom to joy. After beating Inverness 2-0 on the pitch, Queens Park were dumped out of the Cup for fielding an illegible player in the shape of Euan Henderson. How fortuitous. Has anyone ever won the Cup after being knocked out? The 5th round saw Inverness face Premiership opposition away from home at Livingston. Fear not as Billy Mckay scored a brilliant brace to add to a Sean Welsh header to put us into the quarter final. 6th round was another Premiership scalp with Kilmarnock visiting the Caledonian Stadium on a snowy March evening. Despite suffering an early setback when Vassell scored in the third minute, the Caley Jags dug deep and overcame Killie with a Billy Mckay penalty and a superb Sean Welsh strike in the middle of a snow storm. Semi-Final: It was a re-run of the 2015 final with Inverness taking on Falkirk for for a place in the final. Inverness proved to be too clinical for the Bairns with another brace from Billy Mckay and a superb header from Dan Mackay. Always a step ahead of the Bairns, it was a relatively comfortable passage into the final, where one would imagine Celtic will provide a much sterner test. Hampden Calling... Again Celtic's route to the final: 4th Round: Celtic 5-0 Morton - Mooy x2, Furuhashi x2, Turnbull. 5th Round: Celtic 5-1 St Mirren - Maeda, Hatate x2, Hyeo-gyu, O'Riley. 6th Round: Hearts 0-3 Celtic - Mooy, Furuhashi, Vickers. Semi-Final: Rangers 0-1 Celtic - Jota. Celtic seemed to scrape through their ties scoring fourteen goals for the loss of only two. Surprisingly the bookies see Celtic as favourites to lift the Cup. Meh, what do they know! Inverness warmed up for the final with a hastily arranged kick-about against Dungannon Swifts in County Tyrone on 20th May. It ended 3-1 for Inverness and the whole squad managed to get a kick of the ball at some stage of the game. There was also an alleged closed doors practice against Nairn County. Celtic's month was somewhat fuller. After defeating Rangers in the semi-final on 30th April, they beat Hearts 2-0 at Tynecastle. They followed that by losing 3-0 at Ibrox in the final old firm derby of the season then drew 2-2 with St Mirren. A midweek game at Easter Road on the 24th May resulted in a 4-2 defeat for ten man Celtic. Looks like they're knackered now and we will be full of beans after a month off However, a week before the final, they played their last Premiership game of the season against Aberdeen at Parkhead. That's Aberdeen, the third best placed team in the Scottish Premiership. Looks like they were out in full force this week having rested half their team over the last couple of games and they trounced Aberdeen 5-0. Just let these stats sink in against Scotland's third best football club this season. Celtic--------VVVVVVVV--------Aberdeen Celtic 76% - Possession - 24% Aberdeen Celtic 20 ------- Shots ------- 0 Aberdeen Celtic 8 -- Shots on Target -- 0 Aberdeen Celtic 10 ------ Corners ------ 2 Aberdeen On the plus side, we have knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup on three occasions. Contrary to popular belief we did not get to keep them for that. There was the SuperCaleyGoBallistic in 2000, followed by the week after beating Liverpool in the UEFA Cup in 2003 (Henrik Larrson and all), and who can forget the Hand of Josh thriller in the 2015 semi-final before we went on to lift the Cup against Falkirk. Overall, we have beaten Celtic seven times in competitive games and drawn seven times. Stats will show that Celtic have won thirty-four times. Fortunately, stats don't win games. Latest Team News Inverness CT have a full squad to pick from after a month off apart from Sutherland and Walsh. In saying that, the likes of Roddy MacGregor has had little game time in his recovery from injury, so some may not be 100% fit. ***Look back in later in the week to hear from Billy Dodds ahead of the final*** Celtic have a squad full of Eastern promise and full international players. Let's not dwell too much on that. Furuhashi took a knock against Aberdeen but it's not a major concern? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Player of the Season Awards In some sort of clandestine ceremony on Monday night, the seasonal awards were handed over, cloak and dagger style at the Caledonian Stadium. Unsurprisingly Billy Mckay was the big winner. Is it written in the stars for Billy to move level with the legendary Dennis Wyness in this Scottish Cup Final. Now that would be some story! Congratulations to all the winners. Well deserved Player of the Year Awards 2022/23 Tonight the winners of our Player of the Year awards were presented with their awards. Players’ Player of the Year 2022-23 was Billy Mckay, as presented by Head Coach Billy Dodds! Players’ Young Player of the Year 2022-23 was Cameron Harper, also presented by Head Coach Billy Dodds. Fans Player of the Year 2022-23 was Billy Mckay, as presented by Laura Grant from the Supporters Trust! Fans Young Player of the Year 2022-23 was Nathan Shaw, as presented by Lady Kath Fraser from the Supporters Trust! Goal of the Season 2022-23 was Billy Mckay’s second goal v Livingston, as presented by Barry Wilson. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On yer bike Steve Message from Joonya Many of you may remember The Highland March - a walking event between the final two league matches of ICT's season, of which took place every year from 2003 to 2015. Well, two of us former marchers have come together to do something different in the build up to the Scottish Cup Final. Steve 'Yompa' Taylor (formerly known as 'InterTheNet') will be donning the lycra to cycle from Caledonian Stadium to Hampden Park IN A DAY. Steve sets off at 3am on Tuesday 30th May, and I will be joining him as the support driver. We'll be doing this for charity, with all monies being split equally between MikeysLine and the Celtic Foundation. Both of these charities provide mental health support to people of all backgrounds, in and around Glasgow and the Highlands. We invite you to follow us on Twitter (@Road2Hampden) where you will find the Just Giving page. Please donate what you can, if you can. Thank you ICT have supported MikeysLine since their inception in 2015, and John Robertson is an ambassador for the charity. They provide Mental Health support to people across Inverness and the Highlands. But why Celtic Foundation too? Over recent years, supporters of the foundation have helped Yompa raise money and awareness for the Solving Kids Cancer charity. It's his way of giving something back, at a time when two teams with history in this competition come head to head in the final. Every donation helps, and we'd like to thank everyone for their support ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FANZONE Here's Scooty & the Skyhooks plus good luck messages The Wyness Shufflers have been busy and here's your Cup Final podcast 'Back to the Future' from the guys RIGHT HERE What's in it for you: Two and a half hours of all things Caley Thistle. The pre-match venue, memorable games with Celtic, ICT Legends with Stuart Golabeck, Ross Tokely, James Vincent, Dennis Wyness and current captain Sean Welsh and don't miss Sandy's Scottish Cup Final tune. Well done guys, a great effort. Your pre-Cup Final entertainment for Caley Jags fans. Provided by the fans for the fans: Get yourself along to The Ferry before the game for some pre-match Shenanigans & Schiehallions. Three bars available Food available Families Welcome Face painting Doors Open: 11:00am Entertainment from 12:00 > 4:00 Bus to game (maybe) BUY TICKETS £4 Where? The Ferry 25 Anderston Quay Glasgow G3 8BX

Better late than never... Here's an appetiser from our site owner Scotty: This article will be a first – in more ways than one. "It’s the first article I have written in quite a while and It’s the first time we will announce two years’ worth of Player of the Year winners in a single article, and as you read through it you will discover more firsts as we go along. First a word about our award history. We first dished this out – to Bobby Mann – in 2000/01 and it has consistently been one of only two external supporters’ awards recognized by the club since then, with the other being the Supporters Club PotY. It was also, until his tragic passing, included in Ian Broadfoot’s comprehensive and official club stats. We take great pride in that and continue to seek to ensure the voting process is handled with fairness and integrity. Without further ado, let’s get going and start talking numbers. Season 2019/2020: The season all started normally enough. COVID & Coronavirus were not yet in the vernacular, social distancing was drinking in a different pub than the opposition fans, and our idea of low crowds was reserved for a wet and windy Tuesday night in the league cup where figures dropped below 1000. The 2019/20 PotY calculation was ‘normal’ from the season start in July, right up to March and then of course with the season being cut short there were no awards for the final three months of the season... OK OK, enough from Scotty, once he starts he won't stop... Before we get too far into this season, we better tell you who has won the CTO Player of the Year trophy. With the previous couple of seasons being disrupted by covid 19, these results were put into cold storage and almost forgotten about. Step forward IBM and ictEWD. These guys have been working tirelessly in the background updating stats, adding current stats/results and new information to this site and keeping the voting polls going. Along with that Eric has produced a wonderful spreadsheet and Iain has collated all the votes over the last two seasons to come up with the Player of the Year for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. It doesn't make it any easier to sort out but the same player has won both titles despite missing a fair chunk of last season through injury, all this despite his hairband! He is our 20th and 21st winner and the first to win it twice. He is very deserving of this award and scored his first goal for the club last season in his 47th appearance, a beauty against Dunfermline after cutting in from the right wing and rifling the ball across the keeper. He won the supporters Player of the Year last season as well. He also picked up the Championship Player of the Month back in March and he has been playing an unfamiliar role at right back since coming back from injury. His hairband is the topic of much discussion. Signing on for another three seasons has ensured him of cult status at the Caledonian Stadium and we look forward to cheering him on for the foreseeable future. 2019-2020 was a close run affair with David Carson (225 votes) edging out another fans favourite Shaun Rooney (206) with Mr consistency Mark Ridgers in third place (196) Carson came from behind with a late run to pip Rooney and Ridgers by winning the polls for February and March. Ridgers had a busy winter topping the votes in November and December with Rooney the main man for some swashbuckling performances in August and January. The top three had pulled well clear of the rest of the field. Scotty clarifies the voting system thus... In the 9 months where there were awards, 3 players each got Player of the Month twice and three more got that accolade once. There were a total of 1842 votes cast over the course of the shortened season, which although down from previous years was still healthy given the circumstances. These were spread amongst a total of 23 players. Over the course of the season the player with the highest number of votes cast for them (regardless of the value of the votes 5/3/1) was David Carson with 225 votes. Second spot for 2019/2020 goes to Shaun Rooney with 206 votes with Mark Ridgers claiming third spot with 196 votes. 2020-2021 turned out to be another success story for David Carson despite missing the start of the season through injury. Such was his impact on return he collected the trophy for an unprecedented second season. It was even tighter in this shortened season with only three votes separating the top two. David Carson - 134 Scott Allardice - 131 Nikolay Todorov - 112 So, belated congratulations to David. Monthly winners starting in October Dan Mackay in April - No doubt for his stunning goal and performance in the Scottish Cup against Ross County. He has won a few accolades since signing for Inverness, but none so prestigious as the CTO Player of the Year. Above he can be seen in the supporters Player of the Year photo <pic from ICTFC> below he is brandishing the Scottish Championship Player of the Month for March. Here's David with the Championship Player of the Month in March 2021 Here's our Bio of your CTO PotY for the last two seasons: David Carson spent his early career with Ashington. In 2014, Carson signed for Blackburn Rovers but he returned to non-league, playing with South Shields, Whitby Town and Morpeth Town from whence he came to ICT from on a free transfer on 15 May 2019. His last season in Evo-Stik East League saw the 23-year-old named league player of the season, as well as making the league team of the year, as Morpeth Town secured a league and Cup double. When Carson signed for Scottish Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, John Robertson tipped him for success. He had made 37 appearances for Inverness but he had yet to score although he likes a yellow card gaining 8 bookings prior the the 20/21 season. David missed the start of season 20/21 through injury. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win over Dunfermline in his 47th appearance following MotM performances in his previous three games at right back. David has extended his stay by adding three years to his contract announced on 15th April 2021 which keeps him at Inverness until end of season 2024 and was the supporters player of the year choice.

Deal or no Deal After a season that promised so much, went tit's up then almost recovered in time to make the play-offs, we head into season 2021-2022 without some familiar faces but also some new ones as we continue our drive to get back to the Premiership. Are the cards on the table or have some already played their hand. So far Tom Walsh is the first 'new player' to sign on, let's hope there's plenty more to come. *This page will be updated as new contracts are announced* ICTFC SQUAD UPDATE 15th June Billy Mckay 16th June Manny Duku 16th June Reece McAlear loan deal 17th June Welcome Michael Gardyne 17th June Kirk Broadfoot incoming 11th July The Boss: Neil McCann filled in for John Robertson with help from Billy Dodds when Robbo went on compassionate leave. They almost guided us back on track but we came up just short of a play-off place. Neil & Billy have been showered with plaudits from the Caley Jags support for their help but the time is right for the Boss to return. John Robertson will be back, but not as manager. He is moving upstairs as Sporting Director. So, apply within. Neil McCann did his best to sell the club to prospective signings as he left the Caledonian Stadium. Thanks Neil, good job well done. Deal: First and foremost, Billy Dodds is the new Head Coach signing a two year deal. He replaces John Robertson and interim Manager Neil McCann and after a CV sift he has emerged as the new man at the wheel. Good luck Billy. At the end of last season, we quickly extended the contracts of four of our promising young team. Defenders Harry Nicolson and Ryan Fyffe along with midfielder Lewis Hyde. Injured wide player Anthony McDonald was given another year to show his worth after his second spell with us was a total write-off when he was injured in training. A subsequent operation will hopefully have him ready for the new season. Already dealt: Mark Ridgers: One of the best keepers in the Championship (2022) Wallace Duffy: Young defender who missed latter part of season through injury (2022) Danny Devine: Proved his worth in a solid back four (2022) Robbie Deas: Great first season for Robbie, filled in at left back as well and now capped at u21. (2023) Cameron Harper: Made left back his own until injury, great young player and also capped at u21. (2022) Roddy MacGregor: Talented midfielder, getting stronger, superb prospect and another u21 cap. (2022) Sean Welsh: Influential captain, penalty taker and midfield creator (2022) Scott Allardice: Explosive first season, joint players PotY, midfield powerhouse (2023) David Carson: PotY & CTO PotY, what an engine whether at full back or midfield (2024) New Deal - Coming back for more: Shane Sutherland: More to offer and signed a one year extension (2022) Welcome (Back) to the Caledonian Stadium: Tom Walsh: Returns for a second spell at the Caley Jags after an injury curtailed season at Ayr United and the exciting wide player has penned a two year deal until the end of May 2023. He scores when he wants: Billy Mckay returns to the Caledonian Stadium after serving time on the dark side. (2 year deal) Incoming from Raith Rovers: 28 year old Striker Manny Duku signs a one year deal. !0 goals for Raith last season. Michael Gardyne: Is taking the plunge and stepping up to the top team in the Highlands from the village pub team in Dingwall. (1 year deal) Loan Deal: Its a 1 year loan deal for midfielder Reece McAlear who comes in from Norwich City. Late signing: Inverness have struck a deal to sign Kirk Broadfoot. The former Scotland international has agreed an initial one year deal with an option. Caley Thistle boss Billy Dodds has convinced the ex-Rangers star to move to the Highlands. The deal will also see Broadfoot start his coaching career with the academy at Inverness. No Deal - Who is in the departure lounge: Daniel Mackay: What a season Dan had. Young PotY and goal of the season against County in the Cup. Hibs snapped up Dan with a year left on his contract for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be six figures. Massive potential, Dan has left the building having scored 12 goals in 57 appearances for the Caley Jags, 9 in his final season. Lewis Toshney: left before the end of the season after injury curtailed his appearances. James Keatings: injury prone season saw him leaving for Raith Rovers on a PCA. Scott Allan: Loan expired and returned to Hibs. What a talent, will be missed. Arran Lyall: Loan expired, promising wide player, returned to Rangers. Brad Mckay: Much maligned defender, played his part in miserly back four but he is off to Falkirk on a 3 year deal after five seasons at Inverness with 164 appearances scoring 8 goals. Nikolay Todorov: Turned down improved contract and will not be coming back after finishing the season strongly scoring 11 goals. James Vincent: is leaving after making 106 appearances and scoring 7 goals. One in particular will never be forgotten as we lifted the Scottish Cup in 2015. Kevin McHattie: His injury hit career at Inverness is over after just 39 appearances. Always a good professional. Miles Storey: Promises so much, seldom delivers... had been speaking with Billy Dodds but has allegedly rejected a new deal and will leave. Martin Mackinnon: Third choice keeper moving on. Shane Harkness: Not getting game time and moving on. Waiting to play their cards: Cammy Mackay: Reserve keeper while Ridgers is here, would need to go elsewhere for a regular start but has turned up for training. Aaron Doran: Seems like the fragile wide player has been here forever and is down to turn up for training for the start of the new season. Mackay and Doran look as though they will be here this season although no confirmation anywhere??? Kevin McHattie: Injury hit season, his time is up at Inverness. James Vincent: Bit part player, allegedly the dream is over for Cup hero??? Nikolay Todorov: Almost got us there, scored some great goals (11) last season... Martin Mackinnon, Shane Harkness, Kane Davies??? New Hands: Stepping up from the Academy, Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC are delighted to announce that Academy Graduates Ethan Cairns, Robbie Thompson, Lewis Nicolson, Alisdair Riddle and Harry Hennem have signed their first professional contracts with the club. Read More. Other home grown talent in the squad include Cameron Harper, Roddy MacGregor, Ryan Fyffe, Lewis Hyde, Harry Nicolson and keeper Cammy Mackay. Let's shuffle the pack? Kane Davies - Waiting for information? 2021: C Mackay, Doran, waiting for info? 2022: M Ridgers, Duffy, Devine, Harper, MacGregor, Welsh. 2023: Allardice, Deas, Carson - 2024

Butcher's meet not enough for sad Caley Jags In the presence of the great man himself, Inverness and Ayr locked horns at the relegation end of the table. A far cry from the euphoric scenes when Inverness were in seventh heaven after winning the First Division back in 2010. This game took on a more sinister roll after Dunfermline trashed Dundee United 3-1 last night to move four points above Inverness in the table. A win for either side here could prove pivotal come the business end of the season. Defeat may start the downward spiral for either side as they could become detatched from the peleton above. Inverness had to put the Battery Farm debacle behind them and concentrate on the job in hand on the park. At the end of the day the only word I have after this display is despondency. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A beautiful afternoon for a kick about in the Highlands was ruined by a rubbish game of football. Inverness were down to the bare bones with only six subs, mainly the walking wounded on the bench. The visitors had Frankie Musonda as captain and a strong starting XI with an equally strong bench that included Logan Chalmers, Jamie Murphy and Aiden McGeady. Inverness as they do started brightly. A long free kick from Savage caused problems in the first minute before being cleared and a couple of minutes later keeper Clarke let a shot squirm under him and narrowly missed going in at his far post. However, our usual ten minute flurry only lasted until that ball slipped past the post. Ayr dominated the half thereafter and took an early lead through a poked effort from Stanger on the line or possibly an own goal from Anderson after we failed to clear our lines on Ayr's left flank and gave the ball away too easily. The industrious Alex Samuel had our best moment when he guided a volley just over the bar. Alas, we were absolutely honking for the rest of the half, unable to string one pass together and constantly gave the ball away. Fortunately on the stroke of half time we were thrown a lifeline from the spot. Fair play to Billy Mckay for grabbing the ball and slamming it into the net for an undeserved but welcome equaliser. Given the abuse he and his son took after he missed his penalty against the Pars, this was a sweet moment for a legend. After the interval nothing changed. We continued to fail to create anything and Ayr continued to look the more likely to score again. There wasn't a lack of effort. However a lack of tactical nous and quality were in abundance. Ayr always looked like breaking clear and we always looked pedantic and predictable and turned backwards at every opportunity. Is that a lack of confidence or a lack of quality. Probably both. Predictable Ayr took all three points when Bryden knocked home in front of the Ayr fans to complete our demise. Although there was still half an hour to go, nobody in the home support could see us scoring and they amused themselves by taunting security and anyone else that would listen. Mark Ridgers kept us close with a big save ten minutes from the end as we feared the worst. Cammy Harper did eventually fire a great ball across the box near the end but there were no takers as it flashed across the goal a yard from the line. Therein lies the difference. When Ayr did that in the fifth minute, Stanger scored from practically on the goalline. As it was, we played out the final half hour without otherwise threatening and Ayr took all three points back home. FULL TIME: 1-2 Having sat through one of the worst games for many a year there is little to hope for now apart from Arbroath to keep losing because we certainly appear to find it difficult to win. We have no game changers in our squad and our manager is playing the wrong type of anti-football to help our cause. Big Dunc thought we were the better team. Pleeeeeaaase, give me a break! We were second to everything and Ayr were always one step ahead of us after the first three minutes. SHOCKER springs to mind. Highlights from Ayr United as we appear to be too embarrassed to put our own highlights up We lost didn't we>>> Date: 16/03/2024 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 1979 Referee: Iain Snedden Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: Ridgers; Carragher (Doran 69), Devine, Savage, Duffy, Kerr, Lawal (Pepple 69), Anderson, Harper, Alex Samuel, B Mckay Subs (not used): C Mackay; Brooks, Austin Samuels Scorers: B Mckay (45+3 pen) Booked: Carragher (11), Pepple (87) Sent Off: none Ayr United: 2 Manager: Scott Brown Lineup: Clarke; McAllister, Musonda, Stanger, Sanders, Syla, McHugh, Bryden (Amartey 70), Dowds, Willoughby (Murphy 62), McKenzie Subs (not used): Albinson; McGinty, McGinley, Tomlinson, Dempsey, McGeady, Chalmers Scorers: Stanger (5) Bryden (61) Booked: Murphy (68) Sent Off: none a

They used to be sh!te, but now they're alright Inverness face a treacherous trip to the home of the new, improved version of Raith Rovers. This would have been a game where we might have expected to pick up at least a point over the last twenty odd years. However, they are more resillient of late and testament to that is our two meetings this season when late goals saw Rovers snatch all six points from Inverness who deserved more from both games. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ All the ins and outs Match/Ticket Info Scottish Cup v Hibs ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Venue Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 22 14 5 3 41 17 +24 Away 18 9 5 4 34 22 +12 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 40 23 10 7 75 39 +36 Raith broke the mold back in September when they won for the first time in 23 years: Record Breakers Never had there been a better time for Raith Rovers to break the Caley Jags hoodoo! Inverness, without a win in their last eight games, and Billy Dodds and the management team under fire. A 23 year run of games without a win for Raith Rovers was brought to an end today when Jamie Gullan smashed home from 15 yards with five minutes left. It was harsh on Inverness who dominated for long spells earlier in the game, but it leaves the management with some tough decisions to make. There will be dancing on the streets of Raith tonight! 1 - 2 (H) 0 - 1 (A) 2 - 0 (H) 2 - 2 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 2 - 0 (A) 3 - 2 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 0 - 0 (H) 1 - 1 (A) And in December: Just Like Buses None for 23 years then two in a row as Raith came from behind to win with a time added on penalty converted by Jamie Gullan. Billy Mckay had opened the scoring with a header on the hour but a late surge by Rovers won it. Lewis Vaughan four minutes from the end then the penalty to take the win at the death scored by Jamie Gullan. We should have had a penalty of our own after that, but Mr Williams chose to ignore it. We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and that one hurt. Championship Points Dundee Utd - 44 Raith Rovers - 44 Partick Thistle -36 Airdrieonians - 27 Morton - 26 Dunfermline - 23 Ayr United - 23 Inverness CT - 21 Queens Park - 20 Arbroath FC - 18 Latest Team News Inverness Last 5 Championship results: D D L W L Big Dunc has been dabbling in the January sales both in and out over the last couple of weeks. Out: Sean Welsh, David Wotherspoon, Cillian Sheridan, Zak Delaney, Harry Hennem (departed), Lewis Hyde, Keith Bray, Ethan Cairns (loaned out) In: Striker Alex Samuel, the rest are all defenders:- James Carracher, Cammy Kerr, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Remi Savage Raith Rovers have suffered three defeats on the trot: Airdrie & Queens Park in the Championship and a 2-1 defeat to Livingston in the Scottish Cup last weekend. Zak Rudden, Shaun Byrne and Kyle Turner are new additions in the January sales. Rudden was the latest signing and he will be available for tomorrow. Jamie Gullan has left Rovers to sign for Dundalk. Last 5 Championship results: D D W L L Team v Livi in the Cup last week Dabrowski Millen Brown Dick Connolly Mullin Byrne (Gullan 83) Turner (Easton 67) Smith Hamilton Vaughan Subs Not Used: Thomson; Masson, Hannah, McGill, Corr, McNeil, Murray

Goalden Oldies Inverness scraped their way into the hat for the fourth round draw with a less than impressive display against fifth tier Cowdenbeath. It was only after the introduction of olde heads Wotherspoon, Mckay and Carson that we took control of the game in the final ten minutes. Spoony and Mckay got the late strikes to win this tie over a hard working Cowdenbeath who can be well pleased with their performance as they shut Inverness down all over the park for eighty minutes. In truth, the mascots looked more impressive in the warm up than the Caley Jags strikers as they scored goals like a boss. Robert on CTO: That was a hard watch. Cowdenbeath more than matched us until the triple change. Ferguson will have learn’t a lot about some players. Two great goals put an artificial gloss on a poor performance. I’ll cut Welsh some slack as he is still building up fitness after so little game time, and he made one magnificent cross field pass to Shaw. Delaney and Sheridan were the worst of the bunch, with most players guilty of slack passing and poor control in general. It could have been different if our two early chances had gone in, one cleared off the line and one resulting in a good save. However, we didn’t kick on at all, reverting to square and backwards passing with little movement or threat. When we got scoring chances, we tended to pass rather than shoot when a shooting opportunity was on. After the break, Brooks had a tame effort and Sheridan should have had two easy goals but messed up the opportunities. Thank goodness we stepped up several gears when Mckay and Wotherspoon came on. We need to get Wotherspoon tied up for longer. Of the starting eleven, I’m struggling as to who get pass marks. Maybe Shaw and Ujdur but that would be about it. Brooks and Longstaff worked very hard but without damaging Cowdenbeath. FULL TIME: 2-0 More detail to follow>>> Cup ties are all about getting into the next round and that's what Inverness did....just. Unlike Dundee United and Arbroath, who have parted company with Dick & Dom. Not an impressive performance by any means, but Big Dunc will have learnt that some of these players need to move on in January. We had made half a dozen changes to the normal Championship team lines but I'm struggling to find many positives from that. No surprise that we looked much better when Mckay, Wotherspoon and Carson entered the game. A couple of flashes of brilliance and it was game over. Well done to Cowdenbeath who got their game plan right and snapped at our heels all afternoon making life difficult for us as we tried to break them down but failed badly. Sheridan looks off the pace but still had a couple of opportunities to score, something he would have done with his eyes shut a number of years ago. Brooks runs around like a headless chicken without threatening. Misplaced passes all over the park today, but one man not guilty of that was the impeccable Nikola Ujdur who was my MotM. His nearest rivals only played for the final ten minutes, Mckay and Wotherspoon and after that the mascots Ava and Rio were head and shoulders above the rest of the squad. Dunc's happy enough, that's good enough for me Date: 25/11/2023 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 1037 Referee: Graham Grainger Inverness CT: 2 Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: C Mackay; Duffy (Carson 70), Ujdur, Devine, Delaney, Longstaff (Lodovica 90+1), Welsh (Davidson 89), Gilmour, Brooks (Wotherspoon 71), Shaw, Sheridan (Mckay 70) Subs (not used): Ridgers; Harper, Hyde, Thompson Scorers: Wotherspoon (80), B Mckay (84) Booked: none Sent Off: none Cowdenbeath: 0 Manager: Calum Elliot Lineup: Hepburn; MacPherson, McNab, Jordan, Tait, McLaughlin (Chalmers 77), Docherty, McDonald (MacDonald (77)), Butterworth, Jack (Berry 54), MacPherson (Cunningham 77) Subs (not used): Blair; Walker Scorers: none Booked: Docherty (34), Tait (90) Sent Off: none a

Point on the Road Dunc's return to Tannadice would be hindered by some key players missing. Welsh and Longstaff failed to recover but Boyes and Wotherspoon were in the starting XI. Sheridan was on the bench which looked a bit devoid of flair. United had a strong line-up with Ross County loanee Jordan Tillson replacing the injured Docherty. A big crowd of over 7500 were on hand with 270 visiting fans making the journey in eternal hope. Inverness opened the scoring through Shaw but Holt levelled the game quickly. United had the possession but Big Dunc went back up the A9 with a hard earned point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A decent crowd were on hand to witness Kai Fotheringham being influential early on with an effort superbly blocked by Cammy Harper followed by Mark Ridgers saving his next effort as the hosts looked to get off to a flier. The early possession was dominated by the Tangerines. Billy Mckay and Nathan Shaw advanced into the home box but the defence managed to mop up the cut back. Mckay saw keeper Jack Walton block with his legs in the 24th minute when maybe he could have put his laces through the ball. From the resultant corner Danny Devine headed over from a great position five yards out. United then had a close one when Middleton's shot come cross went inches wide as they stepped up their intensity ten minutes before the interval. Nikola Ujdur was first into the book for fouling Tony Watt. Ridgers again saved from Fotheringham from outside the box and then another brilliant save from Kevin Holt at close range before Scott McMann shot over with the goal gaping. The visitors were playing a dangerous game as United applied the pressure but Morgan Boyes headed over as Inverness ventured forward a minute before the break. Despite the pressure it was all square at half time. HALF TIME: 0-0 No changes at the interval and surprisingly it was Inverness that opened the scoring with an exceptionally slik move down the left from their own penalty box. A great counter attack from the Caley Jags as Harper advances down the left side and his low cross found it's way to Shaw, via Anderson, and he fired a low effort past Walton from 15 yards to open the scoring! Superb! However it might be a long forty minutes now! In fact the lead was short lived. Wallace Duffy had just replaced David Carson five minutes later and Holt promptly powered in a bullet header from Fotheringham's corner. Holt headed wide ten minutes later as the substitutes started to enter the field of battle. Ten minutes to play with United pressing for a winner and Cillian Sheridan on for Billy Mckay. Holt was blocked as he tried to get one on target and Declan Glass suffered the same fate with the visiting defence working overtime. Ridger's saved at his near post from Middleton deep into time added on as United searched for a winner but Inverness held on for a valuable, well earned point. FULL TIME: 1-1 More match reaction to follow>>> Tremendous point on the road. It was a backs to the wall performance at times but our defence was up to the task of slowing down the top scorers in the Championship. Mark Ridgers was in superb form with his back five blunting the top scorers. Full marks to Ferguson for adapting the shape with key players missing at a difficult venue. Two brilliant goals and a point on the road at the league leaders den. The Big Dunc revolution gathers pace. Delighted Dunc>>> Full Highlights>>> Date: 04/11/2023 Venue: Tannadice Park, Dundee Attendance: 7602 Referee: Don Robertson Dundee United: 1 Manager: Jim Goodwin Lineup: Walton; Freeman, Gallagher, Holt, McMann, Sibbald, Tillson (Mochrie 79), Middleton, Fotheringham (Cudjoe 67), Watt (Glass 67), Moult Subs (not used): Newman; Denham, Graham, Duffy, Moore, Stirton Scorers: Holt (56) Booked: Gallagher (42) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: Ridgers; Ujdur, Devine, Boyes, Harper, Carson (Duffy 55), Gilmour, Anderson, Shaw, Wotherspoon (Delaney 85), B Mckay (Sheridan 69) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Hyde, Brooks, Lodovica, Thompson Scorers: Shaw (50) Booked: Ujdur (36) Sent Off: none a

Level Pars A flurry of transfer activity saw three new players join the Caley Jags ahead of this game. With Billy Dodds under pressure from the fans, Max Anderson and Morgan Boyes not only turned up at the Caledonian stadium, but were in the starting XI. However, we have to wait a bit longer to see Nikola Ujdur once all his paperwork is rubber stamped down under. Sean Welsh missed out again along with a couple of longer term absentees. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A cagey opening ten minutes was disrupted two minutes later when Nathan Shaw took on a speculative shot from distance. It was low and maybe the keeper thought it was going past, but it went under his body and trundled into the net off the post to give Inverness a much needed opening goal. Keeper won't want to see that one again. Shaw was prominent in most moves forward and Charlie Gilmour fired a couple of fierce shots a yard or two wide. Adam Brooks had the ball in the net nearer half-time but was adjudged to be offside with Sharp again looking suspect as he tried to save the shot. Little else of note in a turgid first forty-five played in blustery conditions. HALF TIME: 1-0 After the break, if anything, it was even more turgid with any fluent breaks forward coming from the visitors. Substitute Keith Bray did well to create an opening for himself but his finish was weak and saved low to his right by Sharp. The Pars earned their share of the points when Hamilton headed in after a short corner was chipped into the box by Moffat with Mark Ridgers caught in no mans land. Soft goal to give away with ten minutes remaining. With a couple of minutes left Ridgers made amends when Moffat looked favourite to score but the keeper did well to save low to his left and keep the score level. FULL TIME: 1-1 The two new loan payers aquitted themselves well without setting the pulses racing. The defence did appear to be more rigid although we were found wanting at the equaliser. Nathan Shaw was the most likely to cause problems and so it proved. Poor decision by Ridgers to decide to flap at thin air for the goal but made amends to earn our point with a tremendous save later. Pars were much more direct than us and you couldn't grudge them their point. However that point still leaves us floundering at the foot of the table with one point from a possible twelve. Date: 02/09/2023 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2388 Referee: Mathew MacDermid Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Duffy (Bray 69), Devine, Boyes, Harper, Brooks (Longstaff 82), Carson, Anderson (Davidson 87), Gilmour, Shaw, B Mckay (Samuels 87) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Delaney, Doran, Lodovica, Thompson Scorers: Shaw (12) Booked: Duffy (46), Brooks (58) Sent Off: none Dunfermline Ath: 1 Manager: James McPake Lineup: Sharp; Fisher, Benedictus (Allan 71), Comrie (Moffat 59), Hamilton, Chalmers, Otoo, McAnn, Edwards, Summers (Tod 84), O'Halloran (Ritchie-Hosler 59) Subs (not used): Little; Sutherland, Breen, Fenton Scorers: Hamilton (80) Booked: A Tod (90) Sent Off: none a

It's Coming Home as Harry Claims the Match Ball The Inverness Cup has been revived and there was a 'one off' game to decide who will look after this substantial trophy for the next year when it will all be done again between the Caley Jags and Inverness Clachnacuddin. It's a whopper of a trophy capable of holding many a dram and it was first played for in 1895 when Caledonian won the inaugural event. Last played for in season 2005-2006, Forres Mechanics are the current holders. The 'Can Cans' are the oldest association football club in the North of Scotland and are one of only two original teams to play in the Highland League since its first season in 1893, the other being Clachnacuddin. A fairly youthful Inverness XI took to the pitch bolstered by Doran, Duffy Samuels and a couple of newstarts in Brooks and Harry Lodovica who set the tone with a first half hat-trick. Lewis Mackie bagged the last goal after Calum Ferguson scored for Clach. That meant that Inverness CT have now won this trophy eight times. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness Cup Final: In front of an estimated crowd of 400ish, Adam Brooks had an early effort tipped onto the post and behind by keeper Daniel Rae. After quarter of an hour Austin Samuels was put through by Robbie Thompson but he dragged his effort wide, however five minutes later big Harry Lodovica headed home an Aaron Doran corner via the underside of the bar to open the scoring. Cammy MacKay then had to look lively to keep out Connor Bunce's free-kick after twenty minutes. Big Harry and Lewis Hyde both went wide but keeper Rae then brought down Big Harry and he picked himself up before converting his penalty on the rebound after Rae had saved the initial spot kick. Harry notched his hat-trick moments later when he headed in from Doran's free kick. Straight from the restart Clach won a penalty of their own but Calum Ferguson's low spot kick was saved by Cammy Mackay. HALF TIME: 0-3 Into the second half and Aaron Doran shot wide before Clach pulled one back when Ferguson scored to narrow the gap. Inverness had made some changes prior to the goal, Lewis Mackie, Jonathan Bain, Calum MacLeod ON, Wallace Duffy, Adam Brooks and Austin Samuels OFF. Mackie thumped in from inside the box fifteen minutes after coming on to restore our three goal lead. With the game running away from Clach we fielded another couple of substitutes into the final five minutes: Sam Thompson and Ben Meacher on, Aaron Doran and Ali Nixon off. As it was, Harry's Hat-Trick set us up nicely and Lewis Mackie rounded it off with an excellent strike for Inverness to regain the Inverness Cup for the eighth time. All the best to Clach for the season ahead and they battled well having previously lifted this trophy fourteen times. Robert on CTO: We ended up with only MacKay, Hyde and Lodovica (and arguably Robbie Thomson) on the pitch from our first team squad, plus five from the Academy and two first year Graduates, so a creditable result in the circumstances. Image from @TMPfoto As Frank Bruno used to say after his fights: "where's Harry?" Well, here he is with the match ball after scoring three in the final. It was his first start for the club and what an impact he made. He's a big lad at full stretch and will be a handful for defenders once he gets up and running. Man of the Match for his first half heroics but there were also some accomplished performances from some of the younger players on display, notably Robbie Thompson and Jack Walker, and even olde codgers like Aaron Doran put in a good shift. Great confidence boost for all and a smashing strike from Lewis Mackie for the fourth goal. I see that Clach have signed goal scorer Calum Ferguson who started his career at Inverness ten years ago before moving on. Date: 22/**08/2023 Venue: Grant Street Park, Inverness Attendance: 400 Referee: Gordon Seago Clachnacuddin: 1 Manager: Jordan MacDonald Lineup: Rae; D Morrison, Cormack, S Morrison, Sutherland, Ferguson, Anderson, Bunce, Riddle, Nicolson, Hennem Subs (not used): MaCleod, Mitchell, Adams, Cooper, Mackenzie, Calder, Urquhart, Macphee, Peterkin Scorers: Ferguson (64) Booked: none Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 4 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: C Mackay; S Nixon, Duffy (Mackie 60), Walker, A Nixon (S Thompson 85), Brooks (Bain 60), Thompson, Hyde, Doran (Meacher 85), Samuels (Macleod 60) Lodovica. Subs (not used): Ridgers; Scorers: Lodovica (16, 36, 39), Mackie (75) Booked: none Sent Off: none

Ayr Dump Caley Jags Notable absentees for Ayr were last seasons Championship top scorer Dipo Akinyemi who has gone to York City and long time servant Michael Moffat who spent eleven years over two spells at Somerset Park scoring 77 goals in 263 appearances. Dodds was without Roddy MacGregor and Lewis Nicolson with knee injuries. Sean Welsh has a groin injury and also missed out again as did Austin Samuels and Max Ram. Adam Brooks returned to the bench and Danny Devine replaced the missing Wallace Duffy. New sensation Keith Bray started with Inverness down to only six on the bench. Injuries starting early this season already it would seem with six missing.. Ayr got off to the perfect start after just eight minutes when Francis Amartey, Dempsey and Sam Ashford combined for Amartey to slot home the opening goal. Mark Ridgers saved on his line from Nick McAllister as Ayr looked to double their lead. Keith Bray was blocked going into the box and from the follow up Albinson saved from David Carson at the expense of a corner. Plenty of half chances for both sides to score in the first half with Devine going close for the visitors but Albinson tipped over. Longstaff also went close on the break but his shot bounced just wide. Billy Dodds fell foul of the referee on the interval and had to watch the remainder of the game from the stands. (See how he likes it!) HALF TIME: 1-0 Longstaff saw his header saved ten minutes after the interval as Inverness looked to get back into the game. A spate of substitutions on the hour for Ayr and Harry Lodovica replaced Bray for the visitors before a Jake Davidson cross found Nathan Shaw, but his effort came back off the post. With twenty minutes remaining Shaw was blocked in the box as we chased for a leveller. Substitute Aiden McGeady shot wide approaching the final ten minutes and Cammy Harper failed to hit the target at the other end. Aaron Doran fired a free kick wide from a tight angle and McGeady missed again as time was running away from us. Ridgers tipped over from Pendelbury in the 90th minute and the as so often, the game slipped away from us to leave us bottom of the table with Arbroath. FULL TIME: 1-0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another defeat leaves Inverness pointless at the foot of the table with Arbroath as Ayr got their first win of the campaign thanks to an early goal from Francis Amartey. Not for the want of trying, but Inverness could not find an equaliser and that will pile more misery on under fire boss Billy Dodds. Our injury situation seems never-ending and we could only muster six on the bench. Dodds watched from the stand in the second half and will now know why we are concerned... The natives are no happy on CTO with many asking for a total clearout from top to bottom, questioning the length of contract offered to Billy Dodds. The buck stops at the very top and that is a massive concern for all. Top scorer Billy Mckay was a forlorn figure and was not best pleased at being subbed. Something is wrong that's not right. Sort it now before we leave this league at the wrong end of the table. Date: 12/08/2023 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 1989 Referee: Peter Stuart Ayr United: 1 Manager: Lee Bullen Lineup: Albinson; McAllister, Stanger, McGinty, Reading, Amartey (Pendelbury 58), Smith (Musonda 82), Dempsey, Ashford (Rose 58), McKenzie, Bryden (McGeady 58) Subs (not used): Mutch; Ecrepont, Tomlinson, Watret, Ahui Scorers: Amartey (8) Booked: Smith (74), McAllister (89) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 0 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Davidson, Devine, Delaney, Harper, Longstaff (Doran 73), Carson, Gilmour, Bray (Lodovica 58), Shaw, B Mckay (Brooks 66) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Hyde, Thompson Scorers: none Booked: Delaney (28), Longstaff (45+1) Sent Off: none a

102 and Counting With his 102nd goal of his Caley Thistle career scored against Airdrie, William Robert Mckay became our top scorer ever surpassing the 101 goals of 'Sir' Dennis Wyness. What an achievement that is from Billy who is in his third spell at the Caledonian Stadium. Billy joined Inverness from Northampton Town in 2011 but there was little hint of what was to come when he made his debut in August 2011, replacing Aaron Doran in a 2-1 home win over Killie. He was sparingly used and often played out of position and suffered injury issues as well. He got off the mark scoring with a header in a 3-2 home defeat to Dundee United. His appearances were sporadic and he made only 24 appearances scoring only 3 goals by the end of the season. A two year deal was signed and things kicked on for Billy as he scored regularly and picked up the SPL Player of the Month award for November. It got even better the week after when he scored his first career hat-trick against Dundee United in an incredible 4-4 draw at Tannadice. The Legend status was building fast as his reputation spread. That brought about transfer speculation which Terry Butcher quoshed by offering Mckay a new contract which was secured in March of 2013. More speculation followed in 2013 with a move to Bulgaria rejected and the scoring continued. 9 goals from 9 matches and Septembers SPFL Player of the Month award in the bag. A great season ended with 22 goals from 46 games including a runners up medal in the League Cup loss on penalties to Aberdeen. A slow start to season 2014/2015 eventually took off but with his contract running out Billy was sold to Wigan Athletic for a cut price around £150K. What happened at Wigan stays at Wigan Billy was loaned back to Inverness at the end of January 2017 and he executed a brilliant overhead kick goal to beat Rangers at the end of February which ended a 15 game winless streak. He was then lured to the dark side which we won't go into on here. They released him at the end of the 20/21 season and Billy signed on again for his third spell for two years. He was in the PFA Championship Team of the Year at the end of season 21/22. The rest, as they say, is history. He scored his 99th and 100th goals at Hampden as we beat Falkirk 3-0 and he played in the 2023 Cup Final defeat to Celtic. His record breaking goal was a penalty kick, won by and scored by himself. He was the CTO Player of the Year 2023, an accolade he richly deserved. He won the ICTFC Players Player of the Year, the Fans Player of the Year and also the goal of the year. What a season that was for Billy! Billy made his 250th appearance against Dundee on Sunday and was given the Captains armband. Legend! He does what it says on the tin: 'He scores when he wants' Billy Mckay: Legend. Here is all of his 102 goals for Inverness Caledonian Thistle from ICTFC YouTube Channel

Cup of woe for Livi Inverness had a surprise inclusion on the bench in the shape of Robbie Deas, who has been out since breaking a bone in his leg last October in a 1-1 draw with Raith Rovers. Other than that, no major changes. Both keepers were tested early with Livingston's Stephen Kelly first to test Mark Ridgers as he shot from outside the box in the third minute. Nathan Shaw responded for the visitors a minute later with Shamal George denying him after his shot deflected off Billy Mckay. Ridgers did well to save a Stephen Bradley free kick at the expense of a corner. From that, Obileye met the ball at the back post but slammed it wide. Bruce Anderson was replaced early by Cristian Montana after an injury to the striker in the 13th minute. Substitute Montana shot high and wide from the edge of the box after twenty minutes. He would shoot over again after half an hour as Livi began to boss the game with Inverness looking for the bell to get them to the interval level. Five minutes before the break Inverness survived a double spike when Obileye's header from Kelly's free-kick blocked on the line before he sent the rebound wide of the post. Close shave for the visitors and Obileye headed wide just before the whistle to keep it all square. Home 63%------Possession-------Away 37% Half Time: 0-0 Livi made a change at the interval with Kurtis Guthrie replacing Bradley and were back on the front foot immediately with the visitors defence blocking a couple of early efforts from Penrice and Devlin, Sean Welsh with a great block. Kurtis Guthrie then saw his shot saved before Billy Mckay opened the scoring with a sensational strike after we broke forward in the 51st minute, shooting high into the net with an assist from Jay Henderson's ball over the top. Guthrie then headed wide as the Lions responded but it was the Caley Jags that increased their lead through captain Sean Welsh who headed home via the post from a Nathan Shaw cross. Kurtis headed over again as Livi looked for a way back into the tie and Bahamboula saw his shot blocked. Ridgers saved from Joel Nouble as the pressure increased on the Inverness end. However, once more it was Inverness that were sharp in front of goal as Billy Mckay scored a third into the top corner, his 95th goal for Inverness. Ridgers saved low down to deny a bullet header from Obileye with six minutes remaining. That's how it finished and Inverness go into the draw for the Quarter Finals. Full Time 0-3 What a result! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Match Reaction Livingston boss David Martindale: "Everything that could go wrong went wrong in the second-half. I've got to give credit to Inverness, they came here with a game plan and executed it very well. "It didn't look like a Livingston team. We started well but they scored and we chased the game. Our shape was all over the place for the first two goals and I need to reflect on that." Inverness manager Billy Dodds: "It's the best performance since I've been here. We've had some big results but performance-wise, looking dangerous and solid in shape, helping one another out, being ruthless in front of goal. It was all there today. "It's the first time I've been able to sit there and not bite my fingernails. It was nice, we were decent and deserved to go through. I asked them to take the final step at half time. Take one goal, you'll spook them, and Billy has come up with two belters." Top Quotes so far on CTO Snorbens_Caleyman: One for the historians - has anyone ever won the cup after being knocked out of it? CaleyCanary: Well my gast is well and truly flabbered! Don't know where that came from, don’t really care where it came from, was not expecting anything like this result. A huge well done to everyone, definitely one to add to our classics. Championship Player of the Month for January Billy Mckay scored two superb goals against Livingston in the Scottish Cup today and was MotM. Billy is now on 95 goals for Inverness and is closing in on Dennis Wyness' all time record of 102 goals. Sean Welsh chipped in with a header to complete the scoring as Inverness go into the Quarter final draw along with Hearts, Ayr United, Kilmarnock, Raith Rovers and Celtic, with two ties still remaining. Rangers v Partick Thistle and Darvel v Falkirk. Pick these out... Here's a happy man Date: 11/02/2023 Venue: Tony Macaroni, Almondvale Attendance: 1284 Referee: Don Robertson Livingston: 0 Manager: David Martindale Lineup: George; Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye, Penrice (Bahamboula 58), Holt, Pittman (Shinnie 58), Kelly, Bradley (Guthrie 45), Nouble, Anderson (Montano 13) Subs (not used): Hamilton; de Lucas, Longridge, Omeonga, Kelly Scorers: none Booked: Devlin (57), Shinnie (78) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 3 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Duffy, Devine, Harper, Henderson (Delaney 82), Welsh, Allardice, Shaw (Hyde 85), D Mackay (Doran 88) B Mckay (Boyd 88) Subs (not used): C Mackay, Deas, Strachan Scorers: B Mckay (51, 80), Welsh (62) Booked: Welsh (57), B Mckay (60), Carson (72) Sent Off: none a

Happy New Year Inverness began 2023 with a crushing win against Cove. Two first half strikes from Billy Mckay and one from Danny Devine countered the opening goal from Jack Sanders. Two quickfire own goals within five minutes of the restart put the hosts 5-1 ahead. Mckay notched his hat-trick from close range as we ran away with the game. Big win to start the year, just what we needed. Jay Henderson started in his first game for the Caley Jags after signing on loan for the rest of the season. Zak Delaney returned after injury but he was the only returnee with a sparse bench, Oakley and Boyd were the only senior outfield players on it with returning loan youngsters. Gilmour and Logan missed out for Cove who had Iain Vigurs on the bench. After a minutes silence for the legend that was Pele, the game got underway on a crisp afternoon in the Highlands. Billy Mckay struck the post in the first minute from twenty yards. Megginson flicked a header just over five minutes later and Longstaff shot over after fifteen minutes as Cove got to grips with the pace of the game. Doran has a shot blocked by McKenzie and Billy Mckay put the rebound just wide. Hyde then saw McKenzie block with his legs as Mckay put him through on goal. Jack Sanders headed in the opener after twenty two minutes. Doran went close soon after, his deflected shot sliding past for a fruitless corner. Just after the half hour Billy Mckay drew Inverness level with a diving header from six yards after a Sean Welsh cross. Danny Devine put Inverness ahead five minutes before the break with a half volley into the bottom corner, Sean Welsh again the provider. A minute before the half time whistle, it was 3-1 when Billy Mckay netted from the spot after hand ball by Jack Sanders. Just after the interval a Dan Mackay shot/cross ended up in the net via Kyle McClelland. It's raining own goals now and Scott Ross was next to put through his own net. Mark Ridgers denied Fraser Fyvie and Luis Longstaff with excellent saves and Dan Mackay went close on the hour. Billy got his hat-trick and Dan Mackay went close to number seven. The three returning youngsters came on for the final ten minutes and more followed as we saw out the game. Who saw that coming??? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not many saw that result coming, probably not even Billy Dodds but it's a badly needed flying start to 2023. Six goals and a hat-trick for the evergreen Billy Mckay. As much as we have criticised the team on here, surely nobody can have any complaints after that result, our biggest of the season. Good to see Mark Ridgers back between the sticks and Zak Delaney back after injury. Billy Mckay, poacher extraordinaire back to his best. That's his fourth Hat-Trick for the Caley Jags. What's not to like! Happy Days are here again... Hat-Trick Hero... it's my ball All the Goals Date: 02/01/2023 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2052 Referee: Craig Napier Inverness CT: 6 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Ram (Strachan 85), Devine, Delaney, Doran (Nicolson 81), Welsh, Hyde, D Mackay (Boyd 73), Henderson (Thompson 81), B Mckay (Cairns 81) Subs (not used): C Mackay; L Nicolson, Oakley Scorers: Mckay (32, 44 pen, 64), Devine (40), McClelland (50 og) Ross (52 og) Booked: none Sent Off: none Cove Rangers: 1 Manager: Jim McInally Lineup: McKenzie; Ross, Sanders, Reynolds (McClelland 45), Scully, Longstaff, Yule, McIntosh, Fyvie, McDonagh (Masson 34), Megginson Subs (not used): Gourlay; Towler, Vigurs, Leitch, Dunne Scorers: Sanders (22) Booked: Ross (33), Sanders (44), Scully (69) Sent Off: none a

Many older fans will remember/recognise the name of John Sutherland. Sadly, he has passed away at the age of 71yrs earlier this week. For those that didn't know John, he was the stadium manager at ICT for a number of years in the days before we had a CEO. The roles were somewhat similar, and the stadium manager ran all the non-football activities of the club whilst the football manager and the director of football took care of all the footballing activities. I had the pleasure of dealing with John a lot over the years as it related to the website. He was in charge at the stadium in the days when David Sutherland and Ken Thomson were running things in the boardroom and kept the stadium running in an organised and regimental fashion befitting of his previous role as a captain in the Queens Own Highlanders. You could never be sure when John was being serious with you or winding you up as you discussed things, until you saw the smirk and realised he got you again! One of his other roles at the club was as the matchday security chief and many would perhaps recognise him from the entrance to the tunnel in the days before we had the pull-out cover ... there were many times that myself and our motley crew got a finger wag, a chuckle and a wink from John after a particularly good wind-up of opposition players, managers or the referee. My personal condolences go to his family, and we extend those condolences from the site also. Service will be on Wednesday 9th November as per the notice in the Courier. John hard at work at the Caledonian Stadium. Photo previously supplied to the site by Ian Broadfoot

Ayr Pressure not enough Ayr started the day three points ahead of Inverness. They would end the day level. Plenty of pressure from the hosts in a dominant first half but the nearest they came to a goal was a Mark Mckenzie header that came off the bar and the same player missed from six yards after being set up by Dipo Akinyemi. Inverness would be relieved to get to the interval on level terms. Cammy Harper glanced in a header just after the break to open the scoring. That's how it ended after a difficult ninety minutes but it's three wins on the bounce on the road. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ayr were one of the early leaders ahead of the visit from the Caley Jags. They strengthened their push for promotion by adding the man with the sweet left foot to their squad ahead of this encounter, Logan Chalmers, and he started on the bench today. Inverness were still without a handful of players although Max Ram played for an hour last week against Brechin City and he and Roddy MacGregor were on the bench after a few weeks out with injury. Ayr got the game underway and forced two early corners before Andy Murdoch shot wide in the third minute. Inverness responded with Steven Boyd winning a corner from a deflected shot and Ayr cleared the ball effectively. In the twelfth minute, a Mark McKenzie header hit the bar and out for a goal kick after Josh Mullin had crossed into the box. Big let off for the visitors. Quarter of an hour gone and the two Mackay's combined before Daniel brings out an excellent save from Albinson at his near post and Murdoch's looped header cleared Mark Ridgers' crossbar as Ayr went forward again. Billy Mckay sliced wide after Dan Mackay's shot from the left side was blocked and fell for Billy on the volley. More Ayr pressure saw a Mullin effort blocked and Musonda headed over the subsequent corner midway through the half. Ayr were racking up the corners in the first half with half an hour played, one every three minutes and counting with Sean McGinty next to head wide. Ten minutes before the break a rare foray forward saw George Oakley and Billy Mckay interact but the latters cut back was cleared by the defence and five minutes before the interval McKenzie should have done better but he shot wide from six yards after good work by Akinyemi. We went in level at the interval but Ayr were knocking on the door with some intent. HALF TIME: 0-0 Having been on the back foot for most of the first forty-five, Inverness stunned Ayr by opening the scoring through Cammy Harper with a glancing header into the bottom corner two minutes after the break from a Boyd cross. Photo from caleyjags.com shows Harper wheeling away after scoring the only goal of the game. What a start to the second half from the visitors and Oakley had a header saved by Albinson ten minutes later when he met David Carson's cross at the back post. Could easily have been two up. Substitute Jayden Mitchell-Lawson went close two minutes after coming on, shooting just wide from eighteen yards and Brad Young forced Ridgers into making a save from his header. Dodds replaced Dan Mackay with Aaron Doran with some twenty minutes left but it was Ayr substitute Logan Chalmers that shot over soon after with Jordan Houston following suit. A Dempsey corner looked to be cleared away from the line as Ayr pushed for an equaliser with three minutes remaining and the same player shot over in the dying ember, but that was it as Inverness held out for their third win on the bounce away from home. Another tremendous result on the road for Dodds' men, now level on 14 points with Ayr and third equal in the table. FULL TIME: 0-1 Ayr will feel aggrieved that they never took anything from that game having created a raft of chances but Harper took his chance well and Oakley could have added a second. Great clearance off the line near the end and a muted penalty appeal from Ayr and I doubt Billy Dodds will be complaining about the result. Good to see Roddy MacGregor getting a few minutes on the park. Onwards and upwards we go. Date: 01/10/2022 Venue: Somerset Park, Ayr Attendance: 1866 Referee: Colin Steven Ayr United: 0 Manager: Lee Bullen Lineup: Albinson; Houston, Musonda, McGinty, Reading, Ashford (Chalmers 61), Murdoch, Dempsey, Mullin (Lawson 61), Akinyemi, McKenzie (Young 61) Subs (not used): McAdams; O'Connor, Smith, McAllister, Kirk, Bangala Scorers: none Booked: Akinyemi (58) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Devine, Carson, Deas, Delaney, D Mackay (Doran 69), Allardice, Harper, Boyd (MacGregor 85), Oakley (Shaw ), B Mckay Subs (not used): C Mackay; Duffy, Ram, Hyde Scorers: Harper (47) Booked: Carson (65) Sent Off: none a

The Real Mckay's Rovers wait for a win goes on. In a half of few clear cut chances, Mark Ridgers denied Dylan Easton five minutes before the break as he turned his shot from the edge of the box out for a corner. That was the best chance of an open first half as it closed out at 0-0. Daniel Mackay won a penalty after bursting into the box an hour into the game and Scott Allardice scored from the spot to put Inverness ahead. Billy Mckay spurned a good opportunity to double the lead when put through on goal with fifteen minutes left, but his clipped shot went over the bar. He did better in the final minute when he sealed the points in a counter attack, slotting home a Dan Mackay pass. What a welcome boost after a couple of weeks of turmoil, and we still have seven players to come back after injury, so well done to all for turning our fortunes around. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boyd and Oakley started up front with Billy Mckay on the bench. More importantly our back four had a more solid look to it as we looked to get back on track against Raith Rovers at Stark's Park. Zak Delaney was at left back with Cammy Harper further forward on the left side. Rovers started brightest as Inverness looked to settle down after some poor performances over the last few games. The opening exchanges saw Rovers push forward with Inverness content to defend deep. Aidan Connolly had a low volley intercepted on it's way towards goal by Robbie Deas, the rebound being mopped up by the defence and at the other end there were big appeals for a penalty when a ball was swung into the box and an Inverness player appeared to be dragged to the ground by his shirt as he spun away from his marker. That incident was in full view of the ref some eight yards away. Dan Mackay broke into the left side of the box but his left footed effort was weak and easily dealt with by 'Scottish Cup hero' Jamie MacDonald in goal. Steven Boyd had a shot charged down in the box en route to goal and the second effort looked to strike a defender on the arm, but nothing given. Best attempt so far came when Jamie Gullan hooked the ball over his head and volleyed the ball from thirty yards but it dipped just wide of Ridgers left hand post. After some loose defending, the ball fell to Dylan Easton but he flashed his shot just over the bar from fifteen yards with half an hour gone. Ten minutes later the same player was denied by the keeper at full stretch as Ridgers palmed his shot from the edge of the box out for a corner. Before the interval it was Raiths turn to appeal for a penalty as Deas bundled a player over, but the ref ignored any pleas. Half Time: 0-0 At the start of the second period, a dipping cross come shot drifted harmlessly onto the roof of the visitors net. The opening goal came on the hour when Daniel Mackay's pace saw him cut along the bye-line before being scythed down by Ross Millen. Stonewall penalty! Scott Allardice slotted in the penalty with MacDonald going to his right, the ball going to his left. Boyd fired a free kick wide and Raith responded with Kyle Connell's low shot being comfortably saved by Ridgers. Boyd then shot just over as Inverness looked the most likely to increase their lead after he burst forward in the inside right position. The game was running away from the hosts and Billy Mckay ensured all three points went North after he met a Dan Makay cross at the far side of the box to calmly slot the ball low behind MacDonald in the 92nd minute. What a tremendous result for the Caley Jags when many questioned their desire and commitment. Despite being without Sutherland, Walsh, Welsh, Doran, MacGregor, Samuels and Ram they shut up shop and hit on the counter to take all three points back North. Credit where it's due and never underestimate an olde man with a bicycle. Solid in defence and clinical in front of goal when it mattered. Best performers were from the back out with Ridgers, Dalaney, Devine and Harper getting most praise. Highlights from Raith TV Well done Billy, second behind the one and only Dennis (he used to be sh1te, but now he's alright) Wyness who has 101 goals for the Caley Jags Billy has scored three hat-tricks in his time here against Dundee United, Motherwell and Elgin City. Wyness' total included five hat-tricks. Incidentally, his best haul was four goals against Raith Rovers in a 5-2 win at Inverness. Read Ian Broadfoot's report of Wyness' four goal game in September 2001 below. Iain Broadfoot reports: With one giant leap this crushing victory sent Caley Thistle from tenth to fifth in Division One. Dennis Wyness was the hero with a record four goals but it was also an excellent team performance. Grant Munro replaced the suspended Bobby Mann. The opening goal came in seven minutes from a botched Paul Browne pass-back. Miotto touched it out directly to Wyness who rolled the ball into the empty net from eight yards. Two minutes later an Andy Smith shot came off Jim Calder's bar then in 12 minutes Miotto tipped over a Charlie Christie 20 yard drive. Goal number two came in 16 minutes when Wyness chipped Miotto from six yards while Ross Matheson tried desperately to haul him down. Raith nearly pulled one back in 19 minutes when a Matheson long range shot came off the bar and the rebound was netted by Nacho Novo from an offside position. In 38 minutes Ross Tokely set Martin Bavidge off on a run down the right. His cross was met by Paul Ritchie on the penalty spot but he miskicked. In 42 minutes the third goal was engineered by Bavidge when he crossed a high ball from the right to the back post where Wyness flicked it first time into the net from a difficult angle. Caley Thistle started the second half in similar style and Miotto pushed over a Bavidge shot from 25 yards. In 54 minutes another Bavidge run down the right resulted in a cross which reached Ritchie six yards out. Somehow his flashing header went narrowly past. Raith scored a minute later when a Calder clearance hit off Stuart McCaffrey and into the path of Scott Crabbe who easily slotted home from 10 yards. Bavidge was felled in the Raith box on the hour mark but no penalty was given. Raith then had a good spell but it was the home side who scored next in 71 minutes. Barry Robson crossed from the left and Wyness headed his fourth goal from six yards. It could have been five in 79 minutes when Wyness was one-on-one with Miotto but this time the keeper won the duel. With seven minutes left Raith made it 4-2. Calder palmed out a Navo shot and Smith was well placed to take advantage and he touched it in easily. Caley Thistle immediately ran upfield and scored a fifth. Ritchie was rewarded for his endeavours when he headed in off the bar from close range after a Robson cross from the left. This completed a fine evenings work and gave Caley Thistle only their second win over Raith in nine matches. Ha ha, changed days... Date: 03/09/2022 Venue: Stark's Park, Kirkaldy Attendance: 1745 Referee: Don Robertson Raith Rovers: 0 Manager: Ian Murray Lineup: MacDonald; Stanton, Nolan (Ross 74), Millen (Spencer 83), Dick, O'Riordan, Easton, Brown, Connelly, Gullan (McBride 29), Connell Subs (not used): Thomson; Arnott, Coulson, Masson Scorers: none Booked: Dick (26), Easton 89) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 2 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Duffy, Devine, Deas, Delaney, D Mackay (Shaw 90+2), Carson, Allardice, Harper, Boyd (Hyde 87), Oakley (B Mckay 72) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Callum Mackay Scorers: Allardice (61 pen), B Mckay (90) Booked: Carson (45) Sent Off: none a

Group G Sorted Inverness played the first of five scheduled meetings with Cove Rangers today in the last of the group G qualifiers for the knock out stages of the League Cup. Inverness won the penalty shoot-out 5-3 after Fraser Fyvie saw his weak effort saved by Mark Ridgers. Inverness will now face an away tie at Motherwell in the knock-out stages. Roddy MacGregor opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute when he headed a Nathan Shaw cross into the top corner of the net. Mitch Megginson was left unattended to level the game after twenty minutes and it stayed that way at the break. A relatively uneventful second half saw the game go to penalties to decide the bonus point but as it stood, Inverness topped the group G to enter the knock out stages. ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Our reward for qualifying is an away tie at Motherwell in midweek. Not the most romantic of games, however given their poor performance against Sligo Rovers, then anything is possible. This season is taking the same shape as thirteen years ago. A bright afternoon saw George Oakley Zak Delaney and Nathan Shaw start for the hosts with Mark Ridgers back between the sticks. Roddy MacGregor opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute when he headed a Nathan Shaw cross into the top corner of the net. Mitch Megginson was left unattended to level the game when he scooped the ball behind Ridgers after twenty minutes. Just after the half hour Daniel Mackay turned and shot from the edge of the box, but the keeper saved low to deny Dan. George Oakley was put through by Robbie Deas but Kyle Gourlay pulled off a good save just before the break. HALF TIME: 1-1 After a slow start to the second half, Megginson headed over following a corner and at the other end Cammy Harper put a free kick just over and then Deas diverted a Leighton McIntosh effort wide of the target. Billy Mckay went close to a winner but it went to penalties after ninety minutes and the Caley Jags prevailed 5-3 on penalties with Ridgers saving a weak spot kick from Fraser Fyvie From Robert on CTO Our goal was excellent. Good play by Oakley to put Shaw free and a great cross for MacGregor to score with a rare header. Cove’s equaliser came when we were temporarily down to ten as Duffy took a heavy knock and we seemed disorganised at the back as a result and it was too easy for the Cove player to hit the target. Cove had the best of the early part of the second half but we finished more strongly. I felt we just about shaded it but a draw was probably fair enough. It was good to at least win on penalties. Unfortunately that was not enough and we will be unseeded in the draw. I was disappointed with Cove’s approach. They approached the match in a cynical manner, trying to buy free kicks with play acting. They also tried to run the clock down when even. We have enough teams like that in the Championship already and I had expected more from them. I think our medical staff had to give treatment to players at least four times, generally due to the aggression of Cove. Some of their big names were worst, such as Logan and Fyvie, so justice was done when Fyvie‘s penalty was saved by Ridgers. Shortly after Samuels was harshly booked, a Cove player blatantly dived to try to get him sent off. The ref gave a foul but at least did not produce a red card. Of the new signings, I thought Oakley’s holding up play and distribution was good. Shaw was lively and could develop into an important player for us. Delaney is a calm defender despite playing on the wrong side for a left sided defender. Boyd had a couple of efforts when he came on. At times it felt like a pre-season game again, so hopefully when the league starts next week we get off to a winning start. Date: 23/07/2022 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 1020 Referee: Alan Newlands Inverness CT: 1 (Pens 5 Boyd, Samuels, Harper, B Mckay, Allardice) Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Duffy (Doran 73), Deas, Delaney, Harper, Shaw (Boyd 79), Allardice, MacGregor, D Mackay (Samuels 67) Oakley (B Mckay 67) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Nicolson, Hyde, Cairns Scorers: MacGregor (13) Booked: Oakley (66) Sent Off: none Cove Rangers: 1 (Pens 3 Megginson, Leitch, FyvieLogan) Manager: Jim McIntyre Lineup: Gourlay; Logan, Ross, Reynolds, Towler, Scully, Vigurs, Leitch, McIntosh (McDonagh 78), Megginson, Fyvie, Subs (not used): McKenzie; Neill, Thomas, McAllister, Scorers: Megginson (19) Booked: Megginson (6), Fyvie (55), Ross (60), Towler (90+3) Sent Off: none a

By George! We are off and running The first ever fixture between the sides ended with a 1-0 win for the visitors. It took a late strike from George Oakley to separate the sides as the Inverness pressure eventually paid off. Billy Mckay hit the post with a header in the second half and keeper Darren Jamieson pulled off a string of saves to deny the eager Inverness side. Agyeman came close in the first half when Delaney cleared away from goal but that was as close as it got for the hosts with Ridgers making some routine stops. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Billy Mckay got season 22/23 underway and was soon working Jamieson in the home goal, the keeper tipping his effort over the bar in the eighth minute. Max Ram's debut ended prematurely as he was injured and replaced by another debutant in Zak Delaney. He was called into action moments later to clear Agyeman's effort off the line. What an introduction for the Irish defender. In the seventeenth minute a great ball from Doran picks out Mckay going through on goal. He gets his effort away but it is blocked. Likewise, Aaron Doran and Roddy MacGregor also saw efforts blocked by the under pressure home defence. Lewis Martin had a couple of attempts as the interval approached, one saved by Ridgers, the other fired over, both from a narrow angle and at the other end Austin Samuels fired over the bar. Doran shot over from a direct free kick just before the break, and MacGregor shot wide as we ended the half with a wee flourish, however it ended goalless at the interval. Half Time: 0-0 Kelty's best spell came just after the break and when Agyeman broke forward on the right. He found Reilly who in turn fed Higginbotham who brought out a diving save from Ridgers who palmed the ball away, and the defence were first to react to clear the loose ball. This was soon followed by Reilly getting a free header on target, but again Ridgers matched the effort to tip the ball over the bar. Minutes later Forster headed wide from a great position. Agyeman also shot wide from an even better position when he should have made the keeper work. Doran then volleyed a tremendous dipping shot from thirty yards that Jamieson tipped over. Inverness had upped the tempo and a Cammy Harper cross was headed onto the base of the post by Billy Mckay. A series of half chances saw the visitors build the pressure on the home goal and it paid off on the last minute when substitute George Oakley beat the offside trap to slot the ball into the net from fifteen yards. great wat to get your account started for the season. As expected, it was a hard fought encounter against a well organised team who will do well in league one. Good to get the win in a competition we have not done well in over the last few seasons. Six new players all getting some game time and no shows from Danny Devine or Sean Welsh. Ridgers was solid in goal and Allardice, Harper and Boyd performed admirably. Billy Mckay was unfortunate not to grab a couple of goals, but they will come. Overview from Yngwie on CTO: We were slightly better than a solid but unspectacular side, certainly in terms of possession. But it was Kelty who actually had most of the good chances, especially in the early stages of the 2nd half, and they really should have been in front but thanks to some good saves and poor finishing it stayed level. As the 2nd half progressed we look far more likely to score, Billy came closest with the glancing header which came back off the post, and in the last minute I was mightily relieved to see no flag raised as Oakley was played through on goal, after we had been caught offside countless times during the match. Good result in the end, a win’s a win, but we are certainly not firing on all cylinders yet going forward with a distinct lack of good final ball or shot. Date: 09/07/2022 Venue: New Central Park, Kelty Attendance: 601 Referee: Barry Cook Kelty Hearts: 0 Manager: John Potter Lineup: Jamieson; Martin, Forster, O'Ware, Peggie, McNab, Tidser (Owens 80), Reilly, Barjonas, Higginbotham, Agyeman (Strang 74) Subs (not used): Hill, Brown, Cameron, Campbell Scorers: none Booked: none Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Ram (Delaney 14), Deas, Harper, Samuels (Shaw 79), Allardice, MacGregor, Doran (D Mackay 63), Boyd (Oakley 80), B Mckay Subs (not used): C Mackay; Hyde Scorers: Oakley (88) Booked: none Sent Off: none a

One Game Shootout Well well, after the drama of Friday night, it all comes down to this game in a winner takes all final. It's another blank canvas after a 2-2 draw at the Caledonian Stadium for the final game at McDiarmid Park Perth on Monday night at 7:45pm. We can thank Reece McAlear for that after his two stunning second half goals cancelled out two first half goals for the Perth side. We should have Danny Devine and Wallace Duffy free from suspension after the Willie Collum debacle. (I notice he was also rubbish in the Showpiece Scottish Cup Final as well. Seriously useless. Maybe VAR will make our refs pull their socks up). Unfortunately, Nick Walsh is allegedly the man in the middle on Monday. That also gives me the fear more than St Johnstone. Buses for play off final 23rd leave stadium at 4pm. Book through Facebook or on 07462218717 Here's our summary from CTO: An understrength Inverness struggled badly for an hour against a solid St Johnstone who took a two goal lead into the interval. Shaun Rooney and Melker Hallberg put the Saints in the driving seat. However, step forward Reece McAlear and take a massive bow. A thumping strike off the underside of the bar and an exquisite curling free kick levelled matters and gives us something to play for in the return leg at Perth, where we should have Danny Devine and Wallace Duffy back after suspension. It was great to see Scott Allardice back on the park on Friday. Along with the tricky Logan Chalmers and the rapid Austin Samuels he helped to get us back on track in the second half after a torrid first forty five where our tactics were a bit pear shaped as Dodds tried to match Saints 3-5-2 formation. Fortunately Billy realised by the interval that we needed to go back to a more standard 4-4-2. After an hour the momentum swung in our direction and up stepped Reece McAlear to thunderblast us on our way to Perth still in the tie. Who to look out for Glen Middleton caught the eye on Friday with his pace, willing running and workrate. Shaun Rooney is as powerful as ever as he bounced a few bodies off him. Melker Hallberg showed quick feet when scoring. In fact with St Johnstone seasoned campaigners in the top division, thirteen seasons now, that gap in stature was massive until we got to grips with the game. Once the belief was there, we turned the tide. All hands to the pumps on Monday, good luck guys.

