Kelty Hearts @ Savage Stadium

[tm4tj]

Kelty Hearts Six Pointer Alert

 

With Kelty Hearts seemingly in free-fall, they have parted company with their manager Charlie Mulgrew after a disastrous run of one win in eleven games since he took charge in January. That run has yielded just six points from a possible thirty-three which has scuppered their play-off hopes unless they drop further into the relegation zone, then anything is possible. However, not all the news coming out of the Caledonian Stadium this week is about events on the park. It has been a massive step in the right direction as the news broke that Alan Savage has been accepted as the preferred bidder by the Administrators (BDO) " A BDO spokesperson said: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone and would like to place on record our thanks to Alan, the loan creditors, shareholders and everyone at the club for their cooperation and for working so hard to get us to this point.“Our focus now is on progressing the CVA to ensure a successful exit from administration and secure the future of the Club. Together with Alan, we will look to firm up timescales in this regard as soon as possible.”

Happy Days, and the feel good factor has returned to the Caledonian Stadium

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Match/Ticket/Bus/Gig/Info

Calum Jones Gig/Bar94

Alan Salvage Preferred Bidder

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2025

Apr 12th	League (League 1)	-	H	-
Feb 22nd	League (League 1)	1 - 0	A	641

2024

Nov 2nd	League (League 1)	1 - 1	H	1,502
Aug 24th	League (League 1)	0 - 0	A	692

2022

Jul 9th

League Cup (Group Stage Group G)

1 - 0

A

601

Only the four competitive meetings between the two clubs and you can't get a fag paper between the two sides. The last encounter saw Alfie Bavidge bagging the winner in the second half.

 Kelty Hearts Broken  The two previous encounters this season had ended all square but this Training Ground Derby at New Central Park went the way of the visitors thanks to a strike from Alfie Bavidge. Scott Kellacher had a full squad to pick from with James Nolan dropping down to join new signing Ben Brannan on the bench and Billy Mckay was up front with Alfie Bavidge. Charlie Mulgrew had a defender trialist on from the start who turned out to be Kirk Broadfoot but top Scorer Ross Cunningham missed out. After a goalless first half the Caley Jags upped the pace and Alfie Bavidge opened the scoring with twenty minutes remaining. A late scare as Kelty bounced a header off the crossbar following a corner but the visitors held on for the win in what turned out to be a great day for the Caley Jags with all others round about them losing. Happy days!

INVERNESS CT  The Season So Far

D L  D  D W D D D L   / W L  D W W W L  W L  

W W L W W L W D W / W L  D 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 the 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 and we went down losing three without reply. The Stenhousemuir fixture was postponed and was 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 came North on Saturday in a six-pointer and it was a disappointing defeat after Annan parked the bus after scoring in the third minute. Next up was a 1-1 draw with Alloa despite hitting the woodwork twice and missing a penalty. Another bad day at the office last weekend at a wet and windswept Palmerston after Queen of the South blitzed us with three second half goals to run away with a 4-1 win in Dumfries. Meh! We bounced back with a rout of our own as a Keith Bray hat-trick sunk Cove Rangers 3-0 at Balmoral Park. What a result that was!

With Bavidge and Longstaff out for the remainder of the season, how timely & satisfying was it to see Keith Bray bang it a hat-trick at Cove last Saturday. A great all round team performance with Alfie Stewart providing all three assists.

Latest Team News: Remi Savage returned to the defence last week after suspension and Calum MacLeod came on as a sub after missing the game at Palmerston. 

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Arbroath	32	19	60
2	Cove R	32	14	49
3	Stenny	32	8	49
4	Queen o Sth	32	0	45
5	Alloa Athletic	32	7	44
6	Montrose	32	-5	39
7	Kelty Hearts	32	-7	37
8	Inverness CT	32	4	36
9	Annan Ath	32	-26	33
10	Dumbarton	32	-14	16

 

Following Tuesday's announcement regarding the resignation of Charlie Mulgrew, it has been confirmed that Thomas O'Ware will take charge of the team for the remainder of the season. Tam will be assisted by the coaching team of David McGurn, Jamie McDonald and Dean Robertson.

Last Six: D L  D  D L  L  

Kelty's last six is the worst run in League1 right now. The draws were against Montrose, Stenhousemuir and Arbroath with a heavy defeat at home to Cove (0-4), an away loss at Annan (2-1) and the crushing 6-0 defeat at home against already relegated Dumbarton. Ross Cunningham is joint top scorer with Mitch Megginson of Cove. However, he is suspended for this one. Scott Williamson has seven.

 

Here's the players warming up ahead of this crucial clash at the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday. With big Mulgrew offski, Tam has stepped in to fill the gap after Charlie only won six points from thirty-three leaving Kelty dangling just above the relegation zone.

With Lord Salvage looking to invest in the club, it's happy days down at the dump after a season of hurt.

So much so, that there is a sing-song at the stadium after the Kelty game starting at 18:00.

What's not to like!

[+snorbens_caleyman]

Your AI has some strange ideas about the markings on the pitch    And what bridge has it brought in?

 

[tm4tj]

That's the bridge to the dark side.

