Inverness CT2–0Stenhousemuir

Bubble Busters


Last seasons promoted teams clashed at a rain lashed Caledonian Stadium following a rather damp Friday night up North. Scott Kellacher was without captain Danny Devine but, back from injury came Liam Sole who started, with Ryan Duncan, