Alloa Away Sept 2024

[tm4tj]

 A bit of Recreation at the Indodrill

 

Matchday 6 has Inverness travelling to Clackmannanshire to face one of the top sides in the table and a team we often struggled against away from home through the years, especially in more recent times. With events off the field of play casting further dark shadows over the future of the club, it's a tough ask for the players to remain focussed when their futures are at stake thanks to the incompetence and now unrivaled power hunger of our former tyrannic leaders.

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Match/Ticket Bus (10:00 am) Info

Investment Topic on CTO

Payer Sponsorship on CTO

Hospitality v Cove Rangers

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Venue H2H v Alloa

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	20	8	10	2	36	22	+14
Away	22	11	5	6	45	22	+23
Neutral	1	0	1	0	4	4	0
Total	43	19	16	8	85	48	+37

We do have the edge over Alloa, but that was in a previous life before Gardiner & Co decimated our club. Our new look squad will find a battle hardened Wasps a difficult byke to cycle, like we often did over the years and they will no doubt have a sting in their tail. Our last meeting was in the Championship in season 20/21, and we have lost twice and drawn three of our last five encounters.

Last 10 Competitive Meetings

1 - 1 (A)

2 - 2 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

0 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

3 - 2 (A)

2 - 0 (A)

2 - 2 (H)

3 - 0 (H)

2 - 1 (A)

Who could forget the dramatic ending in the 1999 Challenge Cup Final when 4,043 fans were at the Shyberry Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie to watch a Martin Cameron inspired Alloa lift the Challenge Cup after a 3-3 draw, extra time and penalty shoot-out. All this despite a Paul Sheerin hat-trick and an unikely hero in Alloa Keeper Mark Cairns who scored the fifth penalty then saved the clincher from Teasdale.

Starting XI Mark Cairns Jimmy Boyle Derek Clark Paul McAneny David Beaton Craig Valentine Ian Little Gary Clark Martin Cameron Willie Irvine Mark Wilson

Les Fridge Richard Hastings Ross Tokely Mark McCulloch Stuart Golabek Charlie Christie Mike Teasdale Barry Wilson Paul Sheerin Davide Xausa Dennis Wyness

Gregor McKechnie Max Christie Mark Donaghy

Kevin Byers Martin Bavidge Martin Glancy

It was bitter disappointment for Caley Thistle as they lost their first ever senior cup final on penalties. They came from behind three times in normal play then again in extra time to take the game to a penalty decider. Alloa took the lead in 20 minutes when Gary Clark hit a low ball past Les Fridge from 15 yards. Barry Wilson equalised in 29 minutes with a neat chip over the keeper. A defensive error let in Mark Wilson to score Alloa's second in 33 minutes but Paul Sheerin equalised from the penalty spot just after half time. This lasted 2 minutes before Martin Cameron made it 3-2 with a 15 yard angled volley. Another penalty goal by Sheerin made it 3-3 in 56 minutes. 14 minutes into extra time Alloa again took the lead when Martin Cameron beat the defence and ran on to score. Paul Sheerin completed his hat trick 8 minutes from time with a 16 yard shot. It was 4-4 on penalties after the regulation 5 attempts each. Alloa keeper Mark Cairns was the hero when he scored to make it 5-4 then saved Mike Teasdale's penalty. The Cup was on its way to Alloa after an exciting match.
Alloa Pens (Irvine, Boyle, Cameron, Little, Cairns) Beaton miss.
Inverness Pens (McCulloch, Tokely, Byers, Wilson) Sheerin, Teasdale saved.
Report by Ian Broadfoot

The Season so far

ALLOA Athletic: D D W W D  Alloa are unbeaten and they began the League campaign with draws at home to Queen of the South and away to Dumbarton followed by a home win over Stenhousemuir and another win away to Annan at the same ground we lost 1-0. Last time out they drew 0-0 at Gayfield. Last week was Challenge Cup action and Alloa pulled off a shock 1-3 win over Partick Thistle who had opened the scoring through our olde 'friend' Brian Graham. However, three second half goals from Kevin Cawley (65', 76') and Scott Taggart (90'+5 pen) gave the Wasps a tremendous result and a home tie against Arbroath in the next round. That was Cawley's 79th & 80th goals for Alloa.

INVERNESS CT:  D L D D W  Our season got off to a slow start with a draw at home to Dumbarton followed by a penalty defeat at Annan. Another two draws against Montrose (h) and Kelty Hearts (a) before our first win of the season over Queen of the South at the Caledonian Stadium a fortnight ago. Last weekend we beat Stirling Albion 3-0 to send us into a fourth Rnd tie away to Livingston thanks to a brace from Adam Brooks and a strike from Adam MacKinnon.

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table ahead of Matchday Six 1. Kelty Hearts 5 2 3 0 8 3 9 2. Stenhousemuir 5 3 0 2 10 7 9 3. Alloa Athletic 5 2 3 0 5 3 9 4. Q.O.S. 5 2 1 2 4 3 7 5. Inverness CT 5 1 3 1 3 3 6 6. Montrose 5 1 3 1 3 3 6 7. Annan Athletic 5 2 0 3 5 9 6 8. Dumbarton 5 0 5 0 9 9 5 9. Cove Rangers 5 1 1 3 6 9 4 10. Arbroath 5 0 3 2 3 7 3

          League 1 Fixtures all @ 3:00pm

• Alloa Athletic v Inverness CT 
• Annan Athletic v Dumbarton FC
•    Kelty Hearts v Cove Rangers
•      Montrose FC v Stenhousemuir 
• Queen Sth v Arbroath 

 

Latest Team News

Alloa

Manager Andy Graham has a wealth of experience at his disposal. Alloa'a line up in their recent league encounter with Annan Athletic shows some well experienced players in there, notably strikers Conor Sammon and Kevin Cawley. Former Morton defenders Calum Waters, Scott Taggart and midfielder Luke Donnelly are now at Recreation Park. Stefan Scougall is also well experienced having been at St Johnston and Carlisle United in more recent years.

 

Inverness have one or two filtering back into the squad. Jack Newton has returned from Dundee United after getting injections in his knee  without requiring a major operation. Keith Bray and Luis Longstaff will also join the squad again after injury. I would imagine Big Musa will retain the gloves whilst Newman proves his fitness on the bench with the other two returnees joining him on the sidelines.

 

 

[big cherly]

Tend to agree tm4tj, this will be a tough test for ICT. Alloa are seasoned campaigners in this division and know there way about getting results. Artificial pitch I understand, so that’s in the Alloa players favour. Throw in the experienced players you mention it will be a ‘tester’ for our youngish team. Wish our boys well!! 

[ClickbaitProponent]

Not expecting us to get much from this one. I will be delighted with a draw. 

[tm4tj]

 

[tm4tj]

Alloa show us lining up like this with Musa keeping the gloves

<<<<<

[tm4tj]

pic.twitter.com/573I0QSe4b

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) September 14, 2024

[caley100]

1 0 Billy Mackay!!!

[robbo1985]

ICT official twitter feed credits Danny Devine with the goal

Don't care who scored, we are 1-0 ahead

Edited September 14, 2024 by robbo1985

[tm4tj]

First half at Alloa

Once the early posturing was over, it was a birthday gift from Danny Devine as he lashed in the opening goal from distance in the seventh minute to give the visitors the perfect start. What a strike from Danny into the top corner. Boom and Happy Birthday! Musa Dibaga saved from Cameron O'Donnell two minutes later at the expense of a corner and Billy Mckay put a header wide after fifteen minutes. Adam MacKinnon was denied by PJ mid-way through the half when the keeper parried his strike away for a corner. On the stroke of half time Adam Brooks went through at an acute angle but his effort was saved at the near post and Mckay was then blocked before MacKinnon shot over from a tight angle. Alloa were seeing plenty of the ball in the opening half but it was the visitors that went in at the break a goal to the good and good value for that lead. 

HALF TIME: 0-1

[caley100]

FFS!!!!   2 0 UP and we lose 2 in a few minutes!!    come on ICT !!

[+snorbens_caleyman]

18 minutes ago, caley100 said:

FFS!!!!   2 0 UP and we lose 2 in a few minutes!!    come on ICT !!

The spin will be that we got a point away to the leaders....

[caley100]

1 Win in 6 league games is poor.  Not impressed.

[+Hiro]

Yawn.  Same as multiple games last season- get into the lead, make defensive substitutions, lose said lead.

He is incapable of learning from his mistakes.

[Yngwie]

I’m still trying to process what just happened there. We created and missed so many chances against a poor Alloa side who were making mistakes all over the pitch. We eventually and deservedly get to 2-0, then make substitutions and completely fall apart, time wasting for the last 15 minutes to cling on for the draw.

Sadly every substitution weakened us. Alloa could attack at will down their left where we had C Mackay right mid and Bray right back, neither with the physicality to stop anything. Strange decisions from the manager there.

Two points dropped.

[Caley Mad In Berks]

Yes, that was a really poor,  losing two quick goals after being 2 up midway through second half. Although it is a very tight league at the minute I fear we are going to have to fight (and improve) to stay in it!

[tm4tj]

No changes at the interval and it was a lively re-start two minutes in when PJ had to deny Mckay from a tight angle. Following an Alloa corner, Big Musa had to deny Morgyn Neill and at the other end Calum MacLeod burst forward and saw his effort tipped onto the post before the rebound was cleared. Billy Mckay went close again after the hour before substitute Stefan Scougall forced Big Musa into a good save. A minute later MacLeod gave us some breathing space following a swift break forward, however Conor Sammon quickly pulled a goal back with a great header three minutes later into the top corner. Moments later it was all square when Donnelly looped a ball behind Dibaga after a long throw from Taggart and a touch from Sammon. Having been well in control we were now under the cosh but despite some hairy moments towards the end it finished all square.

FULL TIME: 2-2 

[IcyT]

This league is there for the taking, but sadly not by us with DF in charge. A season just to survive off the pitch, I suppose. Hopefully DF’s contract expires at the end of the season (does it?) and we get a decent manager in who knows something about winning and positive football to get us up next season. By which time I guess we’ll have to be part-time?

[caley1]

53 minutes ago, tm4tj said:

No changes at the interval and it was a lively re-start two minutes in when PJ had to deny Mckay from a tight angle. Following an Alloa corner, Big Musa had to deny Morgyn Neill and at the other end Calum MacLeod burst forward andsaw his effort tipped onto the post before the rebound was cleared. Billy Mckay went close again after the hour before substitute Stefan Scougall forced Big Musa into a good save. A minute later MacLeod gave us some breathing space following a swift break forward, however Conor Sammon quickly pulled a goal back with a great header three minutes later into the top corner. Moments later it was all square when Donnelly looped a ball behind Dibaga after a long throw from Taggart and a touch from Sammon. Having been well in control we were now under the cosh but despite some hairy moments towards the end it finished all square.

FULL TIME: 2-2 

 

8 minutes ago, IcyT said:

This league is there for the taking, but sadly not by us with DF in charge. A season just to survive off the pitch, I suppose. Hopefully DF’s contract expires at the end of the season (does it?) and we get a decent manager in who knows something about winning and positive football to get us up next season. By which time I guess we’ll have to be part

[big cherly]

Not at the match so can only go on posts entered. Loosing a 2 goal lead well into the second half looks and feels like a missed opportunity. Shutting up shop would have been the wisest plan, and maybe the attending fans can advise if we tried that (in vain), or went out to get a third goal? 
Either way I see this result as more of a positive. Away to one of the better league teams, artificial pitch, score and fight out a draw.
Young team and hopefully they learn the next time they’re in that position to see it out. 

 

Edited September 14, 2024 by big cherly

[STFU]

It's not the players that need to learn its the tactics that are letting us down. Just about any half decent manager I've ever listened to says that being 2-0 up is a very dangerous position to be in and you don't sit back trying to defend it.

[tm4tj]

 

[LisleRightPeg]

Why do we keep using the young players as an excuse? Only Macloed started the match. There is one issue but the powers that be can do nothing about it. We’re a full time side struggling in a part time division

[robbo1985]

Trivia question:

when is the last time we went into the last ten minutes of a league game level and then scored a goal within the remaining ten minutes to win the game? 

[big cherly]

56 minutes ago, tm4tj said:

 

‘We’re undefeated, we only lost that one to Annan on a penalty’. You’ve got to laugh and shake your head! 

[tm4tj]

Aye, it's like a broken record.