[big cherly]

Great summary and artwork again tm4tj. The AI image got me curious however, do you know what the bridge is,  (old forth road, Humber ?? )

PS 3-1 today, comfortable win!

bridge nerd!!! 

Edited Saturday at 07:53 AM by big cherly

[tm4tj]

No. I just ask AI to create an image with a suspension bridge and whatever other rubbish is floating around in my head and that's what they come up with. I wanted broken hearts wearing football boots but that is what was created...

[tm4tj]

LOL, next try was even worse. But, its a Heart wearing football boots with a eagle on top 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

Maybe the Jambos would be interested in a new badge? 

[big cherly]

Half time 0-0. Yawn

Game done at Kelty’s pace. Why do we need every ICT player in the 18 yard box at corners? Where does that tactic come from! Don’t tell me we’re playing for a point from this game.
Looking for a lot better in the second half. 
bc

[STFU]

Wouldn't say we're playing for the draw but it has been a very cautious first half.

I hope Musa is ok for the second half as I was a little worried when he needed treatment.

A draw wouldn't be terrible but I think Kelty are there for the taking if we just up the tempo a little second half.

[STFU]

And I get back to my seat to discover Musa has been subbed.

[Yngwie]

First senior appearance for Rebilas I think.

[+snorbens_caleyman]

From the BBC stats and website, it looks to me that we have thrown away another one that we should have won.

11 shots, only 1 on target.

Only consolation is that Annan were beaten too.

Edited Saturday at 03:57 PM by snorbens_caleyman
BBC recording two more shots!

[STFU]

Results elsewhere mean we've not been sorely punished but an opportunity missed to put a bit more space between ourselves and Annan.

Don't think Kelty were 2 goals better than us today. One of those games where they took their chances and we didn't.

It's going to be a nervy last 3 games and hopefully it is only another 3 games.

[bishbashbosh]

Crab football,  side to side. Had a shot that hit post on half time. Apart from that never tested their keeper. No focal point up front as billy was playing defensive mid field most of the game. Felt sorry for the young keeper. As the guy ran to goal for their first, the keeper set himself up outside the left post, giving Kelty 7 eighths of the goal to slot home with ease. Think the post match interview tonight will be ... disappointed, frustrated,  really frustrated, really disappointed. That was our worst display this year. Big duncs football was far better than that today. A few chaps from stornoway behind me, possibly to see bray, saying what a fecking waste of money watching this rubbish. Ah well onwards to next week, was planning an away day, don't think I will bother now.

[caley100]

19 minutes ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

From the BBC stats and website, it looks to me that we have thrown away another one that we should have won.

11 shots, only 1 on target.

Only consolation is that Annan were beaten too.

Err... no!  We did not deserve anything front that performance... nothing!    Terrible passing, no clue,  no passion, no pace...nothing.    very sad to have seen this from us.

[RednBlackComeback]

One of the poorest showings I’ve ever seen from an Inverness side!

Was obvious 10 minutes in that things weren’t working but we just continued to play the same side-to-side way. Then when we eventually decided to try and change things the substitutions were baffling! 

I’ve said it before, but if we don’t play with a striker we’re going to struggle to score goals.

Why do we always save the ***** performances for the home games?

[Huisdean]

Players and management should all hang their heads in shame after that performance. 

No passion, no energy and quite literally no clue from some Players especially the more experienced players. Goals wr lost were criminal especially the second one but they have been happening all season and still not sorted out. Very disappointed and angry after this performance. 

[Howdenender]

Well, in a season full of poor performances, that just about takes top spot! Against a team who conceded 6 goals to bottom side Dumbarton last week we put them under no pressure, played at a pedestrian pace  and got what we deserved. We are a full time outfit in a league full of part time dross,  you only need to look at how Arbroath have run away with it to see that, and Kelty Hearts are a truly dreadful team, but we seem incapable of putting any distance between us and relegation play off place. And if “Kells” is the answer god only knows what the question is!

[Yngwie]

That is a sh1te result.

[IBM]

The AI pictures from Don were better than the football today!

[Caley Mad In Berks]

Very hard to read the comments on here from those who were in attendance.  Sounds as though it was one of our worst performances of the season.

In all honesty I can't see us getting much in the next 2 games so it could be a real nail biter at Montrose on 3rd May.  

I'm already nervous about that prospect, so lets hope that Annon don't get much in their next 2 games either.

Anyway, onwards and upwards

[+Tree]

Performance pretty much the same as our last two home games to be honest. Sloppy with lack of care and poor execution.

We are playing an empty shirt for a centre forward but probably have to accept there is no alternative at the moment.

[+DoofersDad]

38 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

That is a sh1te result.

It was a shite performance.  I just hope it won't persuade Alan Savage to withdraw his offer!

[Alan]

I can't really add to the previous comments as they have described exactly how the team performed today. No idea how to break down a packed defence or how to defend a quick counter attack

[RednBlackComeback]

11 minutes ago, Tree said:

We are playing an empty shirt for a centre forward but probably have to accept there is no alternative at the moment.

We could’ve subbed Billy and pushed Bray up front instead. Anything to try something different because it was so clearly not working today!