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Season hanging by a thread. Match Postponed due to covid outbreak at Raith Rovers Saturday’s Scottish Championship match between Raith Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Stark’s Park has been postponed after Raith Rovers informed the SPFL that they could not fulfil the fixture. SPFL Statement Should Nicola Sturgeon not shut down all sport in the aftermath of the ill advised and infamous Dubai debacle, then Raith Rovers should host Inverness on Saturday 16th January 2021 @15:00. As it stands, all football below Championship level in Scotland has been put on hold and all Scottish Cup games postponed until after the weekend of January 30/31st. If the Cup games do return to action, an eagerly awaited potential Highland derby could materialise should we first see off Buckie Thistle in a twice postponed tie. Anyway, frozen out in more ways than one at the moment. It barely seems justified or acceptable that I should be writing about a bunch of guys kicking a bag of wind around a frozen park in the middle of winter, but I suppose we need something to take our minds off the ongoing battle against coronavirus that has brought this and other countries to it's knees. We are not alone in this struggle, it's threatening the very existence of mankind so let's all try and do our bit to get back to some form of normality and do as we are asked. In the darkest days on this planet, world wars saw millions of people asked to go out and save our country by fighting the enemy, lying in muddy trenches, frozen, soaking and terrified, going to foreign lands, being apart from our families and the ones we love. Today, we are being asked to stay inside our own houses and wash our hands with soap and water. It's a small sacrifice, but one that is just as important as the previous battles that have killed millions around the world. I hope we can all help and ease the burdens on our Doctors, nurses, NHS, essential retailers and workers who are keeping the country going. So, over to you and let's beat the enemy you can't see. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Live Streaming from Raith TV Official Preview ICTFC Tribute to Ian Broadfoot Donation in memory of Ian Broadfoot ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our last game was on 29th December when we drew 1-1 with Dunfermline in the Highlands. A stunning second half goal from Miles Storey cancelled out a first half strike from Kyle Turner. That endeth the scoring in a game both managers felt they deserved to win. Our previous game was on 19th December when we slumped 2-1 at Alloa having taken an early lead through the much maligned Brad Mckay. However a thumping free kick from Innes Murray and a gaffe from Mark Ridgers gifted the points to the Wasps as we simply crumbled. So, only one game in a month after the cup ties against Buckie Thistle were postponed firstly for a frozen pitch then the covid19 shutdown. Rovers see-saw season continues. High scoring yet also producing some stunning reverses. On boxing day they went to Alloa and came away with a 5-2 victory at what has been a difficult place for Inverness to pick up points. That game ended with a flurry of goals (Duku (17), Armstrong (33), Lokotsch (84), Ross (90, 90+3). Buchanan scored a brace for Alloa (75 & 89 pen). They followed that up with a surprising 2-0 home defeat by Queen of the South. The only certainty in the Championship is that there are no certainties, think Dundee 3-1 Hearts. We have played Raith twice already this season. A topsy turvy League Cup encounter at Stark's Park ended 3-3 with Raith taking the 'bonus' win after a penalty shoot-out. Back in November, we entertained Raith at the Caledonian Stadium in front of a covid restricted '300' fans. It was an excellent performance and James Keatings and Scott Allardice were the men that did the damage in what turned out to be a comfortable 2-0 win. Our record against Rovers has been tremendous over the years. Our last defeat was over twenty years ago when an understrength side went down 2-1 at the Caledonian Stadium. Fittingly, Ian Broadfoot was our reporter at the game on 28th October 2000. Here is his report: 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. Match report written by Ian Broadfoot Inverness would finish fourth that season with Raith ending up seventh. Last ten meetings between the clubs 2 - 0 (H) 3 - 3 (A) 4 - 1 (H) 2 - 1 (H) 1 - 0 (H) 4 - 3 (H) 4 - 0 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 1 - 0 (A) 1 - 0 (A) This time round, it will no doubt become known as the Kai Kennedy derby. The loan arrangers at Rangers have loaned the Ranger out to Raith Rovers after his loan spell at the Caledonian Stadium ended in January. He will be a huge miss to us with Aaron Doran having received a bang on the head and an enforced lay off because of it. Lewis Toshney and Kevin McHattie are out for around another month, but David Carson could be ready for a place on the bench. ***Latest Team News*** Wallace Duffy is set to return to action and Daniel Mackay and Nikolay Todorov are in pole position for a first XI start. Brad Mckay is available for selection as his suspension was only covering Scottish Cup games. Danny Devine took a knock at the end of the Dunfermline game but should be good to go for this one. Assistant manager Paul Smith is still in charge and Manny Duku is still banging in the goals, and along with Kai Kennedy and Ethan Ross they will be a handful for our defence. At the back, Mendy, Benedictus and Musonda are immovable objects so expect a tough day for our front men. Maybe Todorov will get the nod to combat the height of the Rovers defence. ***Even Later News*** Inverness Caledonian Thistle have a new Board Oh well, that's another preview in the bin. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to all affected.

Ball 8 v Ball 27 Coronavirus trumps all. All Scottish Cup games on hold from midnight 11/01/21 until February at the earliest. Reviewed on a rolling basis. Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC Game off Following a pitch inspection this morning at Victoria Park, today’s Scottish Cup Second Round tie against Buckie Thistle has been postponed. The match will now be played on Tuesday 12 January 2021, Victoria Park, 8.00pm kick-off. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That draw means that The Caley Jags will head to Victoria Park Buckie to take on olde Highland League adversaries Buckie Thistle in the second round of the William Hill Scottish Cup on Saturday January 9th, a draw predicted by one of our resident seers Gringo. Unfortunately the game will be covid restricted meaning that no fans will be allowed into the ground to witness the first full competitive match between the sides. The game is scheduled to kick-off at 3:00pm. ***A pitch inspection is planned for Saturday morning after the recent cold spell has left a lot of pitches frozen,*** Buckie Cup snow.mp4 It's not the worst draw to be honest as we have a decent record of putting green and white hooped sides out of the Scottish Cup. A cold winters afternoon, potential banana skin fixture with the possibility of a scalp for the Highland League side. What's not to enjoy about the early rounds of the Scottish Cup. +++++++++++++++ Buckie Jags +++++++++++++++++ Streaming? (waiting for confirmation) Official Preview +++++++++++++++ Caley Jags +++++++++++++++++ Graeme Stewart's Buckie Thistle made their way to the second round of the Cup after an excellent away win at Albion Rovers, beating the Cliftonhill side 3-0. Two goals from Andrew MacAskill, one direct from a corner kick, and a Scott Adams strike were enough to inflict a sixth defeat in seven games for Brian Reid's side. Boss Stewart had played under John Robertson for the Caley Jags from season 1999 to 2003 making 38 appearances, scoring twice. Former Inverness youngsters Kevin Fraser and Andrew MacAskill are at Buckie along with keeper Martin MacKinnon who is on loan at present. Stewart's assistant manager Lewis MacKinnon is also on the books as a player, so great incentive for these guys to do well against their former club. John Robertson has lost the services of Kai Kennedy to covid. The exciting prospect has returned to parent club Rangers as he has signed a new contract and it is believed he will be loaned out to Raith Rovers. More detail can be found at ICTFC. It is believed "he found the pandemic restrictions and the fact he was so far away from his family particularly difficult and became increasingly, and understandably, homesick". Awwww, you OK hun? He will be a massive miss at the Caledonian Stadium for the rest of this season especially on top of the news that Aaron Doran will likely miss out for a couple of weeks after suffering concussion in the game against Dunfermline Athletic just before the bells. This should open the door for Daniel Mackay to return to the starting XI as a wide forward. Maybe we would have seen the likes of David Carson if he wasn't suspended, as his energy is missed in midfield and there's no guarantee that Sean Welsh will stay injury free for a run of games. Kevin McHattie is another we have yet to see re-appear after pre-season injury. ***Latest Team News from the ICT camp*** David Carson and Brad Mckay are suspended for this Cup game. Aaron Doran is out after suffering concussion against the Pars and Kevin McHattie and Lewis Toshney are at least a month away from making a comeback. I expect that will smooth the way for Wallace Duffy to return with possibly Daniel Mackay replacing Kennedy/Doran. Buckie keeper Martin MacKinnon is unavailable for selection despite Inverness being OK with him playing, but the rules will not be bent so it's down to third choice keeper, young Lee Herbert to tend the goals with second choice Danny Bell working offshore. Scottish Cup Flashback.... Some strike by Duthie. Boom!