Annan @ Home March2025

[tm4tj]

Six Pointer

 

It's the proverbial six-pointer on Saturday with Annan Athletic the visitors for a 3:00pm kick-off at the Caledonian Stadium. We climbed out of the relegation zone last week picking up six points in our last two games and that has lifted us up to seventh place in the table with the prospect of more should results go our way. The dramatic win at Dumbarton last Saturday was followed by a swashbuckling 4-1 win over high flying Stenhousemuir in midweek. Luis Longstaff and Alfie Bavidge both have hamstring injuries, the extent of which are being checked out.

Congratulations to our keeper Musa Dibaga who has been called up by his country, Gambia, for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Ivory Coast. Brilliant recognition for a man on form; a timely penalty save to add to his CV on Tuesday night against Stenhousemuir. 

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Match/Ticket/Bus/Bar94/Info

Musa Dibaga Called Up

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Kids go for £1! Under 12s go for £1 this Saturday! Available from the Club Shop only. Open tomorrow 10am - 4pm and Sat 10am - KO. Offer available until 1pm on Matchday Max 2 tickets per adult & children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

 

2025

Mar 15th	League (League 1)	-	H	-
Jan 18th	League (League1)	3 - 0	A	438

2024

Oct 19th	League (League 1)	1 - 0	H	1,501
Aug 10th	League (League 1)	0 - 1	A	386
Jul 13th	League Cup (Group D)	0 - 1	A	427

2009

Aug 1st

League Cup (Rd 1)

4 - 0

H

1,095

1998

Jan 24th

Scottish Cup (Rd 3)

8 - 1

H

1,836

Only the six games between these two sides with four of them coming this season already. It started in January 1998 when we thrashed Annan 8-1 in a Scottish Cup tie. They must have annoyed us after they opened the scoring in the eighth minute. That's Ian Broadfoot's report below.

Scorers

Barry Wilson (14) Iain Stewart (17) Brian Thomson (20) Barry Robson (38) Brian Thomson (55) Stanley Leslie (o.g.) (74) Barry Wilson (84) Duncan Shearer (86)

Montgomerie (8)

The home side demolished a determined Annan side after an early fright. A loose ball found Norman Montgomery clear inside the Inverness half and he lobbed the ball over Jim Calder. Caley Thistle stormed upfield and scored 3 goals in a 6 minute spell. In 16 minutes Barry Wilson was set up by Iain Stewart just inside the area and he drove the ball low past Robert McColm. Three minutes later Brian Thomson slipped it to Stewart on the 18 yard line and he sent a low ball past the keeper. On the 20 minute mark Thomson was fouled just outside the box. He took the kick himself and sent it into the top corner. A fourth goal came in the 38th minute. Thomson and Stewart set up Barry Robson down the right and he headed straight for goal. Under strong pressure Robson hit it home. In 55 minutes Mark McCulloch cleared upfield from the half-way line and found Stewart who ran through the defence and slipped it to the side of the keeper as he unselfishly sent it across to Thomson who only had to tap it in. After 74 minutes it was 6-1. A Vetle Andersen cross from the left went in off the head of defender Stanley Leslie . 10 minutes later Wilson got the seventh with a low drive from 15 yards and with 4 minutes left substitute Duncan Shearer rose above the Annan defence on the penalty spot and headed in an Andersen cross to complete the 8-1 record score. Annan's bad tempered tackling was finally punished in 86 minutes when Stanley Leslie was sent off  Caley Thistle now play Dundee United at Tannadice on February 14th.

 

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 W L W D W / 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 next 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, Dunfermline bound Keith Bray with his fourth of the season and Alfie Stewart. We got our revenge at home to QotS (1-0) with Alfie Bavidge scoring his fourth goal in five appearances. Alas it was a bridge too far at Arbroath last week and we went down losing three without reply. The Stenhousemuir fixture was postponed and is re-arranged for March 11th. We went to Kelty and came away with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to Alfie's 5th goal in 7 appearances. Montrose proved to be stubborn opponents and it took a superb diving header from Keith Bray to rescue a point in a rather turgid encounter after Sandilands had opened the scoring in the first half. A last gasp win at Dumbarton on the Saturday with Alfie Bavidge scoring his 6th goal in 9 games. Unfortunately Alfie was injured early on against Stenhousemuir in midweek but that didn't stop us running up a 4-1 win with goals from Brannan, Gilmour, Bray and Allan. Annan up North on Saturday in a six-pointer...

Scott Kellacher will still be without Luis Longstaff who has a hamstring injury and missed the last two and Alfie Bavidge might be joining him on the sidelines similarly. 

Annan won the first two encounters this season, both at Galabank. The first was a League Cup game and the second a League1 game. Both went the way of the hosts by a single goal. We reversed that at the Caledonian Stadium by the same scoreline before a crucial 3-0 win at Galabank in the middle of January with goals from Alfie Bavidge, Keith Bray and Billy Mckay, his 114th and last strike for the club.

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Arbroath	28	17	52
2	Cove Rangers	28	18	47
3	Stenhousemuir	28	12	47
4	Alloa  Athletic	28	6	40
5	Kelty Hearts	28	0	35
6	Queen of Sth	28	-6	35
7	Inverness CT	28	5	32
8	Montrose	28	-7	32
9	Annan Athletic	28	-24	27
10	Dumbarton	28	-21	08

 

Last Six: W W L  L  L  L  

<<<Annan's squad for last Saturday in the 0-2 defeat to Stenhousemuir. They began February well with good wins over Kelty (1-3) and Dumbarton (2-1). That was as good as it got with four straight defeats. Cove Rangers (3-1), Alloa Athletic (3-4), Arbroath (3-0) and last week (0-2) at home to the Warriors.

