Queens up North Feb2025

[tm4tj]

The Queens Head North

 

It's an early chance for revenge after we were beaten in Dumfries nine days ago as Queen of the South visit the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday afternoon, having won 3-2 at Palmerston. They have climbed to third in the table with former Caley Jag Adam Brooks scoring for fun in recent games. Luis Longstaff has trained this week and if he shows no reaction he will be included in the squad. Queens could top the table on Saturday night should they win and other results go their way. Our target is a win over Queens with Annan failing to win and that would put the Caley Jags up to eighth. Plenty of incentives for both teams to do well and that should make for another entertaining encounter. 

 

Remember to try the new improved bus service for home games. 

For 3 pm kick offs, buses leave the Bus Station at 1 pm and 2.15 pm. Buses return from the Stadium 10 minutes after the full time whistle and again at 6 pm. Stagecoach operates these journeys as normal bus services, open to all passengers, and at no cost to either the club or the Supporters Trust. Passengers holding Under 22 or Senior Citizen and Disabled Concessionary Cards will travel free on the service. For other passengers the fare is £2.40 for a single journey.

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Hospitality/Match/Ticket/Bus/Bar

Bus to game Sponsorship

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Venue for H2H

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	22	13	3	6	39	26	+13
Away	21	8	7	6	36	25	+11
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	43	21	10	12	75	51	+24

Over the years we generally held the upper hand over the Doonhamers with home advantage showing a greater chance of taking all three points. Administration has it's knock on effect though and this will be a tougher ask than previous years.

Last 10 Competitive Meetings

2 - 3 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

2 - 2 (H)

2 - 1 (A)

2 - 1 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

3 - 0 (A)

3 - 1 (H)

It's one win each so far this season. A 1-0 win back at the end of August with Billy Mckay notching a first half winner during the Ferguson era. The next game was re-scheduled, hence the two in nine days with Adam Brooks grabbing a brace. Alfie Bavidge and Keith Bray had pulled us level but substitute Jordan Allan nicked the winner ten minutes from the end. A long journey home with no points after putting so much into the game. Maybe we can repay them this weekend.

 

INVERNESS CT  The Season So Far

D L  D D W D D D L   / W L(11)D W W W L  W L  

W W L  W 

Since Scott Kellacher was handed the reins in game 11, there has been a more positive approach to our matches which has resulted in improved performances and a more enjoyable matchday experience all round. Alas we were brought back to earth with a disappointing result in our last game of 2024, a crushing 1-4 defeat at home to Cove Rangers. We'll have to put that one down to a bad day at the office. However, we bounced back in our first game of the second half of the season in the six pointer against Dumbarton with a hard fought 2-0 win. That win over Dumbarton was a vital one and the introduction of Alfie Bavidge was a welcome one as he opened the scoring early in the first half. Charlie Gilmour slotted in the clincher in the second half to give us a cushion over the Sons and to narrow the gap on Annan to seven points. We took part in the only League1 game last weekend and came away from Annan with a resounding 3-0 win, Alfie Bavidge netting again with Keith Bray and then Billy Mckay from the spot.  *It was then on to Palmerston on the Tuesday night but in a five goal encounter we went down 3-2. Alfie Bavidge notched his third goal in three games and Keith Bray added a second but goals from Adam Brooks (2) and Jordan Allan kept the points in Dumfries. We bounced back with a resilient 1-2 win at Alloa in our third away game on the bounce, Keith Bray with his fourth of the season and Alfie Stewart his first. Up next a revenge mission at home to QotS.

*There were plenty of positives to be taken from the defeat against Queen of the South in last midweek. Alfie Bavidge is on form with three from three and Keith Bray added his third League goal of the season. Luis Longstaff was a big miss at Palmerston having been injured at Annan last Saturday and missed out again at Alloa.

Scott Kellacher on Luis Longstaff: “He’s back in contention, he’s trained a fair bit so we’ll see how he gets on. He got through training today [Thursday] so we’ll see how he is tomorrow [Friday] and take it from there. He’s been back training a couple of days so that has been ideal to get him back involved with the squad.”