Caley Jags through We did it! If you thought the first half at Inverness was poor, then step forward the first half from Gayfield. Shockingly poor forty five from both sides as Inverness struggled to get out of their own half into the face of a stiff breeze. On the other hand Arbroath did absolutely nothing either. The second half saw Danny Devine sent off, Shane Sutherland stretchered off and later on Wallace Duffy sent off as we ended the game with nine men. Farcical stuff. However, we got through to the play off final after a 5-3 penalty shoot out win. Bobby Linn of all players having his spot kick saved by Mark Ridgers and Kirk Broadfoot with the final winning penalty after that save. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After a goalless draw in the first leg, the Caley Jags went to Gayfield to conclude the Premiership play off semi-final. The prize in a winner takes all game was a crack at St Johnstone in a two leg finale to the season and promotion to the Premiership for the victor. Logan Chalmers and Austin Samuels came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first leg in a game of limited opportunities. Who will prevail? All would be revealed around 10:00pm on Friday the 13th. Billy Mckay was benched for this one after cutting a lone figure in the first leg. Aaron Doran replaced the striker in the starting XI. Arbroath were unchanged from Tuesday night. A big crowd greeted the teams onto the pitch with similar conditions to the first leg prevalent. Inverness kicked off into the wind and that was the highlight of the first forty-five, apart from Aaron Doran breaking into the box but unable to dig the ball out from under his feet and Scott Stewart firing over the bar from the edge of the box. The only other thing of note was a booking for David Carson . Some things never change. HALF TIME: 0-0 Billy Mckay replaced Austin Samuels at the interval. Shane Sutherland got the break of the ball and burst into the edge of the box on the left side but his shot rippled the side netting. Carson shot over the stand minutes later as the visitors pushed forward. Better spell for Inverness and a wee melee in the box saw Arbroath clear the danger. Out of nothing, Danny Devine was red carded for next to nothing as he challenged for a high ball with Jack Hamilton. What a joke decision that was. Worse was to follow when Shane Sutherland left the field on a stretcher after looking like he has damaged his knee when pulling up. Hardy dribbled forward into the hosts box after the ninety but as the tackle came in his shot was lifted over the bar. A flurry of activity round our box in time added on as the nine men tried to hold out for extra time. We did that so on to another thirty minutes. 0-0 after ninety minutes. Inverness were back up to ten men with Lewis Hyde coming on in extra time. Mark Ridgers kept Inverness in the game when he blocked an effort from Jack Hamilton as he went one on one with the keeper. Colin Hamilton went close with a header after Low recycled a corner back into the box, the ball going just the wrong side of the post. Inverness wasted a free kick and corner just on the break and it was still 0-0 with the final fifteen minutes coming up. Wallace Duffy was given a dubious second yellow and we were back down to nine men for the final five minutes of extra time and Michael McKenna drifted a shot wide after a corner. A Nicky Low cross saw Colin Hamilton head across goal and the ball came back off the crossbar as Arbroath went for the jugular, and after yet another corner was cleared, blundering referee Willie Collum ended the tie and it's on to penalties. FULL TIME (after extra time): 0-0 Penalty Shoot Out B Mckay , Hardy Welsh Harper Broadfoot McKenna Low Colin Hamilton Linn Inverness through to Play Off Final after 5-3 shoot out win. Brilliant save from Mark Ridgers From BBC Sport Arbroath manager Dick Campbell: "Anybody who knows anything about football knows we were way, way in front. But I've seen it happen in the play-offs. We had 600 passes, they had 300-odd. "We're not ones to feel sorry for ourselves. The whole season has been a fairy tale, it'll be memorable. We were close to immortality. We've got to repeat that next year. Christmas has come early for Inverness tonight I wish them all the best." Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Billy Dodds: "It wasn't about us getting through tonight, it was the circumstances we did it in. I have my feelings - I'm just keeping quiet because I'll get myself into trouble. "My boys gave me absolutely everything. We had to work our socks off That's the best bunch of boys I've worked with. I would have been proud of every one of them if we lost the penalty shootout tonight." Date: 13/05/2022 Venue: Gayfield Park, Arbroath Attendance: 5154 Referee: Willie Collum Arbroath: 0 (3 pens) Manager: Dick Campbell Lineup: Gaston; Thomson (Donnelly 90), Little, O'Brien (Henderson 105), Colin Hamilton, Stewart, Low, Chris Hamilton (Gold 105), McKenna, Craigen (Linn 76), J Hamilton (Wighton 111) Subs (not used): Antell; Swankie, Ford, Bakare Scorers: none Booked: Colin Hamilton (55), Chris Hamilton (73), Wighton (120) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 0 (5 pens) Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Broadfoot, Devine, Deas, Samuels (B Mckay 45), Welsh, McAlear (Duffy 74), Chalmers (Harper 68), Doran (Hardy 60), Sutherland (Hyde 90), Subs (not used): C Mackay; Allardice Scorers: none Booked: Carson (27), Duffy (95, 113), B Mckay (115), Hyde (118), Deas (120) Sent Off: Devine (66), Duffy (113) a

Title on hold as ICT win. Killie came North with a big following looking to get one hand on the title whilst Inverness were hoping to strengthen their grip on a play-off spot. A win for Killie tonight and defeat for Arbroath tomorrow afternoon and they will have both hands on the title and on their way back to the Premiership. An even first forty-five with Campbell and Shaw coming closest for the visitors and Chalmers and Samuels having the best efforts for the hosts, but it remained scoreless at the interval. The pace warmed up after the break and it was Ash Taylor that opened the scoring after a misplaced header from Kirk Broadfoot landed at his feet. Dodds took the bull by the horns with a double substitution and that seemed to give us the impetus to have a go at Killie. Billy Mckay hustled a poachers goal with fifteen minutes left, and once more Logan Chalmers came up trumps with a well executed goal to round off the scoring. What this means is that Inverness are guaranteed a play-off place and Killie have a bit more work to do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No fresh injury worries for Inverness but Aaron Doran was on the bench with Austin Samuels starting and Wallace Duffy started at right back with David Carson benched. Roddy MacGregor returned to the bench after showing no reactions to his appearance last weekend. Kilmarnock were unchanged which meant that Daniel Mackay was on the bench for the visitors. A beautiful calm night for a game of football, also shown on council TV, saw the Caley Jags set the ball rolling and it was a cagey opening ten minutes that followed as both sides probed for an opening. Danger man Kyle Lafferty had the ball in the net in the tenth minute but was adjudged offside as Killie just shaded the opening stages. Inverness were giving away numerous petty free kicks and from one of those Mark Ridgers made a diving interception from a dangerous ball whipped into the box. Oli Shaw had a twelve yard shot blocked by Danny Devine as Killie opened up their hosts down their left wing with Ridgers sprawling across his line. At the other end Zach Hemming made a great interception as Billy Mckay tried to latch onto a ball forward. Ridgers stood tall to make a good save as Campbell burst forward at pace, the keeper using strong hands to beat the ball over the bar for a corner but again Ridgers dealt well with the cross. Half way through the first period and Killie were having the better of the game so far as Inverness struggled to hold onto the ball. However, a tremendous diagonal ball forward from Kirk Broadfoot picked out Logan Chalmers and he shot early from distance on the left, but his effort caught the side net and Austin Samuels had a close range shot blocked six yards out as Inverness opened up. Danny Devine conceded a corner with a well timed interception as Shaw tried to get onto a ball flicked into the box. From the corner, Shaw's header clipped the top of the crossbar on the way behind for a goal kick. Mckay was very close to connecting with the ball as a Sean Welsh delivery curled into the box, but once again Hemming did well to put Billy off his stride and the keeper was able to tidy up. Reece McAlear volleyed over after a free kick as the hosts got to grip with the game, the ball going for a fruitless corner five minutes before the break. HALF TIME: 0-0 Killie came out of the blocks quickest at the start of the second half and Fraser Murray had a shot blocked on the angle of the six yard box by Robbie Deas. Hemming did well to push away a powerful shot from Samuels after he turned well twenty yards out and a minute later Broadfoot was denied by a diving Hemming at the expense of a corner. Blair Alston won a corner as he lashed an effort just wide and seconds later Killie took the lead after Broadfoot inadvertently knocked a header towards Ash Taylor who deftly tucked the ball over Ridgers and into the net. Double sub for Inverness with Samuels and McAlear being replaced by Aaron Doran and David Carson and that triggered an impressive spell for Inverness culminating in a pulsating finale. Some good pressure from the hosts paid off when Billy Mckay scrambled the ball in from close range to restore parity. Even better would follow six minutes later. Once again it was Logan Chalmers to the rescue as he drove a low shot into the net from ten yards at the back post. Get in ya dancer. FULL TIME: 2-1 Inverness saw out the game well in control and thoroughly deserved the three points and a play-off slot. Killie have more work to do to clinch the cinch. Good performances all round with Devine a rock at the back. Ridgers did well with some great interceptions early on, punching dangerous cross balls clear of danger. Deas, Duffy did well to shackle the early advances of Killie. The midfield worked tirelessly and what else can you say about Billy Mckay. He scores when he wants and Logan the loan did it again. Four goals in four games. Good work lad and much appreciated. Match reaction and videos to follow Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Updated table after Inverness CT 2-1 Kilmarnock 1. Kilmarnock 34 19 6 9 47 25 63 2. Arbroath 33 15 14 4 45 25 59 3. Inverness CT 33 14 11 8 47 32 53 4. Partick Thistle 33 13 10 10 44 36 49 5. Raith Rovers 33 10 13 10 40 43 43 6. Morton 33 9 13 11 36 42 40 7. Hamilton Ac. 33 9 12 12 37 47 39 8. Ayr United 33 8 11 14 34 48 35 9. Dunfermline 33 6 14 13 33 49 32 10. Q.O.S. 32 6 8 18 30 46 26 Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Date: 15/04/2022 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 3829 Referee: Don Robertson Inverness CT: 2 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Duffy, Broadfoot, Devine, Deas, Samuels (Doran 70), Welsh, McAlear (Carson 70), Sutherland, Chalmers (Harper 84), B Mckay (Hardy 88) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Hyde, MacGregor, Walsh Scorers: Mckay (76), Chalmers (82) Booked: Deas (72) Sent Off: none Kilmarnock: 1 Manager: Derek McInnes Lineup: Hemming; Hodson, Taylor, Stokes, McGinn (Glass 83), Campbell, Alston, F Murray (Mackay 90+1), Lyons, Shaw, Lafferty, Subs (not used): Walker; E Murray, Naismith, McGowan, Sanders, Burke, Armstrong Scorers: Taylor (60) Booked: none Sent Off: none a

Entertaining draw Accies took an early lead through Josh Mullin after a defensive blunder by Reece McAlear. Great finish from the Accies player though as he arrowed the ball high into the net from twenty yards. We levelled when Sam Pearson scored his first goal for the club on the half hour and that's how it stayed at the break, although David Moyo almost got a touch on a low ball fizzed into the box just on the whistle. No further scoring after the break despite plenty of opportunities at both ends and Joe Hardy almost snatched it at the end with the last kick of the ball. Good point, but ten games without a win now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness were looking to halt their alarming slump and Accies were trying to close the gap towards the top five. A television audience would see it all unfold. Would the visitors show the reason for their dramatic slump and will Accies show that they are over their poor start to the season. All will be revealed. Usual long term absentees for Inverness in Allardice and MacGregor (if found please return to the Caledonian Stadium), with Ridgers, Duffy Chalmers and Carson added to the missing list. Devine made a surprise return with Tom Walsh on the bench alongside with Ryan Esson as cover for the keeper. Accies were without keeper Joe Hilton, defender Jamie Hamilton and midfielder Lewis Smith. Ryan Fulton put the gloves on with Joe Hilton missing. Inverness set the ball rolling and Accies almost benefited from a blunder by Kirk Broadfoot inside a minute. Kai Kennedy burst forward but thankfully Danny Devine made up the ground to block his route, the ball rebounding for a goal kick to the visitors. The first effort came from Accies when Kennedy raced down the left before picking out Josh Mullin with his cross but he headed just over the bar. All the early pressure was coming from Hamilton as they pressed the Inverness defence on the artificial surface and they took the lead in the thirteenth minute when McAlear fluffed his clearance. Mullin took full advantage and fired a shot from the corner of the box high into the net to give Cammy Mackay no chance. Inverness were finding it difficult to create anything in the opening twenty minutes as we headed towards ten without a win. In our first attack with intent, Sam Pearson picked up a rebound from keeper Fulton to slot home after the goalie had denied Aaron Doran from eight yards. Accies responded again and Mackay saved well from a stinging shot by Spence from the edge of the box. Big shout for a penalty as Robbie Deas looked to be pushed to the ground inside the box as he tried to get to an Aaron Doran free kick, but Alan Muir was not interested. Pearson's trickery brought Inverness a free kick in a dangerous position on the right, but the free kick was wasted five minutes before the interval. HALF TIME: 1-1 No changes at the break for either side and Accies continued on the front foot. Cammy Mackay made an excellent punched clearance from a dangerous inswinging corner as the hosts pushed forward. Billy Mckay forced Fulton into a super save as he was fed through on to the edge of the box, the keeper diving to his right to push the ball round the post for a corner as the Caley Jags ventured forth. Harper replaced Devine on the hour in Danny's first game back after a month out through injury and soon after Shane Sutherland replaced Aaron Doran. Cammy Mackay was in the right place to pluck a volley out of the air and his kick forward sent Billy Mckay through on goal but his shot was clawed away by Fulton with his fingertips. Another inch or two and it was in. Sutherland fed Pearson inside the box but his shot was weak and it went wide of the mark. The game had really opened out and the ball was flying back and fore with Mullin unfortunate to see a snapshot bounce away from the base of the post after a scrambulation in the visitors box. Anyone's game with fifteen minutes to go and a frantic finish to the game already in progress. Good spell for the Caley Jags ended when a speculative shot from Andy Ryan found Moyo coming in at the back post but Mackay spread himself well to block the shot from six yards. McAlear might have done better with a shot from the edge of the box as play swung to the other end, but the keeper saved comfortably. Four minutes of time added on came and went and Fulton saved Accies with his legs as Joe Hardy shot from a tight angle. That was the last action of a highly entertaining game as Inverness go ten games without a win. FULL TIME: 1-1 Despite plenty of opportunities created from both sides a draw was probably a fair result with both managers thinking they could have won this game. Some great goalkeeping on display at both ends given that both keepers are not first choice, so credit to them for stepping in and playing so well. Lewis Hyde never looked out of place either. Nine games left to salvage our season, that's a possible 36 points. To put it into perspective and give it some context, our last nine games gained us only six points From BBC Sport Hamilton head coach Stuart Taylor: "It was always going to be a difficult game, Inverness are an organised side and defensively very strong so it was important we kept a hold of the ball and tried to probe opportunities. We did that but we just need to be a little more ruthless and take our chances." Inverness CT manager Billy Dodds: "I felt as though we had chances to win it but I think Hamilton will be saying exactly the same. We made Ryan Fulton work with great chances rather than not being clinical enough. "There is always pressure. Pressure is game to game in this division when it comes to the crux of it. Tonight my players showed they are desperate to win games and we are close to going on a run again." Date: 25/02/2022 Venue: Fountain of Youth, Hamilton Attendance: 1187 Referee: Alan Muir Hamilton: 1 Manager: Stuart Taylor (head coach) Lineup: Fulton; Lawson, Popescu, O’Reilly, MacDonald, Mimnaugh (Ryan 78), Mullin, Spence (Martin 69), Redfern (Brown 69), Kennedy (Winter 85), Moyo Subs (not used): J Smith; Easton, Hughes, Shiels, Nicolson Scorers: Mullin(13) Booked: O'Reilly (23) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: C Mackay; Hyde, Broadfoot, Devine (Harper 62), Deas, Pearson (Hardy 78), Welsh, McAlear, Doran (Sutherland 68), Samuels, B Mckay Subs (not used): Esson; L Nicolson, Walsh Scorers: Pearson (31), Deas(75) Booked: McAlear (30) Sent Off: none a

Defensive blunders assist Ayr. Ayr United took advantage of a midfield error and conceded corner from whence Sean McGinty headed the opening goal in a poor first half. McAdams saved Ayr before the interval with a great double save within ten seconds of each other as Inverness searched for an opening. Adeloye doubled the lead just after the hour seconds after coming on with Inverness in disarray. Lewis Nicolson struck with a first time cross that ended up in the top corner to throw Inverness a lifeline, but we remained winless in two months. Any hopes of promotion up in the Ayr. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness were still missing Scott Allardice, Danny Devine, Roddy MacGregor and Tom Walsh. Add to that surprise omissions of Mark Ridgers and captain Sean Welsh then you can see that our squad is down to the bare bones. Ryan Esson found himself on the bench with Aaron Doran. Michael Hewitt missed out for Ayr in their much altered squad since the January sales, but they were unchanged from the side that beat Kilmarnock. The visitors got the game underway kicking towards the North Stand with the sun making an appearance after the storms earlier in the week. Logan Chalmers had the first opportunity of the game after doing well down the left, but he opted to shoot and his angled effort was put behind for a corner which he took himself and made an arse of it. Ashford responded for Ayr on the break as he burst forward, but his shot from the left side of the box was easily stopped by Cammy Mackay deputising for the unwell Mark Ridgers. Broadfoot will need to use his experience against Ashford who easily outpaced the veteran defender. The only thing of note in the first twenty minutes was a needless booking for David Carson for a rash tackle in midfield, and that would determine his day later in the game. Ayr opened the scoring out of nothing. Harper fresh from a booking lost the ball in midfield and Ayr broke forward to win a corner. When it came in Sean McGinty scored a simple header to open the scoring, the consequence of an error on the halfway line. Basic play gone wrong. McAdams made a tremendous double save firstly from Logan Chalmers then seconds later from Shane Sutherland to keep Ayr ahead five minutes before the interval. We tried to respond before the interval but Carson didn't have the legs to get away from the defender as he approached the box, and at the break it was Ayr that held the lead. HALF TIME: 0-1 No changes at the interval and Inverness with it all to do as they play towards the North Stand, however the final ball would need to improve if the hosts were to get anything from this game. Sam Pearson made a darting run down the right and cut along the bye-line, but McAdams put his shot come cross behind for a fruitless corner. Harper almost cost a second goal with a replica error of the first, but this time there were no takers for the dangerous low cross that fizzed across the box. Kirk Broadfoot was next to make the error and Cammy Mackay got him out of jail with a superb block. Reece McAlear fired a sharp thirty yard left foot effort wide of McAdams left hand post, but it was a tad ambitious to say the least. Ayr substitute Tomi Adeloye scored with his first touch seconds after coming on, whether he knew much about it or not, but the ball ended up in the net after a great cross from McKenzie. No surprise that the red card waiting to happen arrived when Carson made another ridiculous challenge and the promotion push looked to have ended right there. Sub Lewis Nicolson fired a deep cross into the box and it ended up in the far corner of the net with five minutes left to throw the hosts a lifeline. But it was simply too little too late once more. How often have we said that this year. FULL TIME: 1-2 We were simply clutching at straws as Ayr recorded their first win at the Caledonian Stadium in over nineteen years. Yes, gone are the days when we could give Ayr a three goal start and go on to thrash them. We better get used to this as the future looks bleak given our current circumstances and apparent demise. Well, what can you say! The best ever chance of promotion and those at the helm seem hell bent on keeping jobs for boys rather than trying to get promoted. A complete lack of ambition has led to a complete lack of confidence. One has to question what the hell is going on at the club. Why have we no defenders. Are we preparing for obscurity. A once proud club that was always prepared to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in seem incapable of doing the basics at the moment. What was our marque signing. A striker that can't score, a disruptive winger that unsettled the whole squad, an ageing defender that is two yards off the pace, a proven penalty box striker that is starved of service, any amount of sub standard forwards and to top it all no defensive cover and a manager that can't manage. Like the team, I've pretty much thrown the towel in for this season. If it weren't for the distant hope that we cling on for dear life and remain in a play-off place at the end of the season then, I'm done. Is it possible come the end of the season that we get a full squad back and triumph in the knock outs at the death? I for one won't be holding my breath, and there's plenty more like me who are just going through the motions, and that includes the players. Management beware: The Long Knives are out and the fans are revolting! Many claim there's better in the commentary box. Apparently they call them highlights... <<Spin Doctor Alert>> Date: 19/02/2022 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 1850 Referee: Kevin Clancy Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: C Mackay; Duffy (Hardy 71) Broadfoot, Deas, Harper (Nicolson 86), Pearson (Doran 78), Carson, McAlear, Sutherland (Samuels 69),Chalmers (Hyde 78), B Mckay Subs (not used): Esson; Scorers: L Nicolson (86) Booked: Carson (19, 68), Harper (33), Sent Off: Carson (68) Ayr United: 2 Manager: Lee Bullen Lineup: McAdams; Houston (Rowe 62), Muirhead, McGinty, Reading, Murdoch, Mcinroy, Maxwell (O'Connor 89), Dempsey (Smith 89), Ashford (Adeloye 62), McKenzie (Gondoh 89) Subs (not used): Albinson; Fjortoft, Baird, Bryden Scorers: McGinty (35), Adeloye (64) Booked: Mackenzie (31) Sent Off: none a

He scores when he wants... The visitors opened the scoring when Billy Mckay converted a first half penalty. They doubled their lead when he added a second from a superb Carson cross and almost completed his hat-trick but for the woodwork. However, Queens forced a tense finish when Lee Connelly smashed the ball into the net to give them hope. Fortunately Inverness saw out the game to claim the points and move a point behind leaders Kilmarnock who lost to Arbroath on Saturday. ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Two of the worst performing sides in Scotland over the last half-dozen games were hoping to put on a show for a TV audience eagerly awaiting the outcome at both ends of the table. No wins in five (six for Queens) is relegation form in any language, what could possibly go right, or wrong... Shane Sutherland and Roddy MacGregor returned to the starting line-up tonight along with Reece McAlear, but Sean Welsh, Tom Walsh, Wallace Duffy and Michael Gardyne were missing, stoking the flames of the rumour fires even further. But fear not, Manny Duku was on the bench... Good opening spell for Inverness saw an early strike from Allardice charged down and in the sixth minute Billy Mckay beat the offside trap but his shot from the left side was beaten away with the rebound eluding the incoming attack. A tremendous block by David Carson denied the ever dangerous Innes Cameron inside the six yard box as Queens pushed forward twelve minutes in. Penalty to Inverness after 18 minutes when Roddy MacGregor was taken down in the box by an industrial challenge from Nditi. He scores when he wants from the spot buried the spot kick with ease to put the visitors ahead. Shane Sutherland brought a save out of keeper Brynn as he shot low to his left from distance and a superb interchange between Mckay and MacGregor almost resulted in a freebie but for a timely intervention by the defence. A wonderful glanced header from Devine off a corner narrowly escaped nestling in the bottom corner as Inverness dominated proceedings. On the break, Comrie forced Ridgers to shepherd the ball wide as he tried a snapshot from distance. When Allardice curled a shot wide the referee brought the half to a close with Inverness well on top. Half Time: 0-1 Former Inverness player Alex Cooper was a half time sub for Queens as Allan Johnston rejigged his side but it was Sutherland that blazed wildly over as the visitors looked for a second. It duly came when Carson angled a ball into the box and once again Billy Mckay did what he does best with a low angled header behind Brynn. Well worked goal and well deserved. A corner on the right was cut back to the eighteen yard line and Allardice was unlucky to head just wide with Mckay looking for scraps. Lee Connelly threw Queens a lifeline when he hammered a loose ball in the box high into the net. Game on. Three corners came and went for the visitors but Queens sensed something might happen at the other end as Inverness arses tightened. On a break forward Mckay almost grabbed his hat-trick but was denied by the crossbar with the rebound not falling kindly for Deas or Allardice. After Mckay was denied a free kick, Harry Cochrane brought out a super save from Ridgers when he tipped a dipping shot over the bar for a fruitless corner. Time ran out for Queens as Inverness saw out the game relatively comfortably to pick up a well deserved three points. Full Time: 1-2 Entertaining game in part with Inverness thoroughly deserving of all three points against a team still trying to find it's feet. First win in six games for the Caley Jags and good to see Billy Mckay on the scoresheet and he was unlucky not to get his hat-trick. MotM for many was Scott Allardice with special mention for Mckay and MacGregor and pleasing to see Carson and Sutherland getting more gametime after injury. The goals from last night He scores when he wants Dodds happier now Date: 19/11/2021 Venue: Palmerston, Dumfries Attendance: 1200 Referee: Don Robertson Queen of the South: 1 Manager: Allan Johnston Lineup: Brynn; McKay, Nditi, Debayo (Cochrane 62), Johnston, McGrory (Cooper 45), Gibson, Liddle (Roy 62), Paton, Connelly, Cameron Subs (not used): Rae; Todd, Joseph, Junior Scorers: Connelly(75) Booked: none Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 2 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Broadfoot, Devine, Deas, Doran (Harper 88), McAlear, Allardice, MacGregor, Sutherland, Mckay (Duku 90) Subs (not used): C Mackay; McDonald, Jamieson Scorers: Mckay (19, 50) Booked: Carson (55) Sent Off: none a

It's a cinch After a goalless first half Shane Sutherland broke through the middle to drink the ball neatly over Gaston for the opening goal with just over twenty minutes left. A late rally from the hosts should have drawn them level but Inverness hung on grimly to take all three points. In the opening forty-five, Sutherland had an effort cleared off the line and Nouble proved to be an awkward customer as he bulldozed his way around the park spurning the Lichties best chance of the first half. It was a welcome three points but a difficult watch throughout. Billy Mckay and Anthony McDdonald were both on the bench for the opening fixture. David Carson was fit enough to start but Sean Welsh missed out through injury. Bright sunshine and football fans welcomed the teams onto the park for the opening fixture of the cinch championship. Inverness started on the front foot with Tom Walsh prominent down the left flank and Manny Duku a willing chaser. Despite Walsh seeing plenty of the ball, most of his efforts to cut inside and cross the ball ended on the head or feet of an Arbroath defender. The closest call in the opening exchanges came at the other end when the bustling Joel Nouble broke forward on the inside right channel but dragged his effort just wide across the keeper. At the other end Allardice arrived on the edge of the box just in time to meet a lay off between Walsh and Duku but he lashed his shot just over the bar. Minutes later Duku did well to find Sutherland in the box but his shot was blocked inside the six-yard box en route to the net. That would be the best opportunity for either side in a tousy first half. Half Time: 0-0 The second period saw Nicky Low fire a yard wide from a free kick and a super headed 'goal' from Duku was adjudged offside as both teams looked for the opener. Ridgers saved well after McKenna headed goalwards as Arbroath began to open out. However the deadlock was broken when Shane Sutherland pounced on an error on the halfway line as Donnelly intercepted a Duku lay-off and tried to head the ball back to safety. Sutherland anticipated brilliantly, and as he raced forward he dinked the ball over the keeper from 19 yards to put the visitors ahead. A classy finish out of context with the rest of the game. That goal seemed to agitate Arbroath and they started to put the visitors on the back foot thereafter. For all their possession, they were unable to create many clear cut opportunities although the visitors back line led a charmed life at times. Devine and Broadfoot were able to mop up most attacks as Arbroath looked to feed the mountainous Nouble to no avail. By the ninetieth minute they seemed to have blown over and we saw out the four minutes of injury time with Arbroath eventually resigning themselves to defeat. Best for Inverness in a difficult watch were mostly in midfield where Allardice and McAlear shone through the dross with Sutherland applying that classy finish to raise the profile of a somewhat tedious game. Good to see Billy Mckay getting a few minutes on the park. Oh, and the referee; He's the real deal. Date: 31/07/2021 Venue: Gayfield Park, Arbroath Attendance: 1008 Referee: David Dickinson Arbroath: 0 Manager: Dick Campbell Lineup: Gaston; Stewart (Swankie 83), Little, O'Brien, Colin Hamilton, Linn (Hilson 62), Low, McKenna, Clark (Craven 78), Donnelly, Nouble Subs (not used): Antell; Chris Hamilton, Paterson Scorers: none Booked: Hamilton (33), Swankie (94) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Devine, Broadfoot, Deas, Walsh (Harper 74), MacGregor (Mckay 79), Allardice, McAlear, Sutherland, Duku (Hyde 90) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Duffy, Jamieson, McDonald, Scorers: Sutherland (66) Booked: Broadfoot (52), Mckay (81) Sent Off: none a

League Cup Second game of the season has Stirling Albion coming North to face the Caley Jags with both sides getting off to a winning start in their opening group 'A' fixture. The Bino's went to Cove and came away with an excellent 3-2 win and Inverness defeated Peterhead 2-0 in Billy Dodds first game flying solo. The match is a 3:00pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon with home fans only allowed in the stadium under current covid restrictions. PPV Streaming from ICTV OFFICIAL PREVIEW INFO We comfortably beat Peterhead on Tuesday night thanks to two fantastic second half strikes. Manny Duku opened his account with a tight finish from sixteen yards and Aaron Doran thundered in a swerving 30 yarder to complete the scoring. Inverness were rarely troubled and eased home with Peterhead winless after two games. Stirling edged out Cove in an entertaining five goal game at Balmoral Stadium. Rabin Omar put Stirling in at the break a goal to the good. Nathan Flanagan doubled the advantage early in the second half but a Fraser Fyvie double looked likely to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out. Note that Vigurs is credited with the assists for both Cove goals. However Flanagan scored again in stoppage time to win the game for the visitors. Bino's starting XI v Cove Rangers: Currie; Cummins, McLean, McGregor, McNiff, Laird, Leitch, Omar, Flanagan, Moore, Mackin Latest Team News Robbie Deas has returned to full training and Billy Mckay will return to full training, possibly next week. Anthony McDonald has been on light training and will be stepping up his rehab with full training soon. Looks like we will be along similar lines to the Peterhead game. Manny Duku and Kirk Broadfoot caught the eye on Tuesday night with Aaron Doran, Sean Welsh and Tom Walsh looking spritely. Other fixture in group A Peterhead play Cove Rangers on Saturday.

Winning start for Dodds The season kicked off in earnest tonight for the Caley Jags with a group 'A' League Cup encounter against Peterhead. It was a winning start for Billy Dodds in his first competitive game in charge of Inverness. It was a second defeat for Peterhead who been beaten in their opener by Hearts at the weekend. After a cautious start Inverness began to control the pace of the game but chances were at a premium. The best chance came when Aaron Doran spectacularly flicked a cross goalwards but Brett Long dived to his right to prevent a goal. Tom Walsh blazed a strike over on the run after a dummy from Duku put him through. Manny Duku was causing problems on the ground and in the air. Sean Welsh missed a tremendous opportunity as he headed just over when it looked easier to score, but it remained goalless at the interval. Early in the second half Duku broke the deadlock with a drilled effort from just inside the box and Aaron Doran doubled the advantage with a stunning thirty yard shot into the top corner four minutes later. The hosts saw out the remainder of the game well in control with Peterhead rarely threatening. New signings Kirk Broadfoot, Manny Duku, Reece McAlear and Tom Walsh all started with Michael Gardyne coming on from the bench. Kirk Broadfoot and Manny Duku both impressed on their debut's with Tom Walsh and Aaron Doran playing with a spring in their step. Match Reaction CTO Robert said: "Enjoyed that. Very dominant and two early goals in the second half secured the win. A couple of thoughts driving home. Broadfoot and Fyffe swapped centre half roles at half time. The whole defence clearly had confidence in Fyffe which was good to see. We looked stronger down the right with Carson and Walsh than down the left with Harper and Doran, but then Doran turned up with his goal! A word for Sutherland. He put a real shift in and didn’t give Peterhead a minute. MOM for me was actually Welsh. He was pulling the strings in midfield. A very encouraging start and we still have Deas, McDonald and Mckay who have not featured so far." CTO Jaggernaut said: "I thought the first hour was very encouraging. We were closing them down well when they had possession and our passing was brisk and on point. We lost a bit of our rhythm with all the subs, but there were a lot of good performances out there tonight." Date: 13/07/2021 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 300ish Referee: Peter Stuart Inverness CT: 2 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Fyffe, Broadfoot (Devine 65), Harper, Doran (Gardyne 57) Welsh, McAlear (MacGregor 57), Walsh (Hyde 78), Sutherland, Duku (Allardice 66) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Nicolson, Duffy Scorers: Duku (50), Doran (54) Booked: none Sent Off: none Peterhead: 0 Manager: Jim McInally Lineup: Long; Mulligan, Conroy, Jason Brown, McDonald, Ritchie (Strachan 86), S Brown, Cook (Ferry 55), Kesson (Cameron 46), Jordon Brown (Payne 55), Lyle (McLean 55) Subs (not used): Wilson; Mushanu Scorers: none Booked: Jason Brown (86), McLean (89), Conroy (90) Sent Off: none a

No Post Turkey Trot @ Cappielow ***GAME OFF*** Waterlogged pitch After a pitch inspection at 09:45 this morning the game at Cappielow has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch. The game has still to be re-scheduled but will now be after New Year given the fixture is already in place for the 29th December against Dunfermline Athletic at the Caledonian Stadium. After an inexplicable collapse last week at Alloa, Inverness face an even tougher task on Boxing Day as they head for Greenock to take on form side Morton, who have jumped up to third in the table after excellent back to back wins over Queen of the South and Dunfermline Athletic. The game will kick off @3:00pm with covid restrictions in place meaning no fans in attendance at a down to earth rustic Cappielow. After a deserved win at East End Park for the Ton, they backed that up by beating struggling Queen of the South 2-0 on Saturday. Kalvin Orsi scored his first two goals of the season; a close range shot and a second half header from similar distance. The added bonus for the Greenock side is that interim manager Anton McElhone has been given the job at Cappielow until the end of the season after David Hopkins' departure. ********************************************* ‘TonTV Streaming Information Saturday’s game will be available to watch live for £14 on ‘TonTV. Supporters are asked to purchase in advance where possible to avoid any excessive online traffic before the coverage starts at 2.45pm. ********************************************* As all around us were dropping points, we failed to capitalise and capitulated worryingly at recreation Park. Most of that was of our own doing apart from a stunning free kick from Innes Murray, worth another look to be honest. After Brad Mckay had lashed in an early goal from close range we struggled to impose ourselves on the match and as Alloa grew in confidence, we regressed. Too many needless free kicks around the box led to the spectacular opener from Murray which Ridgers could do nothing about. However, he won't want to see the second goal as a simple collection squirmed out of his grasp and into the net. Oops, butterfingers was the cry heard in living rooms around the North. The disappointing aspect of this defeat was confirmed at 5:00pm as all other results would have been exactly as we would have wanted had we done our own job and won. Credit to Alloa, zilch for us. Boom! Worth noting that the village team from Dingwall are all heart in the lead up to Christmas and have offered a jobless man work for the next few months. It's a heartwarming festive tale that will see John Hughes try to scrape Dross County (damn you predictive text) off the bottom of the Premiership before the end of the season. Aye, good luck with that Yogi, some guid honest laddies there. Championship games on Boxing day, all 3:00pm kick-offs. Alloa Ath v Raith Rovers Dunfermline v Arbroath Hearts v Ayr United Queens v Dundee Morton v Inverness CT John Robertson had gone with an unchanged side for the third week in a row at Alloa. Maybe it's time to freshen up with Sean Welsh, Nikolay Todorov and Aaron Doran all starting from the bench and David Carson getting closer to match fitness. Certainly it seemed that we ran out of ideas quickly at Alloa and could not inject any urgency after the Waspies started buzzing. We were one paced and one dimensional which was a massive reality check given that the part timers had played a gruelling midweek cup tie against Hibs prior to our visit. Difficult to spot the full timers on that evidence. Robbo has said that Wallace Duffy is ready for selection and changes will be made with a hectic three game schedule coming up. Morton had this team against Queen of the South: McAdams; Ledger, McLean, McGinty, Strapp, Lyon, McAlister (Omar 69′), Salkeld (Nesbitt 66′), Muirhead, McPake (Oliver 77′), Orsi. OFFICIAL PREVIEW FROM ICTFC Robbo Shuffling

Relegation fears back on Our former bitches came North safe in the knowledge that they will finish at least second in the table and they can prepare for the challenge ahead without having to look over their shoulders. We on the other hand, still need points to ease ourselves away from the League 1 play-off drop zone. James Carragher returned to the starting XI with Remi Savage and Sean McAllister making the bench, and for the visitors, it looks like they mean business with Lewis Vaughan, Jack Hamilton and Dylan Corr starting with Zak Rudden and Keith Watson benched. Inverness threatened the Raith goal and but for Kevin Dabrowski and his bar they could have been dead and buried at the interval. No score at the break and all to play for in the second half. Vaughan opened the scoring early in the second half and Samuel almost levelled but his shot from distance cannoned away off the post. The crossbar was hit a further twice but the goal would not come. Despite peppering the Raith goal, MotM Dabrowski would not be beaten with a string of saves ranging from brilliant to miraculous. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A bright sunny evening met the teams as they entered the stadium for this televised encounter and it was the visitors that got the game underway. An early corner for Inverness ended with a great ball into the box from Longstaff and then Billy Mckay nodded goalwards but couldn't get any juice on the header and Dobrowski gathered easily. Rovers looking brisk on the break as well in a spritely start for both teams. After Aaron Doran was fouled on the edge of the box, Cammy Harper brought out a good save from Dabrowski with a curling effort to the keepers left. Alex Samuel maybe should have opened the scoring after fifteen minutes but his close range shot was deflected away by Jack Hamilton defending his own goalline. Good spell of pressure from Inverness but Doran took a knock and limped off to be replaced by Sean McAllister. Inverness almost took the lead twice within a couple of seconds. Harper latched onto a loose ball in the box only for his shot to smack the crossbar. He reacted first to head the rebound towards goal but Dabrowski spread himself well and a flailing leg kept the ball out much to Cammy's frustration. Unbelievable reflexes from Dabrowski who was diving the wrong way. Brown fired one direct at Ridgers from 25 yards as Rovers went forward with intent, but Ridgers dealt with it well. With half an hour gone, Raith could have no complaints had they been three down with Dabrowski keeping the score level. Half Time: 0-0 Dylan Easton and Shaun Byrne replaced a pair of Brown's for the visitors at the break and early Raith pressure came to nothing. However, after a bit of bagotelle in the Inverness box Lewis Vaughan clipped the ball behind Ridgers to open the scoring. Alex Samuel cracked a low curling shot off the keepers left hand post. Sums up our season to be honest. Great effort but no luck. Zak Rudden missed a good chance for Rovers as our passing from defence went astray. Another defensive mistake allowed Sam Stanton to get a shot away at one end and at the other, McAllister got his shot away but both keepers were up to the efforts. Ridgers saved an angled drive from Easton with twenty minutes left. McAllister was again denied by the keeper from distance with a swerving shot but Dabrowski excelled moments later when Samuel spun in the box and shot but the keeper made a miraculous save to get the ball over the bar. We hit the crossbar a further twice through Carragher and Devine in the same attack. It looks like scoring goals is just not for us. Pepple almost got on the end of a cross seconds after coming on, but he never attacked the ball. McAllister dragged a shot wide from a good position after some neat build up play. Samuel blasted just over in a frantic ending as the keeper tipped another over the bar. Despite some late action in front of the Raith goal, Man of the Match Kevin Dabrowski kept the visitors ahead and put Inverness back in trouble. Date: 19/04/2024 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2385 Referee: Euan Anderson Inverness CT: 0 Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: Ridgers; Carragher, Devine (Pepple 80), Boyes, Longstaff (Lawal 60), Kerr, Anderson, Harper, Doran (McAllister 19), Alex Samuel, B Mckay Subs (not used): C Mackay, Duffy, MacGregor, Savage, Brooks Scorers: none Booked: none Sent Off: none Raith Rovers: 1 Manager: Ian Murray Lineup: Dabrowski; J Brown (Easton 45), Corr, Murray, Dick, Smith, Mullin, Stanton (McGill 87), S Brown (Byrne 45), Hamilton (Rudden 55), Vaughan (Mathews 78) Subs (not used): McNeil; Watson, Connolly Scorers: Vaughan (49) Booked: S Brown (45+1), Dabrowski (90+2) Sent Off: none a

Ayr Raid by the Boyes It's hotting up at the bottom end of the table after Queens Park grabbed their first win in sixteen games to close the gap on Inverness to just one point ahead of the visit to Somerset Park today. Charlie Albinson was back in the gloves and Sean McGinty was back at the heart of the Ayr defence with Anton Dowds, Jamie Murphy and Logan Chalmers the main threats up front. Danny Devine and David Carson were fit enough to start for Inverness but Nikola Ujdur was dropped to a bench which didn't inspire the Caley Jags faithful. A couple of early saves from Ridgers denied Ayr before Billy Mckay benefitted from an error by Albinson to open the scoring after half an hour. After the break a Morgan Boyes double put Inverness in the driving seat but Logan Chalmers reduced the deficit immediately. A couple of late chances at the end but Inverness held on to record their first win in six. Much better all round, so credit for that after a difficult month. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness kicked off in bright sunshine with the far side of the park looking like a building site. Seven minutes in and Logan Chalmers benefitted from an awkward ball that bounced across the face on the eighteen yard line, his curling effort tipped over brilliantly from a back pedaling keeper. A minute later he pulled off another save from distance as Ayr forced the play, Jack Young with a rasping shot well saved by Ridgers. After that early flurry the ball was like a hot potato with neither side able to stamp their authority on proceedings. Out of nothing, Billy Mckay opened the scoring on the half hour after Albiston was caught short with the ball at his feet. Max Anderson rolled the ball to Mckay and he rolled the ball into the net. Ridgers pulled off another important save soon after the opener when Chalmers burst into the box but the keeper got his angles right to deny the eager forward at the expense of a corner. Albinson saved from Nathan Shaw as the game approached the interval but it was Mckay's goal that separated the sides at the break. HALF TIME: 0-1 No changes at the interval. Good pressure around the home box almost resulted in an opening for the visitors. At the other end Ayr put the ball in the net but the flag was up which stopped any celebrations. Ten minutes after the break Morgan Boyes nodded in a beauty from a superb Cammy Harper cross after good away pressure. Boyes added a third with another header with referee Gavin Duncan adjudging the ball was over the line before being cleared but that lead was short lived as Logan Chalmers gave the hosts a lifeline, scoring from a tight angle two minutes later. Ridgers kept that cushion saving from close range as Ayr looked certain to pull another goal back through Anton Dowds. With ten minutes remaining Harper rattled the bar from just inside the box when he should have been hitting the target after we missed a couple of opportunities to finish off the moves. Amartey burst into the box and his shot was tipped onto the bar and over by Ridgers as Ayr pushed forward in time added on but it was Inverness that jumped up to seventh in the table above Ayr United as they held out for all three points. FULL TIME: 1-3 More Match Reaction to follow Great win on the road for Inverness after a poor run of results. Plenty of hard work done to make this possible and Mark Ridgers pulled off two or three excellent saves to keep us in touch at crucial stages. Two goals from Boyes was a bonus and good work going forward by Cammy Harper. All in, a decent performance. Top quote on CTO: So, 2 wins in our last 8 matches, both achieved when our manager was in the stand? Both Managers spoke to BBC Sport Ayr United manager Lee Bullen: "Nine times out of 10, the team that's better in both boxes wins the game of football and that's what happened. It just wasn't our day. It could've been easy just to throw the towel in at 3-0 but they kept going, Logan scores a wonderful goal. We had opportunities to maybe even get something out of the game." Inverness CT manager Duncan Ferguson: "It was a six-pointer. We've managed to jump above Ayr. It's a massive game for us. Moments in the game went for us. We created an awful lot of chances, particularly in the second half. [Mark Ridgers] was fantastic. A really great goalkeeper. Maybe one of the best in the league if not the best in the league." We won didn't we>>> Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table looks healthier after todays games 1. Raith Rovers 20 13 5 2 37 26 44 2. Dundee Utd 19 12 5 2 42 10 41 3. Partick Thistle 20 10 5 5 41 32 35 4. Airdrieonians 20 8 3 9 19 23 27 5. Morton 19 7 4 8 23 26 25 6. Dunfermline 19 6 5 8 24 24 23 7. Inverness CT 20 5 6 9 23 24 21 8. Ayr United 19 5 4 10 25 38 19 9. Queens Park 19 4 5 10 24 38 17 10. Arbroath 19 5 2 12 23 40 17 Date: 06/01/2024 Venue: Somerset Park, Ayr Attendance: 1826 Referee: Gavin Duncan Ayr United: 1 Manager: Lee Bullen Lineup: Albinson; Ahui, McGinty, McAllister, Stanger, Reading, Dempsey, Chalmers, Young, Smith (Bryden 61), Murphy (Amartey 74), Dowds (McKenzie 86) Subs (not used): Mutch; Watret, McAllister, Syla, Rose, Senga, Scorers: Chalmers (65) Booked: Chalmers (54), Young (85) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 3 Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Duffy, Devine, Boyes, Welsh (Longstaff 69), Gilmour, Anderson, Harper, Shaw, B Mckay (Brooks 82) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Delaney, Ujdur, Davidson, Thompson, Doran, Sheridan Scorers: Mckay (29), Boyes (55, 63) Booked: Duffy (38), Welsh (50), Carson (80) Sent Off: none a

Merry Xmas Danny Devine was fit enough to start and Jake Davidson again replaced the injured Wallace Duffy at right back. Otherwise no surprises in the Inverness starting XI or bench. As per normal, Brian Graham will present our defence with a robust challenge with Fitzpatrick and McInroy able and willing elfs. 205 visiting fans were on hand to check out this one and at the end of the day Status Quo was maintaned as all five games ended level this weekend. Max Anderson and Jack McMillan were the scorers today. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ooooooft, having got the match underway, it was an early start for the visitors who caught Partick cold as Max Anderson's weak effort found the net after an assist from Billy Mckay, long before all the bums had landed in their seats. 22 seconds apparently! The fast start continued in the third minute as Cammy Harper shot over from the left side. Alas, Jack McMillan squared the game after quarter of an hour scoring from close range. Fitzpatrick shot wide after twenty minutes and Ridgers was then brought into action to stop a long range low effort from Ben Stanway. Ten minutes before the break Wotherspoon bounced a shot just wide from the edge of the box as we ventured forth. A free kick in a promising position for the hosts ended when Graham shot over from just outside the box. Charlie Gilmour had the final effort of the half in stoppage time but it was well wide of the target. Partick with the bulk of the play but it remained all square at the interval. A late goal for Arbroath on half time meant that Inverness had gone from 8th to 5th to 9th over the course of the first forty-five. Meh! HALF TIME: 1-1 The hosts set the ball in motion for the second half and they were quick to avoid a repeat of the first minutes of the match as they went straight onto the front foot winning a couple of early corners before Aderson went close to his second of the game as the visitors wenr up the park. Devine did well to deny McMillan his second as he cleared his effort away from goal and Ujdur was booked for fouling Milne moments later. Partick were first with the changes after the hour. Ujdur took a knock but was able to continue and almost got on the end of the ball during a melee following a corner with fifteen minutes remaining. More corners followed but nothing doing before Longstaff saw his shot blocked five minutes before the end. Harper went down in the box but big appeals for a penalty went unanswered. It ended with a point apiece at a difficult venue. FULL TIME: 1-1 A good point at a difficult venue and one which keeps us in eighth place after a late goal for Dunfermline scuppered the Smokies. After the last two defeats, this was a welcome performance and point for the 205 hardy souls who braved the weather to keep away from the Xmas shopping. Have a great Christmas. From BBC Sports Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan: "Inverness are a good team and a point is probably fair. It was such a freak goal to give away but the way we react is key. We get on the front foot and Jack McMillan scores a fantastic goal." Inverness CT manager Duncan Ferguson: "We couldn't have started any better. We created chances and could've had a couple of goals. "Everyone could see our attacking play which is lovely to watch, and on another day we could've had a penalty - we're not getting any 50-50 decisions at all. But we're really happy." Mantis saw it like this: That turned out to be a valuable point thanks to the Pars late equaliser. Both sets of players deserve nothing but praise considering the awful conditions. We totally dominated the opening 15 minutes and had a couple of half chances to double the lead which appeared to deflect off a defender and trundle in. Partick scored with their first attack of the game and it was a case of tragic failure to clear the ball. Never would have happened with Robbie Deas in there. We’re playing with 3 centre backs and nobody seems to know what their job is. We went to pieces after that and Partick murdered us for the rest of the half. Going by previous visits to Firhill we feared the worst for the second half but it never materialised. We really dominated the last half hour and had very few clear cut chances but it was like the Alamo with Partick defending scrambles in their six yard box and we must have had about 8 corners. However we’re still trying to walk it into the net with nobody trying to take a risk. Graham was substituted having had very little influence for once. So was Billy, for Longstaff, and he must have been frustrated trying to pull down long balls from Ridgers all day with big Muirhead breathing down his neck. Two shockers from Grainger the ref. He booked Ujdur for a clash of heads where the Partick player came off worst, and he missed a stonewall penalty when Cammy was hauled down late on. A draw away at Partick is not to be sniffed at against a team that has 29 points and a decent squad with Milne, Graham, Lawless and Alston. Date: 23/12/2023 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 3326 Referee: Graham Grainger Partick Thistle: 1 Manager: Kris Doolan Lineup: Sneddon; McMillan, Muirhead, Neilson, Milne, Stanway (Robinson 62), McInroy (MacKenzie 82), Lawless, Alston (Bannigan 62), Fitzpatrick, Graham (Adeloye 82) Subs (not used): Mitchell; Williams, Williamson, Lyon, Diack, Scorers: McMillan (15) Booked: none Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: Ridgers; Davidson, Ujdur, Devine, Boyes, Shaw, Gilmour, Anderson, Harper, Wotherspoon (Sheridan 90), B Mckay (Longstaff 75) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Delaney, Bray, Thompson, Welsh, Brooks Scorers: Anderson (22 secs) Booked: Devine (43), Ujdur (57), Gilmour (88) Sent Off: none a

Last chance if you believe in miracles Dens Park is the venue on Sunday for what will no doubt be our final league cup game of this 'pre-season' in a 3:00pm kick-off. All is lost as it's only the three best second placed teams that qualify for the knockout stages. In the other game in group E, Airdrie take on Bonnyrigg with Dumbarton having played all their games. The best we can take from Dens park is to find out our best starting XI and get more game time and understanding amongst the players before we open our Championship account against Queens Park next Saturday. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Match Info/Tickets/Supporters Bus Ethan Cairns & Harry Hennem on Loan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Air 3 3 0 0 6 2 4 9 2 Dun 3 2 0 1 4 2 2 6 3 Dum 4 1 1 2 3 6 -3 5 4 ICT 3 1 0 2 5 6 -1 3 5 Bon 3 0 1 2 1 3 -2 1 Latest Team News Sean Welsh and Roddy MacGregor missed out against Airdrie. Lewis Nicolson has injured his knee and will be out for some time. Keith Bray was a stand-out in the second half against Airdrie with Nathan Shaw looking the most likely to add a few assists from his creative wing play. Luis Longstaff might have potential, only game time will tell. However, our defence needs to cut out the glaring individual errors which have blighted our games so far. Dundee are in the big boys league now. Decent squad with plenty in reserve. By all accounts the two Mexicans are excellent acquisitions. They have added to their attacking options with the addition of physical striker Amadou Bakayoko on loan from Forest Green Rovers. Here's their squad from the 3-1 win over Dumbarton: Legzdins Portales Shaughnessy Ashcroft (Robertson 83) Mulligan Boateng McGhee Tiffoney Beck Robinson Pineda (Cameron 67) Subs not used: McCracken; Kerr, Byrne, Rudden, Anderson, Sharp, Wilkie

Scottish Cup Warm-Up This hastily arranged kick-about ahead of the Scottish Cup Final on June 3rd was an effort to keep the season jaded legs turning before we head to Hampden Park on June 3rd to take on another Irish outfit, Glasgow Celtic. The Swifts were also needing a run out as they may yet have a relegation battle to play out, depending on the outcome of the Warrenpoint appeal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ahead of the meeting, here's the tidy playing field @ Stangmore Park Inverness would start with a strong selection. Robbie Deas was on the bench along with Dan Mackay, Aaron Doran, Nathan Shaw and Roddy MacGregor. Zak Delaney will fill Robbie Deas left centre back position. Mark Ridgers started in goal and Wallace Duffy and David Carson were on at the same time with Austin Samuels also starting. It turned out to be a worthwhile exercise at Stangmore Park with all the players getting a run out after the interval. Inverness were quick out of the blocks and were two up after 16 minutes through Cammy Harper and Wallace Duffy. Ridgers saved from Ethan McGhee as Swifts looked to hit back and Billy Mckay had an effort blocked on the half hour. 2-0 at the interval and that was the cue to get some subs on. Steven Scott pulled one back ten minutes after the break but Austin Samuels restored our two goal lead two minutes later. Play was broken thereafter with all the players getting some game time and it ended 3-1 to the visitors. Full Time 1-3 A good workout for all involved in the build up to the Scottish Cup Final and great to see Roddy MacGregor getting some twenty minutes on the park. Austin Samuels got back on the scoresheet after his lengthy lay off with Harper and Duffy scoring in the first half.

Up to 5th Jay Henderson was deemed fit enough to start but Danny Devine only made the bench. Wallace Duffy and Roddy MacGregor missed out again. That made it the same starting XI that won at Cappielow. Raith had a sparse bench with only three outfield players, but their starting XI still carried plenty of threats, making four changes from the side that lost to Hamilton in midweek. With Partick thrashing Queens Park last night this was a must win for both sides. In the end it was first half goals from Henderson and Shaw that gave Inverness all three points. The ball was in the net early doors but Aaron Doran was flagged offside. First real action saw Aidan Connolly shoot from distance with Mark Ridgers making the save. The hosts went ahead after twelve minutes when Cammy Harper fed Jay Henderson in on the right and he buried his shot from fifteen yards across MacDonald. With twenty minutes gone Nathan Shaw scored a peach into the top corner to double our advantage after persistent work by Billy Mckay. Great left footed strike by Shaw. McBride and Lewis Vaughan had efforts that missed the target as Rovers looked to get back into the game and five minutes before the break Aaron Doran shot from inside the box but MacDonald saved low to his right. HALF TIME 2-0 Chances were at a premium in the second half and Billy Mckay shot over before being substituted for Austin Samuels with twenty minutes left. Mark Ridgers saved well from Vaughan. Inverness did what they had to do to see out the game and a series of substitutions littered the closing stages as Inverness kept a lacklustre Raith Rovers at bay. A lack of bookings maybe gave the game away that they have already downed tools. They now look destined for another season in the Championship while we hang on in the belief that we can still make the play-offs. FULL TIME 2-0 We did enough to justify the three points without over exerting ourselves. Good contributions from Carson, Ridgers, Henderson and Shaw who scored a belter. We are still getting the results required and are still hanging on by a thread to our promotion hopes, albeit a long shot. Rovers wait for a win enters a 24th season. The goals>>> Date: 08/04/2023 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2198 Referee: Craig Napier Inverness CT: 2 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Deas, Delaney, Harper, Henderson (Boyd 77), Welsh, Allardice, Shaw (Hyde 82), Doran (Woods 77), B Mckay (Samuels 69) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Devine, Nicolson, D Mackay Scorers: Henderson (12), Shaw (21) Booked: none Sent Off: none Raith Rovers: 0 Manager: Ian Murray Lineup: MacDonald; Millen (Young 52), Brown, Nolan, Ngwenya, Connolly, Easton (Ross 81), Stanton, McBride, Vaughan, Akio (Goncalves 81) Subs (not used): Thomson; Scorers: none Booked: none Sent Off: none a

  A must win game   Raith Rovers head North this Saturday for a 3:00pm kick-off at the Caledonian Stadium looking for their first win over the Caley Jags since October 28th, 2000. Yes, it really is that long since they beat us over ninety minutes. Once upon a time, Raith were one of the benchmarks for a rising Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Since we started beating them there has been no going back. However, there are no easy points at this stage of the season and this amazing run will come to an end one year, Let's hope it's not this Saturday. If this is not seen as a must win game, then it's certainly in the category of must not lose, and that applies to both teams. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Match/Ticket Info AGM Hampden Calling ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Venue Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 20 13 5 2 38 15 +23 Away 17 9 5 3 34 21 +13 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 37 22 10 5 72 36 +36 It's unbelievable to think that Raith's last win over Inverness over 90 minutes was almost 22 years ago. Mind you, Raith had a pretty handy team back then and they had won four of the previous five encounters since we met them in the big boys leagues, with the other one drawn. Since then, we have literally swamped Rovers with 22 wins, 10 draws and zero defeats. Getting back up to date over the last ten, it's 4 wins, 6 draws and zero defeats. Starting to level out a bit, but still no wins for Raith. Here's who played for them last time they won: Peter Hetherston was player manager back then. Van de Kamp; McCulloch, Dennis, Hamilton, Browne, Black, Hetherston, Ellis, Mballa, Clark, Stein Last 10 Competitive Meetings 2 - 2 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 2 - 0 (A) 3 - 2 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 0 - 0 (H) 1 - 1 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 1 - 0 (A) 0 - 0 (H) Last Raith win: Oct 28th 2001 - 1 - 2. Injury-hit Caley Thistle lost this game because of a poor first half display. Despite this they nearly took the lead in 13 minutes when a David Bagan shot was blocked by Greig McCulloch and spun over the bar. Raith scored first in 16 minutes when Jim Calder failed to hold a Shaun Dennis cross and Jay Stein hit home the loose ball from six yards. In 21 minutes a poor headed clearance by Stuart McCaffrey was picked up by Andrew Clark and he set up Ivan Mballa and the Frenchman slammed the ball into the net from 12 yards. ICT had a penalty claim turned down in 38 minutes when Charlie Christie was brought down by Paul Browne. After the break the home side improved but Guido Van de Kamp denied them on several occasions. Paul Sheerin pulled one back in 79 minutes when he netted from close range after a good cut back by Roy McBain. Four minutes later Sheerin watched in frustration as Van de Kamp saved his low shot. As time ran out he came close twice more but Raith held on to win. Report by Ian Broadfoot Last Time Out Inverness pulled off a good win at Cappielow last weekend beating Morton 2-1 with super strikes from Scott Allardice and a late one from David Carson, only his second goal for the club. Pretty much a replica of his other goal against Dunfermline Athletic. Another few replicas would not go amiss.    Raith Rovers failed to capitalise on their game in hand by going down at home to Hamilton Accies by 2-1 on Tuesday night. That result keeps them one point behind Inverness in the race to get into the play-offs. Time Accies did us a favour instead of beating us all the time! Encounters this season have been tight affairs. A Scott Allardice penalty and a late Billy Mckay strike were the difference between the sides at Kirkaldy back in September. There followed two draws since then home and away. The 1 - 1 draw at Inverness saw a tremendous header from Robbie Deas cancel out a Sam Stanton strike. That was the game where Deas broke his leg late in the game. Remarkable that he has made such progress since then.  2 - 2 in the last one at Stark's Park with Billy Mckay once again saving the day with another late goal to frustrate Rovers once more. Rovers had led twice through Lewis Vaughan and Aidan Connolly but Jay Henderson then Mckay squared matters. Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table ahead of Partick v Queens Park tonight at 7:45 BBC Scotland TV 1. Queens Park 31 16 6 9 58 41 54 2. Dundee 30 15 8 7 54 32 53 3. Ayr United 31 14 7 10 56 40 49 4. Partick Thistle 31 14 6 11 54 40 48 5. Morton 30 11 10 9 42 37 43 6. Inverness CT 30 11 9 10 42 42 42 7. Raith Rovers 30 11 8 11 42 39 41 8. Arbroath 30 6 13 11 28 41 31 9. Hamilton Ac. 30 7 7 16 27 55 28 10. Cove Rangers 31 6 8 17 34 70 26 Friday 7th April Partick Thistle v Queen's Park Saturday 8th April Arbroath v Dundee Ayr Utd v Morton Accies v Cove  Inverness CT v Raith Rovers Latest Team News Danny Devine, Wallace Duffy and Roddy MacGregor all missed out at Cappielow last week leaving us with a sparse bench. Jay Henderson came off injured after ten minutes but will be assessed closer to kick-off to see if he is fit enough. Here's Dodds to spill the beans...   Raith Rovers top scorer is Aidan Connolly with twelve goals followed by Dylan Easton seven goals and Lewis Vaughan with five. Connolly is the big danger here, not just his goals but he is also credited with seven assists, much greater than any of his team mates.          

On the Road Again After a battling 1-1 draw at Dundee, we are off on our travels again, this time it's even further afield as we visit Somerset Park, an often fruitful venue over the years. On Saturday, it's a 3:00pm kick off as points become difficult to collect at both ends of the table. Inverness are still bottom of the recent form table with only 4 points from a possible 18. Ayr have faltered recently but have 8 points from their last 6 games. Talismanic striker Billy Mckay will return after being red carded at Hamilton a fortnight ago. Billy is still seven goals short of being level with Dennis Wyness as our all time record scorer. Reece McAlear is now at Somerset Park but Logan Chalmers' loan spell has ended and the experienced Michael Moffat is at Glenafton. Unfortunately events off the park are overtaking events on the park. £££ See Club Statement below £££ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Match/Ticket/Supporters Bus info Club Statement Get Well Soon Cammy Ticket Update v Killie School strikes, We've got your back ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Get well soon Cammy Venue H2H v Ayr United Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 23 10 11 2 38 24 +14 Away 24 11 6 7 45 30 +15 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 47 21 17 9 83 54 +29 Head to Heads v Ayr tend to favour Inverness over the years, but due to our decline in fortunes more recent results are more equal. 3 wins for ICT - 2 wins for Ayr and 5 draws over the last ten encounters. Ayr have become more difficult to beat over the last couple of years. They came up into the Championship in 2018 and we held the upper hand for the first couple of seasons but they are now capable of holding their own and under Lee Bullen are more difficult to prise points from these days. Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Ayr United 2 - 2 (H) 1 - 0 (A) 2 - 2 (A) 1 - 2 (H) 2 - 2 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 2 - 2 (H) 2 - 0 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 0 - 1 (A) From CTO Last October 1 - 0 - Ayr Pressure Not Enough: Ayr started the day three points ahead of Inverness. They would end the day level. Plenty of pressure from the hosts in a dominant first half but the nearest they came to a goal was a Mark Mckenzie header that came off the bar and the same player missed from six yards after being set up by Dipo Akinyemi. Inverness would be relieved to get to the interval on level terms. Cammy Harper glanced in a header just after the break to open the scoring. That's how it ended after a difficult ninety minutes but it's three wins on the bounce on the road. FRIDAY 3RD MARCH 7:45pm Hamilton v Arbroath SATURDAY 4TH MARCH 3:00pm Ayr United v Inverness CT Cove R v Dundee Partick v Rovers Queen's v Morton Last Time Out Inverness, off the back of two miserable defeats against Hamilton, battled for a plucky 1-1 draw at Dundee. Fortunate as it was we showed a bit of fight. Dundee will feel aggrieved that they never took all three points having a goal disallowed for a dubious offside decision and hitting the woodwork twice. To rub salt in the wound, Harper's equaliser took a massive deflection to wrong foot the keeper and put the Dundee fans on the verge of tears. At least Billy Mckay should return after suspension. Ayr United drew a blank last Friday at Stark's Park against Raith Rovers, with ICT's Scottish Cup hero Jamie MacDonald denying Ben Dempsey from the spot to ensure it remained goalless. They have been slipping up in recent weeks D W L L D. Their only win was a routine 5-0 thrashing of Cove Rangers at the end of January. This season's encounters show that we won the first one at Ayr 1 - 0 and drew the reverse fixture in the Highlands 2 - 2 Shaw shank redemption: Nathan Shaw earned Inverness an unlikely point as he scored his second of the game with three minutes left. That levelled the score after Dipo Akinyemi had put leaders Ayr United ahead with his 14th goal of the season less than ten minutes from the end. Shaw had given the hosts an early lead which they held until the 66th minute when Mark McKenzie bundled into the net from close range. This was a better point for Inverness who still had nine players missing although Danny Devine came into the back four before going off after being injured with fifteen minutes remaining. Latest Team News Billy Mckay returns after suspension. At least he should add some much needed potency to the attack. Still waiting for around five players returning from injury. Sutherland, Walsh, Woods, Ram and MacGregor. Samuels is now getting game time as is Allardice, Deas and Harper but all four are still building up to maximum efficiency after returning from longer term injury. Deas played in midweek in a young side at Forres to get some more minutes in his legs. Eck's Ayr Catch-Up RIP Eric: It's at this point over the last couple of years I would insert a section written by fellow CTO member and friend ictewd. Eric, without prompting, would gather any updated information about our opponents and offer it to me for adding to the preview. Without fail, Eric would investigate and I would receive an eMail every Thursday ahead of the fixtures. He was also responsible for helping to get our site stats in order and was willing to do this throughout his illness borne with great dignity. I have known Eric for over fifty years and he was an unassuming guy but very intelligent and self motivated. He was the consummate professional in all he did and I/we will miss him greatly for his diligent professionalism as he carried out his many tasks on CTO. Sadly Eric passed away this week and I for one will miss his eMails and quiet sense of humour and the endless hours of brain crunching stats he input and more importantly, his friendship. I offer sincere condolences to his family and friends at this most difficult of times. RIP Eric Davidson This ones on me Eck Ayr United have scooped up Chris Maguire an experienced attacking inside forward once of Aberdeen and Sheffield Wednesday. Dylan Watret has signed his first pro contract at Ayr and featured against Raith Rovers. Frankie Musonda returned to action in a reserve game against Hibs last week. Josh Mullin is now a permanent signing and former Inverness midfielder Reece McAlear has come in on loan from Tranmere Rovers. That's he of the thunderous goals from outside the box; beware! Loan ended: Logan Chalmers, forward (Dundee United); Bradley Young, forward (Aston Villa). Loan out: David Bangala, defender (Cove Rangers); Finn Ecrepont, defender (Stranraer); Michael Moffat, forward (Glenafton).

Smokies Smoked Both clubs had big wins in the first games of 2023 and it was Inverness that continued in style with a 4-1 win at Gayfield. Billy Mckay, who scored a hat-trick last week, opened the scoring at the back post in the ninth minute but Ben El-Mhanni levelled fifteen minutes later when he slotted into the bottom corner. Jay Henderson put us ahead just before the break as he lifted a shot high into the net from inside the box. Twenty minutes into the second half Dan Mackay shot into the bottom corner to double our advantage. Substitute Lewis Nicolson concluded the scoring in the 86th minute with a header from sub Steven Boyd's cross. Great win on the road for the Caley Jags that moves us into sixth place in the table, eleven points behind table toppers Queens Park who we face next week. Great start to 2023 for the Caley Jags with two big wins on the bounce. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wallace Duffy returned to the starting XI after suspension and Zak Delaney showed no adverse reaction to continue at left back. Jay Henderson played his second game for the club. No other returnees and Max Ram looks to have been added to the still extensive injury list. Arbroath had four new signings in the squad with Ben El-Mhannie, Balde and Adarkwa all starting. Arbroath got the game underway but it was the visitors that took an early lead. Good work by Lewis Hyde down the right and his low cross saw Dan Mackay take a swipe at the ball. He sclaffed it somewhat but one again it was poacher extraordinaire Billy Mckay who reacted best to get to the ball at the back post to knock it in from less than a yard. Great start for the visitors. Sean Ardarkwa cut in from the left but his curling shot from the edge of the box dipped just over the bar. However the hosts were level when the tidy Yasin Ben El-Mhannie met a low João Baldé cross into the box to slot home from around twelve yards, his first goal for Arbroath after two great assists last week against Dundee. Inverness almost regained the lead immediately but for Thomas O'Brien with a goal line clearance from Billy Mckay. Five minutes before the interval the bustling Ardarkwa shot just wide across the face of Ridgers' goal with the keeper scrambling across his line to cover his far post. Just on the break Jay Henderson opened his Caley Jags account after a corner fell to him around the penalty spot. It appears that his knee made contact with the ball and it lifted into the top of the net above the floundering defenders. Maybe Inverness could consider themselves slightly fortunate to go in ahead at the interval, but thems the breaks. HALF TIME: 1-2 After half time it was encouraging to see Inverness looking to build on their first half advantage. Sean Welsh fired a free kick at Gaston, the keeper gathering the curling ball at the second attempt. Gaston did brilliantly to deny Billy Mckay from six yards after Aaron Doran flashed a low ball into the box from the right side. From the resultant corner, Gaston again did brilliantly to deny Mckay as tried to divert Sean Welsh's header into the net, the keeper clawing the header away from danger. Inverness looked likely to run away with the game early in the second half. Dan Mackay gave us the cushion to do just that as he slotted home a through ball from Welsh after we broke play up in the right midfield area. Unfortunately Mackay was replaced by Lewis Nicolson with fifteen minutes remaining after taking a sore one, hopefully just bruising as hinted at by Billy Dodds after the game. Ben El-Mhannie drilled a shot just the wrong side of the post as Arbroath tried to respond, but it was a bit of too little too late and Aaron Doran did well down the left before drilling a dangerous low cross into the box that was heading for a tap-in before a defender sliced it over his own bar. The last goal was the icing on the cake when substitute Lewis Nicolson nudged a header back across the six yard box and into an unguarded net. Mckay and then Steven Boyd combined to set up the chance which Lewis executed exquisitely, his second goal for the club enjoyed muchly by the 143 away fans at Gayfield. FULL TIME: 1-4 Downside of this win was another injury for Dan Mackay. Great to see Jay Henderson and Lewis Nicolson getting amongst the goals and another for Billy Mckay as he chases Dennis Wyness' scoring record of 102 goals. Billy is now on 91. Arbroath is never an easy place to get a win, never mind a big one, we'll take that. Date: 07/01/2023 Venue: Gayfield, Arbroath Attendance: 1803 Referee: Gavin Duncan Arbroath: 1 Manager: Dick Campbell Lineup: Gaston; Oakley (Linn 67), Bitsindou (Hilson 67), O'Brien, Hamilton, Ben El-Mhanni (Dow 77), Mckenna, Gold (Little 45), Balde, Stewart, Adarkwa Subs (not used): Gill; Hoti, Allan Scorers: El-Mhanni (26) Booked: Gold (35), Hamilton (55) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 4 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Duffy, Devine, Delaney (Strachan 88), D Mackay (A Nicolson 75), Welsh, Hyde, Doran (Boyd 84), Henderson (Thompson 88), B Mckay (Oakley 88) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Cairns Scorers: B Mckay (9) Henderson (45), D Mackay (65), L Nicolson (86) Booked: Devine (16), Duffy (33), Henderson (61), Sent Off: none a

Great Effort by Young Team Accies took an early advantage of the young squad Inverness had assembled and opened the scoring after only three minutes through an own goal. The young team responded well when Calum Mackay did brilliantly down the left and his cross made it's way to Keith Bray but his diving header was tipped round the post by Jamie Smith. Minutes later Mackay went through on goal but his shot caught the side netting. Tiehi and One replied for Accies with Ridgers gathering Tiehi's effort and One heading wide before a deflected shot from Winter earned a corner for Accies. Aaron Nicolson shot just wide midway through the half. Accies doubled their lead when Reegan Mimnaugh turned in Andy Winter's low cross. Mackay and Nicolson came close again. Just before the interval Mark Ridgers denied Gabe Forsyth from 25 yards. 2-0 at the interval with the young guys performing brilliantly and Jamie Smith the busier keeper, but Accies with the all important goals. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just after the hour Ryan One did well down the Accies left and his shot was parried by Ridgers and Caley Thistle get clear. Inverness made a couple of changes with twenty minutes left. Alistair Nixon & Calum MacLeod on, Ryan Barrett & Duncan Proudfoot off. 83rd minute Daniel MacDougall & Lewis Mackie on, Jack Walker & Aaron Nicolson off. 87th minute Danny Gillan on, Mark Ridgers off. Accies ended the game with ten players that had come through their own Academy as the game ran away from the Inverness XI who had acquitted themselves very well. Match reaction to follow>>> Fantastic effort from Ryan Esson's young charges, they can be really proud of their performance. Date: 10/12/2022 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 488 Referee: Duncan Williams Hamilton: 2 Manager: John Rankin Lineup: J Smith, Doyle, McGinn Owens, Shiels, Winter (Morgan 84), Mimnaugh (Latona 66), De Bolle (Newbury 71), One, Tiehi (Black 84), Forsyth Subs (not used): Fulton; O'Reilly, Ryan, Zanatta, L Smith Scorers: Nixon (4 og), Mimnaugh (33) Booked: Tiehi (10) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 0 Manager: Ryan Esson (u18's coach) Lineup: Ridgers (Gillan 87); Nixon, Barrett (A Nixon 72), Walker (MacDougal 84), Carnihan, Strachan, Proudfoot (Macleod 72), Bain, C Mackay, Bray, A Nicolson (Mackie 84) Subs (not used): All five used Scorers: none Booked: none Sent Off: none a