After a promising start to the campaign Annan have dropped down to the relegation play off position. Having a poor defensive record has not helped their cause, shipping 54 league goals and only scoring 29 gives a goal difference of -24, and that's the worst in League1. They have had their fair share of injuries to contend with throughout the season, but then again we know a thing or two about that over the last few seasons.

 

 

 The matchday buses will get you to the game and back on time. 

Buses leave the Bus Station at 1300 and 1415, returning from the Stadium 10 minutes after the full time whistle and then at 1800.

Concession passes are valid on all journeys, with the fare for non concessions being £2.40.

Bar 94 will be open from 1200 before the game and until 1800 after the game 

 

 

 

[Huisdean]

Big Big game. Win this and I would confidently say we are safe from relegation. We would be 8 points ahead with only 7 games to play and surely Annan won't win 3 more games than us in those 7. Hopefully a big and noisy home support will push us to victory. 

Annan are a physical team so we need to be prepared for a battle.  Hopefully we get a better referee as well than we've had recently. 

[The Mantis]

Just been watching the Pars on the telly and under Michael Tidser I wouldn’t fancy them to come through two ties in a playoff against teams from our league. If anything they’re worse than we were last year. 

[+Gringo]

8 hours ago, The Mantis said:

Just been watching the Pars on the telly and under Michael Tidser I wouldn’t fancy them to come through two ties in a playoff against teams from our league. If anything they’re worse than we were last year. 

Watched it too, they were awful. 

[+Moogthurso]

This just popped up in my you tube feed.

 

I think it's a good Omen.

 

What chance 7 wins from 8 to end the season on 53 points....

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/QdjHwS9zcco?si=66RzDwRRPRxqsgqc

[tm4tj]

Most responses to a preview ever.

[STFU]

Just posting to beat the record.

Feeling good about today. I'll be happy with a scrappy single goal win but can we deliver another footballing lesson to the opposition? Wouldn't it be nice  

[caley100]

Bloody attention seeker! 

[bishbashbosh]

I will miss KO if I read all these posts.

[+CaleyHedgehog]

Can't wait for today's game. Thanks to coaches and team for bringing back the joy.

C'mon Caley 

[tm4tj]

I have reported to Scotty, only once, so best to refrain from posting until he has dealt with this issue.

Sorry for the duplicates.

 

[Yngwie]

It’s not often in recent years that we have been hot favourites to win a league match, and we’k all be disappointed if we don’t get 3 points today. However, previous games against Annan have been tight and in terms of avoiding relegation it’s more a case of do not lose, as a draw is much better for us than it is for them.

[tm4tj]

Bavidge out

Longstaff out

MacLeod out

Young bench

 

[buckett]

Today's prediction: another 8-1 humping. You heard it here first!

[buckett]

Going to script so far . . . !

[buckett]

Well maybe not!

Annan stole a lucky deflected goal early on and we've been pretty much camped in their half seeking an equaliser. Their keeper has made some great saves and so far their defence holding firm.

Not too worried at this stage - hopefully we can turn the pressure into goals in the second half. Maybe not 8 though!

[Yngwie]

57 minutes ago, buckett said:

Today's prediction: another 8-1 

Well you are kind of right.

[big cherly]

This is simple, keep the same format, attitude and pace we loose 0-1.

Opposite of the tempo on Tuesday. Scotty needs to introduce changed tactics. Should have happened 20 minutes into the match. 
No point blaming Annan for time wasting (we’d do the same ) or the ref, it’s down to the manager and the players to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and play more forward! 
45 minutes to see if we have it in us to change. 
bc

Edited March 15 by big cherly

[Yngwie]

Shot count now 14-1  but goal count remains 0-1.  Looks like it’s just not our day.

[CaleyCiuin]

Well that was disappointing! Reality Check!

[Caley Mad In Berks]

Well, how disappointing was that?  And other results not entirely favourable for us either.  Really need to pick things up next week.  Come on lads, you can do it.

 

Onwards and upwards

[STFU]

Strange performance today. We were for from good but somehow creating chances and half chances. We didn't deserve a win but the loss feels hard to take.

We know we are capable of better so just need to dust ourselves down and get ready to go again next week.

[tm4tj]

What an embarrassment to football Annan were. Time wasting anvil throwers. 

On the other hand, we were pretty honking and could have played for another week without scoring.

[big cherly]

Back into the relegation fight with a thumping bump. Maybe the wake up call we needed as we were flat and poor today. I’ll upset a lot here but well done Annan. They had a game plan and they executed it perfectly. Score  a goal early, sit back and defend in numbers. Waste time, play the referee and break forward when the openings come. 
The first 45 minutes we had Billy alone in Annan’s half up against 4 defenders??
We just did not have any answer either tactically or in quality of balls into the 18 yard box. When the few chances came we fluffed them. 

No talk now of 5 or 6th, every game now will be important in avoiding 9th place. 

bc

[RednBlackComeback]

How did we go from Tuesday’s performance to that today ?

Badly missed McLeod, and Bavidge obviously.

When McKay is in that kind of form we’d be as well playing with 10 men!