Full Preview from Scott Kellacher

 

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Arbroath	20	8	34
2	Stenny	22	5	32
3	Queen of Sth	22	-1	32
4	Cove	21	9	31
5	Kelty Hearts	21	9	31
6	Alloa Athletic	22	3	29
7	Montrose	21	-2	25
8	Annan Ath	22	-19	21
9	Inverness CT	22	2	19
10	Dumbarton	21	-14	07

 

 

L  D W D W W  Queens recent run of form has lifted them up to third in the table.  A loss at Kelty was followed by a home draw against Annan Athletic then a win over Cove Rangers before drawing with Alloa Athletic. There was the Cup defeat against St Mirren where they gave the Premiership side as good as they got but just fell short and they picked themselves up to beat the Caley Jags in Dumfries in a five goal thriller. They then scored three again against Dumbarton. Adam Brooks has scored four in his last two games, five in the last six League matches and six League goals for the season. Meh! This was their starting XI against the Sons.  With Harry Cochrane and Kyle Doherty out there were starts for Josh Walker and Lewis O'Donnell. Taylor Charters, a 23 year old midfielder, has joined on loan from Carlisle United this week for the remainder of the season and goalkeeper Murray Johnson has returned on loan from Hibs. Forward Leighton McIntosh has now left Queens.

 

[+CaleyHedgehog]

Really looking forward to todays game. It seems like ages since we last had a home game.

Big day, but I have every faith that we will be out of the relegation zone by teatime.

Get out there and enjoy the game boys - you are TITANIUM.

C'mon Caley 

[caley100]

Longstaff fit and will start. And no other injury worries,  good news!

[IBM]

A good day for a game of football and hopefully a home win.

[big cherly]

Really intriguing match today and a real test IMO of where we (the team) are as a group and a measure of where we stand as we look ahead to the remainder of the season. 

Queens will fancy themselves for three points I feel thinking they have a measure of how to get behind our defence having beat us recently. They are seasoned campaigners in this league and know there way around it. They’ll have their eyes on the top of the league given their recent momentum, so it’s up to us to prove we’re capable of matching them on every front. 
We look a more balance team now that we are carrying a threat up front. Dibaga is a real find for me and if we can provide him enough protection there is a good chance we can get something out of the game today. 
Looking forward to the match. Love a victory but I would consider not loosing today being a point closer to Annan at 5 o'clock.

bc 

[+CaleyHedgehog]

12 minutes ago, big cherly said:

Dibaga is a real find for me

He has been amazing. I never thought we could be so lucky after we lost Ridgers.

[Robert]

Longstaff back with Mckay on bench. 

[Peleistheman]

Goal! Alfie B does it again

[big cherly]

Really tight first half. Great though ball, run on and finish by Alfie B to score an excellent goal. 
Feel Queens are wanting to outmuscle and bully us, so an interesting second half awaits. We were a little vulnerable on both back positions in the FH I feel so may need to help both players. 

[Yngwie]

FT 1-0. That’ll do nicely. 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

Vital one to win, since Annan won as well...

[IT86]

Great result! Moving on up

[Yngwie]

Excluding the administration penalty, we’d be 2 points clear at the top.

[CELTIC1CALEY3]

Just now, Yngwie said:

Excluding the administration penalty, we’d be 2 points clear at the top.

Not with Duncan Ferguson in charge.  Remember that players in the era were discouraged from shooting on goal and shortly after getting over the half way line were instructed to keep it and gradually work it back to the goalkeeper.

[Caley Mad In Berks]

Yes, well done lads. Stats show it was a close game. Really pleased that we were able to hang on for the win.  Onwards and upwards

 

[Yngwie]

20 minutes ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

Not with Duncan Ferguson in charge.  Remember that players in the era were discouraged from shooting on goal and shortly after getting over the half way line were instructed to keep it and gradually work it back to the goalkeeper.

Administration penalty - 15 points

Administration bonus - getting shot of Ferguson!

[Huisdean]

16 minutes ago, Caley Mad In Berks said:

Yes, well done lads. Stats show it was a close game. Really pleased that we were able to hang on for the win.  Onwards and upwards

 

Wasn't close in reality. Needed a second goal to make life easier but their keeper had some good saves. Denied what looked like an obvious penalty to me as well.