On the road again As Canned Heat once said, we're on the road again. It's our third Championship away day on the trot as we head for Somerset Park to take on one of the early pacesetters in Ayr United. Our last two league games went well, but a drab Challenge Cup tortuous affair against Brechin City has taken the gloss of those league performances. Kick-off is at 3:00pm across the Championship this weekend and victory for Inverness on Saturday would put us level with the Honest Men on fourteen points. On the other hand, defeat would leave us trailing the leaders by six points. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MATCH/TICKET INFO SUPPORTERS BUS 07462 218717 £20 Venue H2H v Ayr United Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 22 10 10 2 36 22 +14 Away 23 10 6 7 44 30 +14 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 45 20 16 9 80 52 +28 Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Ayr United 2 - 2 (A) 1 - 2 (H) 2 - 2 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 2 - 2 (H) 2 - 0 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 0 - 1 (A) 2 - 0 (H) 2 - 0 (A) Fairly even last season but our overall Head2Head v Ayr shows that we hold the Indian sign over them, although it's much closer at Somerset Park. Biggest Victories (click on scores to see reports) Apr 24th, 2010 League (A) 7 - 0 Heaviest Defeats Nov 28th, 2001 League Cup (Quarter Final) (A) 1 - 5 Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts 1. Partick Thistle 7 4 2 1 16 10 14 2. Ayr United 7 4 2 1 14 10 14 3. Queens Park 7 4 1 2 12 11 13 4. Inverness CT 7 3 2 2 11 9 11 5. Dundee 7 3 1 3 13 11 10 6. Raith Rovers 7 3 0 4 8 10 9 7. Morton 7 2 2 3 6 7 8 8. Hamilton Ac. 7 1 4 2 7 10 7 9. Cove Rangers 7 1 2 4 9 13 5 10. Arbroath 7 1 2 4 5 10 5 SATURDAY 1ST OCTOBER Ayr United v Inverness Cove v Arbroath Accies v Dundee Partick v Morton Queens v Rovers Last Time Out Last league game for Inverness was a satisfying 2-3 win at Dens Park after coming from behind. Cammy Harper was the hero with a couple of sublime left foot strikes from distance and Billy Mckay from the spot just before the interval. Coming off the back of a 0-2 win at Starks Park, eyebrows were raised slightly, but a thoroughly deflating Challenge Cup draw with Brechin City has brought us back down to earth with a bang. Still, we did go through on penalties so that was a bonus. Ayr United's last league game saw them lose 3-2 to Raith Rovers, going down to a late goal after Brad Young and Andy Murdoch had tied the score at two apiece. That was a disappointing result for Lee Bullen's men after they had just beaten Morton, Dundee and Cove Rangers in the previous three games. Last week Morton gained some revenge by knocking Ayr out of the Challenge cup after a 1-1 draw and a penalty shoot-out. Latest Team News We still have a handful of players out injured, mainly Sutherland, Walsh, Welsh, MacGregor, Samuels............ Max Ram returned against Brechin City and played for an hour, coming through unscathed but is not 100% fit. Four or five were also rested last week and I would expect to see Billy Mckay, Mark Ridgers and David Carson back in the starting XI. Straight from the horses mouth, here's Billy Eric has written a book about Ayr (also available in hardback ) Useless facts; of the Championship teams, Ayr United have the largest squad at 28, the lowest average age of 22.7 years and the highest percentage of foreign players 39.3% (11 players). With manager Lee Bullen arriving halfway through last season there were, at my count, 33 players that went through the books as he sought to avoid the relegation zone. Who knew The last tranche of players to leave Somerset Park were. Mateusz Miller a young keeper has joined East Kilbride reserves. From the backs gone are Jack Baird off to Morton, Aaron Muirhead on a free to Partick, James Maxwell loan period from Rangers concluded and Blaine Rowe another loan player returned to parent club Coventry City. Midfield player Alex Kenyon is now with Chester FC and Kerr McInroy back to Celtic after loan. Front man Tomi Adeloye departed to Swindon Town and left winger Ryan Gondoh is now at Sevenoaks FC. Drafted into the Ayr squad at the start of this season: A pair of centre backs, Frankie Musonda who was at Raith Rovers the last couple of seasons and Alex Kirk on loan from Arsenal U21, he was also in youth and U18 squads. In the middle of the park there are a number of additions. David Bangala defensive midfield arrives from Latvian side FK Pohronie, spent formative years with French sides. Central midfielder Ben Dempsey has made his move to Ayr after a short loan there last season. Carter Jenkins has been promoted to the first team squad from the U18 set up, another defensive midfielder. Josh Mullin is on loan from Livingston and was at Hamilton last season. Attacking midfield player Jayden Mitchell-Lawson signed from Swindon Town was a product of the Derby youth system. On the right-wing Dario Viviani is another player stepping up from Ayr U18s. Dipo Akinyemi is a centre forward brought in from Welling United, he is a man of many clubs in the National League South, 6th tier of English football. Having come through the Aston Villa youth teams Brad Young is a centre forward on loan for the season.

Is the Pendulum Swinging... It's been a long time since Raith became the dominant force in these encounters, but given our less than impressive recent form, it looks like the pendulum will be swinging the other way very soon. Already bowing down to the likes of Arbroath, Morton, Hamilton etc, we need to get our house in order on and off the park and show the desire, passion and commitment to compete at this level. Failure will have massive repercussions which could well signal the demise of the Caley Jags as we know them. Raith Rovers will host Inverness on Saturday with a 3:00pm kick-off. MATCH INFO/TICKETS/SUPPORTERS TRAVEL Venue Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 19 13 4 2 37 14 +23 Away 15 8 4 3 30 19 +11 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 34 21 8 5 67 33 +34 Last 10 Competitive Meetings 3 - 2 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 0 - 0 (H) 1 - 1 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 1 - 0 (A) 0 - 0 (H) 2 - 0 (H) 3 - 3 (A) 4 - 1 (H) Biggest Victories Jan 12th, 2002 League (H) 5 - 0 Heaviest Defeats Aug 26th, 2000 League (A) 1 - 4 Last League game We slumped to defeat at home to Morton, another side we became accustomed to beating regularly. A Gillespie penalty undoing us in another lack lustre performance, hot on the heels of the 4-1 drubbing at Firhill. Rovers lost out to Partick Thistle 2-1 at Firhill. Tiffoney and Lawless put Partick two ahead but Ethan Ross replied immediately just before the break. That's how it finished. That leaves Rovers one point above Inverness Games this Saturday Arbroath v Partick Cove v Accies Dundee v Queen's Morton v Ayr Utd Raith Rovers v Inverness CT Latest Team News Add Roddy MacGregor to the injury list after the Motherwell game, but George Oakley will rejoin the squad after being suspended in midweek. Usual suspects still out and two or three still carrying injuries. Eric's Stark Revelations Raith have a managerial change since last season with John McGlynn moving to Falkirk, his replacement is Ian Murray who joins after his contract expired at Ardrieonians. The defenders who have left Stark's Park are Kyle Benedictus to Dunfermline, Frankie Musonda now at Ayr United, David Mackay left to join Q.O.S. and Reghan Tumulty transferred to Hartlepool Utd. In addition Seam Mackie's loan spell ended while Greig Young has been sent out on loan to Elgin City. Finally at the age of 37 veteran Christophe Berra has retired. Midfielder Ben Williamson has been recalled to Rangers after his loan Of last seasons forwards Matej Poplatnik loan from Livingston ended and Ethon Varian who was on loan from Stoke U21 is now with Irish side Bohemians. New arrivals at Stark's Park. A fourth goalkeeper has been added to the squad in Andy McNeil from Berwick Rangers. Ryan Nolan an Irish born centre back saw his development with Inter U17 & U19 in Italy and came on a transfer via Northampton Town. Another centre back Connor O'Riordan is on loan from Crewe Alexandra. On loan from Aberdeen FC B is left back Kieran Ngwenya and at right back is Ross Millen transfer from Scunthorpe Utd previously with numerous Scottish clubs such as Dunfermline, Queens Park, Kilmarnock and Clyde FC. Scott Brown a central midfield player joins from Peterhead FC. Up front centre forward Kyle Connell is on loan from Kilmarnock. Long term injuries for Raith are. Tom Lang centre back, cruciate ligament surgery Ross Mathews midfield, sore toe Brad Spencer midfield, foot surgery Lewis Vaughan forward, cruciate ligament rupture. Cheers Eck. Breaking News Due to our inability to hit the target recently, new goalposts have been installed at the Caledonian Stadium to give us a better chance of scoring. A club spokesperson has said "we can't hit a coo in the arse with a banjo, so this should help us to improve our goals scored".

The winner for this season voted for by you is Shane Sutherland. Shane started well at the start of the season and picked up points throughout the season coming on to his best form in March, April and the start of May before being injured in the away game at Arbroath. A well deserved winner and hopefully he will make a good recovery from the serious injury picked up at Gayfield. However, early indications are that Shane will be out long term. Congratulations on winning this trophy which was held for the last two seasons by runner up David Carson and a speedy recovery Shane. Full Name: Shane Sutherland Born: October 23rd, 1990 (Wick) Height: 1.82 Position: Striker or inside forward Signed: July 1st, 2020 First Manager: John Robertson Left Club: May 31st, 2021 Career Stats: 162 appearances, 21 goals Debut (as sub): August 1st, 2009 - Inverness CT 4 - 0 Annan Athletic (League Cup - Rd 1) Full Debut: September 22nd, 2010 - Celtic 6 - 0 Inverness CT (League Cup - Rd 3) First Goal: March 5th, 2011 - Inverness CT 3 - 0 Motherwell (League - ) Also Played For: Elgin City, Peterhead Shane's Bio. Signed From: ICT U-19s Date Signed: July 2009 A young player who has come through the ranks and began to show excellent form last season. He made his 50th appearance for the club in the away fixture against Hearts at Tynecastle at the end of November 2011 and scored his first goal of the season against the same side on 21st January 2012 in Inverness. A very pacy and strong forward he will be looking to make a lot more appearances in the starting line-up this season. When given the opportunity, he has a lethal shot which has seen him scoring some excellent goals, both at senior level and also junior level. A lot will be expected of Shane this season as he strives to be one of the main strikers at the club. Sutherland made his senior début for Elgin City in the Third Division on 23 January 2010, while on loan from Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He was released by Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the end of the 2012–13 season,and signed for Elgin City in July 2013. After two season with Elgin, Sutherland moved to Scottish League One side Peterhead in June 2015, signing a one-year contract. At the end of his contract Sutherland returned to Borough Briggs for his third spell with Elgin. In January 2019 he returned to Peterhead. On 16 January 2020, Elgin announced that Sutherland would be leaving at the conclusion of the 2019–20 season to rejoin his first club, Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he is now a regular starter. At the end of season 20/21 having scored six goals Shane signed a one year contract extension. Shane has now gone on to make 162 appearances for the Caley Jags scoring 21 goals in total and 12 this season which included a vital one against Partick Thistle in the pay-off 1/4 final. Unfortunately he has suffered a serious knee injury in a play off game at Gayfield and will be out long term into season 22/23. Player of the Year Winner with 57 points Shane Sutherland Second with 40 points David Carson Third with 39 points Mark Ridgers Fourth equal with 38 points Billy Mckay and Roddy MacGregor Sixth with 36 points Scott Allardice Monthly Winners July Shane Sutherland August Roddy MacGregor September Michael Gardyne October Michael Gardyne/Roddy MacGregor November Billy Mackay December Scott Allardice January Mark Ridgers February Sam Pearson March Shane Sutherland April Shane Sutherland May Austin Samuels The highest number of votes in a game is Reece McAlear for his great finish from Austin Samuels cross and his stunning free kick in the home playoff against St Johnstone. The worst referee by far this season is Willie Collum for his disaster of a performance in the Arbroath away playoff game. Thank you again for all your votes throughout the season. Indebted to IBM and ictEWD. These guys have been working tirelessly in the background updating stats, adding current stats/results and new information to this site and keeping the voting polls going. Along with that Eric has produced a working master spreadsheet and Iain has collated all the votes over the last two seasons to come up with the Player of the Year once more. An onerous task all round but one carried out with due diligence.

Looking promising Inverness took a massive step towards a play off place by defeating Dunfermline Athletic for the first time this season. An encouraging but goalless first half where Reece McAlear had hit the post was replaced by a two goal second half with chances at both ends. The deadlock was broken by a man who only scores screamers. Reece McAlear lashed the ball across the keeper and into the top right corner of the goal from a difficult position wide on the inside right area. What a strike that was but it only woke the Pars up from their lethargy and they had three or four great opportunities before substitute Austin Samuels sealed the points after he sprinted on to a through ball from Aaron Doran to slot neatly behind Mehmet in goal. Comfortable thereafter for the remainder of the game and an excellent three points to strengthen our hold on third place with Raith, Arbroath and Partick all dropping points. Inverness were thin on the bench with Scott Allardice and Roddy Macgregor out longer term and Danny Devine, Joe Harper and Sam Pearson all missing. Dunfermline had Liam Polworth, Joe Chalmers and Col Donaldson starting with Nikolay Todorov on the bench. An enterprising start to the game in bright sunshine saw plenty of crisp passing in the opening gambit with only the telling pass missing. Denzil Mehmet was the first keeper called into serious action as he dived full length to keep out a low strike from Logan Chalmers on the left side of the box with the loose ball missing the strikers before being mopped up by the defence. You can see Denzil using anything to keep the ball out. Pic courtesy of CaleyJags.com. Inverness were buzzing around the visitors box with plenty of movement up front, creating a few half chances. Aaron Doran scooping one just wide on the volley and Chalmers flashing a thumping drive just over the bar from the edge of the box. Robbie Deas might have done better than lift a shot over the bar from ten yards as the hosts pressed for the opening goal and Doran again shot wide after good battling down the right touchline by Carson and Sutherland. Reece McAlear almost scored with a spectacular curling free kick from the left of centre, his right foot shot coming back off the top of the post with Mehmet beaten; the ball bouncing back into the keepers arms after cannoning off a defender. He would do better in the second half, and what a strike it was. HALF TIME: 0-0 Just before the hour, Inverness scored a contender for goal of the season. Sean Welsh's free kick came back off the wall some 28 yards from goal. Without breaking stride, McAlear turned onto the ball and fired an absolute rocket across the stunned keeper into the opposite side of the net. Mehmet rooted to the spot like a subbuteo keeper waiting for the strike. Boom! What a goal from Reece, his third or fourth contender of the season. That sparked Dunfermline into life and Cammy Mackay did brilliantly to deny Dow and Todorov with point blank saves to keep Inverness ahead. It was bodies on the line time as the defenders guarded their keeper well and the Pars would rue those missed opportunities. Substitute Austin Samuels scored his first goal for the club just after coming on. His first kick of the ball saw him slot home after he had played a one-two with Doran who threaded the ball through for Samuels to run on and steer the ball behind the outrushing Mehmet. That goal took the sting out of the Pars and their discipline disintegrated, Donaldson in particular not enjoying his return to the Caledonian Stadium. How does it feel Austin?................ It feels good! Tom Walsh almost benefited from a defensive lapse as he struck a sweet shot from twenty yards in injury time, but it just curled the wrong side of the post with Mehmet beaten. FULL TIME: 2-0 Great three points for the Caley Jags who have now won their last three in a row and are in prime spot for a shot at the play-offs. Reece McAlear was MotM, even if it was just for his superb goal, but his overall performance was solid and he was unlucky with his free kick that crashed back off the post. Great contribution from Cammy Mackay who stayed alert to deny the Pars after we opened the scoring and well done to Wallace Duffy at centre back who never looked out of place and strolled through the game nullifying some dangerous forwards. No failures today and a decent performance to boot. Reece the Thunderblaster... Date: 26/03/2022 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2172 Referee: Graham Beaton Inverness CT: 2 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: C Mackay; Carson, Duffy, Broadfoot, Deas, Doran (Walsh 81), Welsh, McAlear, Sutherland, Chalmers (Harper 67), B Mckay (Samuels 76) Subs (not used): Ridgers; Hyde Scorers: McAlear (58), Samuels (77) Booked: Samuels (83) Sent Off: none Dunfermline: 0 Manager: John Hughes Lineup: Mehmet; Todd (Comrie 79), Donaldson, Ambrose (Cole 79), Edwards, Polworth (Todorov 63), Pybus, Chalmers, Lawless (Kamwa 59), Thomas (Dow 63), O'Hara Subs (not used): Archibald; Allan, Breen, Martin Scorers: none Booked: Donaldson (83), Pybus (90+1) Sent Off: none a

Table Toppers League leaders Kilmarnock looked determined to spoil the game as a spectacle and it was a first half of few chances. Mckay having a shot blocked for a corner by Hemming and Ridgers denying McKenzie. However, chances were at a premium and the half ended goalless. The goal that settled the game was a stunning strike from captain Sean Welsh and no more than Inverness deserved with Killie void of attacking intent. This result put Inverness back on top of the table for now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Neither club are on the best run of form at the moment but nonetheless they are still in the congested top five in the Championship, with Killie just one point ahead of the Caley Jags at the head of the table. Could Inverness hit the top tonight or will Killie stamp their authority on the race for promotion. All to play for at the Caledonian Stadium in a Friday night TV spectacular. Inverness would wear black armbands as a tribute to assistant coach Barry Wilson's mum, Jessie, who sadly passed away this week. Oh how she would have loved to have seen how this match would play out and a goal fit to grace a tribute to a wonderful lady. RIP Jessie and heartfelt condolences to Bobby, Barry and family from the Caley Jags Family Both sides were at or very near to full strength with Billy Mckay and Shane Sutherland up top for Inverness and Kilmarnock had Liam Polworth in midfield for them with Chris Burke and Ollie Shaw in attack. A cagey opening quarter saw Inverness take the game to the visitors without being able to create anything of note, that was until the 14th minute when Roddy MacGregor fed Billy Mckay through on the inside left position, but his shot was blocked by the legs of Zach Hemming at the expense of a corner, which came to nothing. McKenzie brought out a good save from Mark Ridgers as his low curling shot was heading to the bottom corner as it skidded off the wet surface, the ball going behind for a corner. Inverness almost took the lead just before the half hour after Sean Welsh was blocked and the ball fell nicely for Sutherland. Unfortunately he placed his curled effort just off target and it hit the stanchion of the netting. Ten minutes before the break Aaron Doran found himself in space after cutting in from the left but he fired high and wide. Five minutes before the break and Doran never learned from his previous abysmal effort and he fired another effort well over the bar from thirty yards. Right on the break, Burke fired across the goal from the edge of the box and just wide to bring a dour first half to a close. That would have been an injustice on Inverness who had dominated the first forty-five. Half Time: 0-0 A livelier start to the second half saw Hemming tip away a deep cross and when Killie broke forward Ridgers had to gather a low shot from Lyons. A mix up in the Inverness box allowed Ollie Shaw a free hit but he sliced it wide from ten yards. Not quite the melee from the Morton game, but still something we need to cut out. Almost out of nothing, Inverness took the lead with a stunning strike into the top corner. Allardice did well to keep the ball and when Welsh got it outside the box he sidestepped a challenge before rifling the ball into the roof of the net from twenty-five yards. What a strike, and on the telly too! Almost a second minutes later but Tom Walsh scuffed his shot from twelve yards and Hemming made the save at full stretch, and with ten minutes left Robbie Deas fired a powerful shot just over from twenty-five yards. Full Time: 1-0 Inverness saw out the game with little fuss and kept Killie penned in their own half at the final whistle. This result puts Inverness back on the top of the table, maybe just for one day, but it was a thoroughly deserved win and the second win over Killie this season. There's him... Sean Welsh. Centre Back on Tuesday night against Raith Rovers in the Challenge Cup, Striker on Friday night in the top of the table clash with Kilmarnock and scoring a stunning winner from twenty-five yards into the top corner. That was his 13th goal for the Caley Jags. No doubt he will be back to being just another midfielder when we travel to Cappielow in midweek for a Scottish Cup replay against Morton, but what a guy. Here's our Bio for Sean: Sean started his career at Hibs and excelled in the U19 team, captaining them to a league and cup double in 2008/09 and being awarded the League Player of the Season that year but a series of injuries including a double leg-break limited his first team chances. He went on loan to Stenhousemuir and then Stirling Albion in the 2010/11 season but agreed a one year deal extension with Hibs in the interim. In July 2011 he was injured in a training session after being punched by a team-mate and required surgery to repair a broken cheekbone He made a further 8 appearances on the subs bench but did not feature on the park. A loan spell at Partick followed in early 2012 and when he was released from his contract at the end of the season he signed a two year deal with Partick. Welsh was an integral part of the 2012/13 First division championship winning side and was handed the Partick captaincy for their return to the Premiership ahead of the 2013/14 season. Once again injury hampered his season (knee) and he was limited to only 3 appearances. In 2015/16 and 2016/17 he had a total of 64 appearances scoring 6 goals. He left Partick when his contract expired. Sean was out of the game for almost 8 months before signing on a short-term deal with Falkirk during the 2017/18 season. At the end of the season he left Falkirk and signed for Caley Thistle. He scored his first goal for the club, a 48th minute penalty against Alloa in a League match at the Caledonian Stadium on August 25th 2018. Rrripper.......Booooom! Doddsy Delight Date: 03/12/2021 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2296 Referee: Nick Walsh Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Broadfoot, Devine, Deas, Doran (Harper 75), Welsh, Allardice, MacGregor (Walsh 62), Sutherland, B Mckay (McAlear 85) Subs (not used): C Mackay; McDonald, Jamieson Scorers: Welsh (69) Booked: Welsh (87) Sent Off: none Kilmarnock: 0 Manager: Tommy Wright Lineup: Hemming; Hodson, McGowan, E Murray, Waters, Lyons, Polworth (Alston 71), McKenzie (F Murray 71), Burke, Shaw, Robinson (Burrell 79) Subs (not used): Walker; Sanders, Stokes, Armstrong Scorers: none Booked: McKenzie (42) Sent Off: none a

