Robert

A few noted today: Two for Marley Watkins for Aberdeen. Iain Vigurs for Cove. Ali Sutherland for Brora. Adam Rooney for Solihull.

Today’s results have gone well for us, with Arbroath and Raith drawing and Partick failing to beat Queen if the South. We are the only one of the top five to win (and score) this weekend and have finished the weekend still top of the league. That feels good.

At a function last weekend, I purchased four places at hospitality for tonight’s game in a charity auction. I must give absolute credit to the club, as the whole evening was terrific and well worth the £95 per head that the normal package costs. Keith Haggart is a talented and entertaining host. The meal from Red Poppy was excellent. The bar (included in the price) had excellent service. Two legends spoke, Billy Urquhart of Caley fame and Davie Milroy of Thistle fame, and both were informative and entertaining. Kirk Broadfoot spoke after the game and came across really well, and was very positive about our squad and promotion chances. Manny Duku also appeared and spent time with a table of younger fans. I have not done hospitality since before the first lockdown, but was really impressed. We have improved the package and that was reflected in the numbers there, the highest since it was restarted. I have no hesitation in recommending it and hope it goes from strength to strength.

I really enjoyed the game tonight. We played for the full 90 minutes and were solid as a team, with good team spirit. We outplayed the promotion favourites and deservedly won. This should give us confidence to beat Morton twice next week before two home league games. There was not a failure in our team tonight with all 14 players used doing their jobs well. Welsh and Allardice are rightly being praised, but a shout out too to Sutherland who I thought was immense tonight. Broadfoot clearly enjoyed getting the better of his old team, with Polly being subbed after a quiet game. Hopefully our wobble in October and November is behind us and we kick on from this. Well done to all and given the sad events this week with him losing his mother, hopefully it has given Barry Wilson a lift too: https://ictfc.com/jessie-wilson

The Killie players were booed off by their travelling support.

And the A9 is shut at Dalwhinnie due to an accident.

Tonight even…..

Whilst I’m hoping for a decent performance and a win, a draw will not be a disaster tonight and I’d settle for it too.

Dunfermline @ 2.45 please.

HT 1-1 FT 2-1 ICT Mckay Killie Shaw Crowd 2097

Clear from the outset both teams had their minds on bigger challenges. We were (slightly) the better team and Jamieson should have scored late on. The pass from McAlear to Walsh to create the chance was superb. Other than that, not too much to get excited about. MacKay was rarely tested and after a shaky start had good distribution. Welsh was at centre half and was comfortable until replaced like for like by Allardice. I thought Deas marshalled the defence well, with Carson and Harper both getting forward effectively. I thought McAlear had a decent game, apart from his free kick, and he was very close with a good effort early on. Walsh seems to have been practising crossing as he seemed less erratic. Not sure what conclusions to draw: it’s all down to Friday and next Tuesday whether we were right to sacrifice tonight’s game. Good to see the two youngsters, although they were a bit “rabbit in the headlights”. It will have done them good though and the young right back had one very decent challenge that won a goal kick. Just don’t let Shane take a penalty in a shoot out: 2 misses out of this season!

HT 1-0 FT 2-1

It’s a very nice hotel. First time at it for a function which (fortunately as it turned out!) meant I missed Saturday’s game. That said, I bought hospitality tickets for Friday evening’s game in the charity auction……

Same backdrop but where from / what is in the foreground?

Not Duirinish, but near Dunvrgan. It was taken west of Struan.

An easy one but where was it taken from?

Came across this near Edinbane this afternoon, parked up ready for its work tomorrow. A Volvo B7 with Wright bodywork painted in the old Highland livery to commemorate 50 years of Highland and successors (Rapsons then Stagecoach) operating on Skye. Apparently only one experienced driver is allowed to drive it to keep it in pristine condition. The sun did not help the photo.

The club’s report with “highlights”: https://ictfc.com/match-report-and-highlights-ictfc-1-1-morton-27-11-2021 I was going to comment recently about some slack play at the back by Broadfoot, particularly passes, but he had a few in those highlights and, whilst he was maybe fouled, he was outmuscled for the equaliser. Time to restore the Devine / Deas partnership and see how Harper does at left back? The comment above about Sutherland is a bit harsh. His perseverance led to our goal. I hope McDonald and Jamieson feature on Tuesday to see what they can do. We need to sort our inconsistency out quickly.

Vigurs and McAllister for Cove today.

I believe that drawn matches have replays this season.

By coincidence, our women’s team has been playing Ukraine tonight. A stoppage time goal earned what could turn out to be a vital point.

Oh dear. A neighbour who supports County told me a few weeks ago that he’d heard Gardyne “had been up to his old tricks”. I had no idea of the circumstances but, if the rumour is true, it explains a lot. Hopefully, if it is true, the club has handled it professionally and the players will not let it upset team spirit or performances going forward. Again, if true, it’s a great shame that Gardyne has messed things up as he had established himself as a vital player for us.

This is going to be tough! Ukraine in the semi final. If we get through that, we face Wales or Austria away from home.

HT 1-0 FT 2-0 ICT Mckay Morton Oliver Crowd 1197

Another for Andrew MacAskill for Buckie last night.