Referee was dreadful, Queens should have been down to 10 nen in the first half but ref bottled it then booked Gilmour for a similar tackle shortly afterwards. Mackinnon and Brays bookings were ridiculous compared to some of the dreadful fouls committed by Queens. Possibly the worst ref yet and that's saying something. 

[The Mantis]

42 minutes ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

Vital one to win, since Annan won as well...

That’s fair enough if you’re aiming at 8th place. If you’re aiming higher, Montrose lost 
on to Gayfield next week…

[+DoofersDad]

Great win today.  QOS were a pretty physical side but everyone worked hard and supported each other.  Longstaff put in a brilliant shift given that he was just returning from injury.  We didn't have too many attempts on goal, but at times later in the 2nd half, we played some nice intricate build up play which didn't quite come off.  Both defences played well giving opponents little time on the ball.  The referee was awful.  Great support from the youngsters in section C which the players really appreciated.  

[STFU]

Great to get the home win after our winter tour of Scotland.

One of the best worked goals we've scored this season in what wasn't a very tidy game for either aide. Thought we were worthy of the 3 points all the same.

I think we missed Mckay's link up play but it was reassuring to see that the team can play without him. Our ability to dig in and get a result even when in a scruffy battle is pleasing.

We are now closer in points to the top of the table than the bottom and within a win of the two teams above us. All things considered that's pretty incredible given where we were just over 3 months ago.

[big cherly]

Great result, fully deserved. Whilst the first half provided a great constructed and taken goal, I give full marks to the team’s defensive performance for the second half. Dibaga exudes confidence between the sticks and while not pressed too much today took control at the corners. He was ablely protected by Danny and Remi in front of him.  Says a lot about the team’s development. We’ll need more of the same for future matches to come. Enjoy and take credit for today’s result and display. 

Those that decided to stay in the pub and watch the rugby, you missed a really good match and performance today. 
 

ps - didn’t foresee the Annan or Dumbarton victories coming today.

bc

[Robert]

20 hours ago, Huisdean said:

Wasn't close in reality. Needed a second goal to make life easier but their keeper had some good saves. Denied what looked like an obvious penalty to me as well.

Referee was dreadful, Queens should have been down to 10 nen in the first half but ref bottled it then booked Gilmour for a similar tackle shortly afterwards. Mackinnon and Brays bookings were ridiculous compared to some of the dreadful fouls committed by Queens. Possibly the worst ref yet and that's saying something. 

I agree entirely.

I thought the ref was losing it with the flurry of bookings just before the half hour and then he bottled what should have been a sending off. The Queens Manager clearly thought the same as he promptly hooked the player involved when we scored.

It was a brilliant goal, created by some good play and well taken by Bavidge.

We handled their physicality well and were deserved winners. Stewart had a brilliant effort well saved whilst we’d a couple of other chances where if we’d hit the ball hard we’d have scored.

8 wins in 11 is quite an achievement but we’ve another tough one at Arbroath next weekend.

We were 8th at half time albeit we remain 9th with Annan winning, but we are right in the mix. Who’d have thought this was possible a few months ago.

Onwards and upwards!

Edited February 2 by Robert

[bdu98196]

Great to see the benefits of having a confident and capable goal scorer in the team. Unfortunately unless we are in the Championship next season it's unlikely he will be back on loan with us.

[+CaleyHedgehog]

Fantastic response to a team who tried to rule the game with shirt pulling and bullying tactics. Fortunately our boys seem to grow in stature and determination when wronged, and I was so pleased for them all with the final score.

Lovely to see the team enjoying the plaudits at full time, and to see SK coming out to greet the fans. Much appreciated.

Shame that Annan won, otherwise a great afternoons entertainment.8

[+DoofersDad]

I'm quite happy to see Annan and particularly, Dumbarton winning.  There's not a chance Dumbarton are going to catch us, and if they are winning, other teams a little above will be losing.  If we continue with our post-Dunc points per game ratio, then we might well make the promotion play-offs.  What a brilliant job Scott is doing with the boys!