The run goes on Partick Thistle came North with high hopes of ending Inverness' great start to the campaign in the knowledge that they have been scoring at the rate of three goals per game apart from Arbroath where they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Red Lichties. Billy Dodds had food for thought after the cup win over Buckie last week where Billy Mckay and Lewis Jamieson staked their claims for a start after scoring performances over the Highland League side. They started on the bench as he went with the tried and tested so far this season. Ian McCall had old enemy Brian Graham up front with Zac Rudden on the bench and watch out for defender Tunji Akinola who packs a punch with his feet. After a difficult first half, Inverness ran out comfortable winners against Partick Thistle in a second half goal blitz. The visitors dominated the first forty-five and Scott Tiffoney drilled the opener out of nothing as the defence backed off. Manny Duku was denied by a combination of keeper and post but it was Partick that should have scored a second, however Mark Ridgers did well to deny Brian Graham. Harsh talking at the break saw Inverness come out for the second half with the bit between the teeth and Kirk Broadfoot was the unlikely hero as his twenty yard shot evaded the outstretched fingertips of the keeper to level the score. Shane Sutherland did well to drill in the second from an angle after the keeper fluffed his lines allowing Shane to slot in from twenty yards. The third was a peach as Duku stepped over the ball and Aaron Doran fired high into the net for a brilliant goal and game over. That's five wins out of five and the run goes on... Doran with the pick of the goals... Perennial cheat Brian Graham seemed to be involved in an off the ball altercation which left David Carson enraged. He was removed from the park by McCall immediately after. It's about time this thug in a football strip was taken to task. Resident seer Immortal Howden Ender never saw that second half coming... O2B back home. So nice to quaff in the Innes and take my place in the North Stand. What a wonderful day or what a wonderful 45 minutes. As usual I may be brutally direct with my comments BUT we are definitely going in the right direction!! First half was a mare but the eejit McCall decided to defend what they had and did not go for our throat. We were looking all at sea for a while but we were given the chance to get back the control and although the rest of the first half was poor we had gone onto the front foot and never really looked troubled after going a goal down and we morphed into the Kilmarnock system. This was the absolute epitome of a tale of two halves. And it started with a Kirk Broadfoot attack and a drive that went in like a slow motion camera take. But that started a complete control over the proceedings. And so enjoyable to watch and to relax. We went into complete control and it could have been 6 or 7. When was the last time that you heard Ole shouts for 18 consecutive ICT passes. My return home will live forever in the memory. RIDGERS ¥¥¥ Possibly at fault for the goal but assured and rarely troubled. CARSON ¥¥¥ Solid - but sorry - a reliable shoe in but not a wing back. BROADFOOT ¥¥¥¥ Caught out by pace for the goal but untroubled and leading thereafter. Goal brought on the total change in proceedings DEVINE ¥¥¥¥ As good a player as the first time round but minus the lapses in concentration. Building a fine central defensive partnership DEAS ¥¥¥ Another solid performance and keeping Harper at bay. Gives us future options though WALSH ¥¥¥ Has not produced his best and is in danger of benching but again is some player to call on. ALLARDICE ¥¥¥ Jeez does he blow hot and cold but the central midfield warrior that we have lacked. MacGREGOR ¥¥¥ Disappointed after his Killie display but he is a Christie in the making. DORAN ¥¥¥¥ Played out wide in the first half and simply does not have the pace anymore BUT bringing him more central and drifting may have been the tactic to win us the game- and what a sweet strike SUTHERLAND ¥¥¥¥¥ May not be everybody’s cup of vodka but he was the man who shone in BOTH halves. May not be polished but his drive and commitment - and his goal- elevated him above everybody else on the day. DUKU ¥¥¥ Improved in the second half but I am still not convinced. Anyone care to join me in a few “Doddsie” From CTO: RIG Stunning turnaround. Absolutely stunning. Probably the first game this season we have actually gotten out of second gear and we ended up tearing Partick apart. First half was pretty even although Partick had the best chances with the Tiffoney strike and the Graham sitter. Carson seemed well out of position for the opener and Broadfoot and Devine didn't really handle the situation well either but after Ridgers stood up well to deny Graham and we got to half time at 0 - 1 you still felt if we got an early goal then we might go on to get something. And we absolutely did that and then some. The second half performance was just sublime. I can see why Partick felt they could let Broadfoot rumble forward for about 40 yards unchallenged as I don't think anyone in the ground expected him to find the bottom corner with a trundling effort but it's what he did and we again benefitted from another goalkeeping cock up when Sneddon forgot to grab the ball and Sutherland finished well from a narrowing angle. The best was the third with a lovely dummy from Duku and a cracking whipped shot from Doran to complete the turnaround. A utterly fantastic performance! What a shame that less than 2,000 ICT fans were there to see it. Maybe some are concerned with COVID and staying away (and that's fine) but if you know anyone who isn't going along to the stadium on match days then do your best to get them to come along because we have a real shot here at going up. It's probably as strong a squad as we've had in seasons (Billy Mckay on the bench not getting a game FFS!) and when we get going we are playing some excellent stuff. Bring on Dunfermline away! Doddsy Date: 11/09/2021 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2148 Referee: Euan Anderson Inverness CT: 3 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Boadfoot, Devine, Deas, Doran, Allardice, MacGregor (Welsh 79), Walsh (Harper 74), Sutherland, Duku (McAlear 83) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Duffy, Mckay, Jamieson Scorers: Broadfoot (51), Sutherland (68), Doran (71) Booked: Deas (45+2) Sent Off: none Partick Thistle: 1 Manager: Ian McCall Lineup: Sneddon; Foster, Holt, Mayo, Akinola, Tiffoney, Bannigan, Turner (Hastie 69), Docherty, Smith (Rudden 69), Graham (McIver 79), Subs (not used): Stone; MacIver, Gordon, McKenna, Murray Scorers: Tiffoney (17) Booked: Bannigan (55) Docherty (70) Sent Off: none a

DEE DAY. There's no going back now, Dee Day is upon us and it's virtually win or bust as Dundee visit the Caledonian Stadium at 7:00pm on Tuesday evening for a crunch game. With Dunfermline picking up more crucial points since their thrashing at Raith they now have two very winnable games coming up over Arbroath and Alloa whilst we face Dundee, arguably the best squad of individuals in the Championship, followed by the best team in promoted Hearts away, then a tough final game against relegation threatened Ayr United. Of course, three wins for Inverness will suffice for a play off place, but that's a monumental task given our opponents. Streaming Info Official Preview We missed out on a second Premiership scalp in the Scottish Cup at the start of the weekend going down to a very late goal from Marcus Fraser that took the gloss of a superb team performance as we went toe to toe with St Mitten in a highly entertaining tussle. Nikolay Todorov scored his eleventh of the season but Kristian Dennis levelled immediately to keep the game on a knife edge right up until the 90th minute when Fraser tapped in the winner. Ach well, it was a fun distraction while it lasted but the main course will be served when Dundee visit. Toddy: 6th goal in last five games Whilst we were on Cup duty, Dunfermline leapfrogged us into fourth place with a 3-1 win over Queen of the South. They are now in prime position for the play offs but it is still in our own hands at the moment, although looking more likely that we will need to win all of our remaining games to do this. That leaves the table looking like this ahead of Tuesday night's games: Inverness CT v Dundee, Morton v Hearts SPFL Championship League Table Pld W D L F A +/- Pts 1. Hearts 24 15 5 4 56 24 32 50 2. Raith Rovers 25 12 7 6 44 30 14 43 3. Dundee 24 10 8 6 44 38 6 38 4. Dunfermline 25 9 9 7 34 30 4 36 5. Inverness CT 24 8 10 6 33 25 8 34 6. Queen of the South 25 9 4 12 38 49 -11 31 7. Arbroath 25 7 8 10 25 30 -5 29 8. Ayr United 25 6 9 10 29 35 -6 27 9. Morton 24 6 8 10 21 32 -11 26 10. Alloa Athletic 25 4 6 15 28 59 -31 18 Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Dundee ------ Dundee last six League games -> DDWWWL 1 - 2 (A) 2 - 2 (H) 2 - 0 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 0 - 0 (A) 0 - 1 (A) 0 - 1 (H) 2 - 2 (A) 2 - 0 (A) 2 - 2 (H) Of the two games played this season, the first ended in a 2-2 draw in the Highlands in front of a covid restricted crowd of 300 on 12th December. Dee grabbed a late point after a pulsating game at the Caledonian Stadium ended all square. Liam Fontaine opened the scoring just before the interval reacting quickest to a rebound from the crossbar. Robbie Deas deservedly equalised with twenty minutes left and James Keatings put the hosts ahead three minutes later only for Jordan McGhee to peg us back again eight minutes from the end. The return fixture at Dens Park resulted in a 2-1 victory for the hosts. It was too little too late and Dundee manager Jake McPake looked to have tightened his shoogely peg as first half goals from Max Anderson and Jason Cummings put Dundee in at the break two up. Inverness were out of sorts in a poor first forty-five. Nikolay Todorov pulled a goal back with fifteen minutes left heading home a Cammy Harper cross. Inverness mounted a mini-comeback but fell just short as Dundee held on for all three points. We have a decent record in the Highlands against Dundee, the only loss being a Scottish Cup replay in 2018 after a 2-2 draw at Dens Park. However, this is a different beast now and it's points that make prizes. With Dunfermline gathering points, it's still all in the balance. Venue (All competitions) Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 15 7 7 1 26 14 +12 Away 19 6 8 5 25 23 +2 Neutral 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2 Total 36 13 15 8 53 41 +12 ***Latest Team News*** James Keatings and birthday boy Wallace Duffy missed the visit to Paisley. I wonder if we have seen the last of the departing Keatings or is his injury prone career going to travel with him. Under fire McPake seems to have managed to resurrect his managerial career and has turned a mediocre season into a possible promotion one. Dundee have probably the best squad of individuals and McPake is slowly getting the best out of them at the right time. Cummings, Sow, McMullan, Adams, are all quality players who can hurt you. McMullan in particular has been a thorn in our side over the last couple of seasons, and all can score goals. Defender Jordon Forstor has left the club. Left back Jordan Marshall will miss out through injury and this game could also come too soon for Paul McGowan and Max Anderson. Cammy Kerr will likely continue to cover at left back.

Jings, Inverness Squeeze Through This long overdue Scottish Cup encounter went ahead after a nine week delay and it was Inverness that squeezed into the next round after Daniel Mackay scored the winner with five minutes left. James Keatings got the opener in 35 seconds but Jack Murray deservedly headed Buckie level fifteen minutes in. A shot from distance by Sean Welsh restored the visitors advantage but a final flurry of activity saw Callum Murray equalise only for Dan to score two minutes later. Credit to Buckie for making this difficult for the youthful Inverness side and a trip to Dingwall beckons. It could have been worse; just look at the result from Brora where Hearts were dumped out of the cup 2-1 at Dudgeon Park. Now that's a result and that's what the cup is all about. Memories are made of this! This was the first competitive meeting between these sides and it came at the end of a three month lay-off for Buckie Thistle due to the weather and coronavirus restrictions. Buckie's last competitive game was the 3-0 success over Albion Rovers on Boxing day in the first round of the Scottish Cup. Inverness were more prepared for this and were starting to put some decent results on the board with successive away wins at Starks Park and East End Park in the Championship. This game was twice frozen off before the Scottish Cup was put on hold. Unfortunately covid restrictions denied Buckie a night of drama at Victoria Park with no fans allowed in the ground. Live streaming was available from Buckie TV. Buckie's manager is former Caley Thistle midfielder Graeme Stewart who played under John Robertson back in 99/2003 making 38 appearances and scoring twice. His assistant is another former young Caley Jag, Lewis MacKinnon. Great incentive for these guys to put on a performance against their former employers. There were rare starts for a number of Caley Jags players with Cammy Mackay in goal, Harry Nicolson at right back and Ryan Fyffe in defence. Miles Storey also started after being a sub in the last couple on return from injury. Loan Ranger Arron Lyall went straight into the squad and was on the bench with Kane Davies and Ali Riddle. Buckie assistant Lewis MacKinnon was in the starting XI for the hosts. A cold blustery night in Buckie met the sides as Inverness kicked off and James Keatings had the ball into the net in 35 seconds. He turned on a ball around the penalty spot and curled it low into the keepers right. A loose pass out along the back offered a snippet of a chance for Buckie but the ball was stopped en route to goal and the chance lost. Big shout for a penalty after some lively forward play by Buckie with Sam Urquhart prominent down the left but referee Steven Reid was not interested. Jack Murray levelled the game deservedly after a corner went across the face of the box. Lewis MacKinnon retrieved it and returned it onto the head of big Jack who powered his header into the net. Sean Welsh restored the visitors advantage when he drove a powerful shot beyond the reach of keeper Bell from around twenty-five yards. Sam Urquhart was lively and Cammy Mackay was forced into action as he saved his twenty yard shot low down. Good response from Buckie around the half hour. A Keatings free kick was put into the net from close range but the whistle had gone for offside or an infringement. Sam Urquhart again caused problems down the left and his low cross was palmed away by Cammy Mackay but no takers for the loose ball that ran away from everyone. Big Jack was turning players inside out on the right wing like Ronaldo as we struggled to impose ourselves on proceedings. Play was a bit fragmented up to half time but no further scoring before the break. Half Time: 1-2 A quick start to the second half saw Miles Storey try to get a couple of crosses in from the left as we looked to get off to another flyer. However not enough interest shown inside the home box. The blustery conditions were making silky football impossible as most balls were being overhit. An untidy passage of play was interrupted when a deep cross was headed into the side net by Kevin Fraser at the back post. A warning for Inverness to up their game. Cameron Harper made his return from injury fifteen minutes into the second half, replacing Kevin McHattie who looked injured. More scrappy play was once more interrupted by a fierce shot from MacLauchlan that fizzed over the bar from the angle of the 18 yard box. It was the hosts that were looking more likely to score the next goal and from a corner, Cammy Mackay flapped at the ball before a defender hoofed it clear. Lewis MacKinnon went off injured and Inverness sent a couple of efforts well over the bar. A bit of a scramble in the visitors box resulted in a corner and an even bigger scramble before the whistle brought some respite to the defence. Storey broke into the box on the left but went wide and the keeper saved his stabbed effort well as Inverness pushed for the clincher and a free kick from the left was missed by everybody in the box when a touch would have resulted in a goal. Substitute Callum Murray equalised after some sloppy defending allowed Murray to burst into the box and finish well. However a couple of minutes later we went back in front with only five minutes left on the clock when Dan Mackay knocked a loose ball home from ten yards. Credit to Buckie and they went back up the park and a ball across the face of the goal saw no takers. Arron Lyall made his debut in injury time as the clock ran down and time just ran away from Buckie as Inverness edged a five goal cup-tie. Full Time 2-3 So it's Inverness that head to Dingwall in the next round after they were given a stern test by Buckie Thistle who will be delighted to be back on the park performing again. Well done to Buckie and Highland derby here we come! Sam Urquhart was my pick for MotM as he posed problems all night wide on the left. Jack Murray and Max Barry supported well, in fact considering the lack of game time recently, they were all brilliant. Good job by Spider who will be delighted by his teams performance on a difficult night for football. Here's Neil post match Date: 23/03/2021 Venue: Victoria Park, Buckie Attendance: 0000 Referee: Steven Reid Buckie Thistle: 2 Manager: Graeme Stewart Lineup: Bell, Munro, MacKinnon (Morrison 69), J Murray, McGlauchlan, Cowie, Pugh, Barry, Fraser, Urquhart, McLeod(C Murray 75) Subs (not used): Herbert; Wood, Goodall, Davidson, Scorers: J Murray (15), C Murray (84) Booked: Macleod (35) J Murray (90+1) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 3 Manager: Neil McCann (temporary) Lineup: C Mackay; Nicolson, Deas, McHattie (Harper 60), D Mackay (Lyall 90+2), Welsh, Allardice, MacGregor, Fyffe, Keatings (Sutherland 75), Storey Subs (not used): Ridgers; Riddle, Davies, Scorers: Keatings (35 secs), Welsh (27), D Mackay (86) Booked: MacGregor (83) Sent Off: none a

Abysmal, a new low! A stormy evening saw no goals at the break. Todorov came closest when he hit the post just before the interval. Could it get worse? The answer was yes when Aidan Nesbitt drilled a low shot into the net from the edge of the box with Inverness unable to make any headway. With twenty minutes left you could see the game slowly drifting away from the hosts. Sutherland hit the woodwork again and Todorov's follow up 'goal' was ruled out. Morton came North on the back of a poor run of form to meet a side with similar problems, hence both sides are languishing perilously close to the foot of the league. Something was going to give. Neil McCann was still looking for his first win in the Caley Jags dugout in this his fourth game in temporary control. He was without Miles Storey and Cameron Harper with Kevin McHattie making the bench alongside Aaron Doran. No sign of Storey or Lewis Toshney. The visitors were without defender Lewis Strapp, Robbie Muirhead and striker Kalvin Orsi. Anton McElhone shook his squad around but somewhat surprisingly Aidan Nesbitt was in the starting XI. A bitterly cold night saw the sides emerge to a stiff breeze with Morton shooting towards the Kessock Bridge end. And they were first to probe into the box when Sterling slipped past Brad Mckay but the defence mopped up. Sterling's pace looks like it will cause problems and he forced Mark Ridgers into a comfortable save in the early exchanges. A tentative opening quarter to the game saw the keepers underworked at either end of the park. Petty fouls and misplaced passes were the order of the day but Inverness were fortunate when Morton broke on the left but Sterling's header was glanced wide as the rain started to fall. Poor decision making saw most moves break down in the final third as the hosts probed for an opening with half an hour gone. The weather was not helping but it was easy to see how both sides were struggling in a stop start game. Ten minutes before the break a long ball forward by Sutherland found Roddy Macgregor chasing into the box and McAdams was brought into action at last as he saved Roddy's low shot from the right side of the box. Poor keeper must have been frozen prior to that. Four minutes before the break Nikolay Todorov hit the top of the post from close range at the far side of the box after determined play by Keatings created an opening for the big striker who got his shot away at the second attempt. The same player earned a yellow just before the interval when a long ball into the box appeared to be handled by Toddy. As it was the ball bounced over the bar and Toddy was booked. Half Time: 0-0 The stiff breeze had grown into a blustery swirling mini storm with relentless driving rain as the teams came out for the second half. Ridgers was early into action as Nesbitt drilled a low shot goalwards after good work by Sterling but the keeper saved comfortably. Aaron Doran made a welcome return to match action after injury as he replaced Keatings ten minutes into the second half. The much maligned Aidan Nesbitt opened the scoring with a low shot from a similar position to his effort five minutes earlier, the ball drilled low behind Ridgers and against the run of play the visitors were ahead with the Caley Jags ball watching. Wallace Duffy forced a corner with a good burst down the right but it came to nothing, as did most of our feeble efforts. In truth we were struggling badly against a mediocre Morton side who almost doubled their advantage from a corner, but the ball was headed just over with Ridgers spectating. Allardice picked up his sixth booking of the season as we entered the final ten minutes and Deas followed him into the book. As desperation set in Sutherland rifled a low shot straight at the keeper from twenty yards with the game slipping away from us. We almost snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat as Sutherland cracked the ball off the bar and when Toddy followed up and headed into the net his 'goal was ruled offside. Meh! Full Time: 0-1 What a shitfest of a game and result. Absolutely hapless and at the moment we are deserving everything we are getting, and that is zilch. We really look jaded. Forget looking up the table, we need to concentrate on the bottom. This is pretty much a low point after 26 years of giving it a go More reaction to follow.... Date: 09/03/2021 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 0000 Referee: Gavin Ross Inverness CT: 0 Manager: Neil McCann (temporary) Lineup: Ridgers; Duffy, B Mckay, Devine, Deas, MacGregor, Carson (D Mackay 65), Allardice, Keatings (Doran 53), Sutherland, Todorov Subs (not used): Mackay; Nicolson, McHattie, Fyffe, Welsh Scorers: none Booked: B Mckay(38), Todorov (45+1), Carson (60) Allardice (81), Deas (83) Sent Off: none Morton: 1 Manager: Anton McElhone (interim) Lineup: McAdams; Ledger, Fjørtoft, McLean, McGinty, Jacobs, McGuffie, Colville (Omar 89), Lyon (Blues 84), Nesbitt (Salkeld 89), Sterling Subs (not used): Millar, Oliver, Johnson, Hynes Scorers: Nesbitt (56) Booked: Colville (27) Sent Off: none a

Ten man Ton grab a point An early goal from Sean McGinty was cancelled out in the fourth minute by a Shane Sutherland strike. Daniel Mackay put the visitors ahead after fifteen minutes. Morton were reduced to ten men with half an hour gone after Rabin Omar stopped a break forward and picked up a second yellow. That seemed to spur Morton on and they had a 'goal' chalked off for climbing ten minutes before the break. no surprise when Morton grabbed a share of the points when Cameron Blue knocked home after sterling work by Gary Oliver. No more scoring and a couple of points missed out on by Inverness against ten men for over half a game. After a prolonged break for various reasons, the Caley Jags played their first game since drawing with Dunfermline on 29th December 2020. The enforced lay-off meant that our match sharpness would be questioned by a Morton side that have played three games since then, drawing twice and losing their last outing at Palmerston. It was an early kick-off at Cappielow, 6:30pm with live streaming available from Morton TV. Miles Storey was one of the players who failed to make it and Brad Mckay was nowhere to be seen either. Daniel Mackay getting a rare start and Wallace Duffy returning to right back with Brad out. David Carson was on the bench along with regulars James Keatings, Nikolay Todorov and Roddy Macgregor. Anton McElhone had Orsi, Salkeld, Lyon and McAlister on the bench with McGuffie, Oliver and Omar stating tonight. The winter weather looked to have taken it's toll on the Cappielow turf, some areas looking heavy before a ball was kicked in earnest. We didn't have long to wait for the opening goal as Sean McGinty fired high into the net with only three minutes on the clock. The visitors replied immediately, if not sooner when Shane Sutherland slotted home a minute later. Daniel Mackay then put Inverness ahead with a fine finish after a through ball from Aaron Doran, easing round the keeper to score neatly. Disaster for Ton after twenty-eight minutes when Rabin Omar stopped Sutherland bursting forward in the middle of the park and picked up his second yellow card of the night. He was sent packing for his troubles. That seemed to inject some urgency into the hosts and from a corner Morton McGinty had the ball in the net again but climbing was deemed to have occurred and the Inverness defence breathed a sigh of relief. Robbie Deas saw a shot saved as the Caley Jags looked for a cushion before the break, and just before the interval it was Morton that were sighing as Inverness had a 'goal' ruled out as well. Half Time 1-2 No changes at the break and five minutes in Morton survived a penalty claim when it looked like an arm was used to bring the ball under control in the box. Referee Stuart saw it as accidental after a long hard look at the incident. With heavy drizzle dampening the occasion errors were always going to be a danger. A long throw in from Strapp was returned to him and he launched a fierce shot that fizzed over the bar. An Inverness corner caused some concern in the home box but it was scrambled clear by the defence before Sutherland found himself shooting from an offside position. Morton almost levelled from a set piece when a Nesbitt free kick to the back post was knocked back almost onto the goal line, and with our defence ball watching Ledger tried to force it home. It was scrambled clear and when we eventually made our way to the far end Sean Welsh rasped a long range shot over the bar. Both keepers made routine saves thereafter before Sutherland made a hash of striking goalwards from a good position on the right side. Plenty of life still in Morton as we looked uncomfortable dealing with balls into the box. No sooner said than done! A good burst forward by Gary Oliver saw Cameron Blues knock the ball home from his cross eight yards out. Twelve minutes to go and a dribbler of a shot from Sutherland is cleared from the Morton line and substitute James Keatings' follow up volley is cleared. Morton are working so hard it's difficult to know if they have actually had a man sent off. A lung bursting run from Lyon allowed Strapp to cause more havoc in our defence as Morton looked to get a winner with five minutes of the ninety left. A late corner saw another one given as the clock passed ninety minutes but Morton clear well before Todorov appeared to miss a tap in as the ball bounced past him. McAdams did well to tip a deflected cross come shot away for a corner which ended the contest in a draw after more climbing at the back post was penalised. Full Time 2-2 A couple of points dropped against the ten men as we managed to get on a pitch for the first time in a month. Good to get amongst the goals but we looked vulnerable when Morton came forward. Maybe conditions and the lay off played a part but there's no rest for the wicked as Queen of the South come North at the weekend Here's what was said on BBC Sport Morton manager Anton McElhone: "Tremendous performance from the guys. It shows the determination, hunger and desire. "We knew that on the transition we could catch them out and the run from Cameron Blues was excellent. We are trying to strengthen; we've got a few more days and we are trying to do stuff." Inverness CT scorer Daniel MacKay: "It was good to get back in the team and get the goal - it was a brilliant ball through from Aaron Doran. "But it's about the result and from it nearly being a really good three points, to it just being the one point is disappointing." Match highlights can be seen here Date: 27/01/2001 Venue: Cappielow, Greenock Attendance: 000 Referee: Peter Stuart Morton: 2 Manager: Anton McElhone Lineup: McAdams; Ledger, Fjortoft, McGinty, Nesbitt, Oliver (Salkeld 79), McGuffie (Millar 63), Strapp, Blues (Lyon 73), Colville, Omar Subs (not used): McLean, McAlister, Muirhead, Orsi. Scorers: McGinty (3), Blues (66) Booked: Omar (19), Oliver (74) Sent Off: Omar (28) Inverness CT: 2 Lineup: Ridgers; Duffy, Deas, Devine, Harper, Doran (Keatings 70), Welsh, Allardice (Todorov 70) Vincent, Sutherland, D Mackay (MacGregor 83) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Nicolson, Hyde, Carson. Scorers: Sutherland (4), D Mackay (15) Booked: none Sent Off: none a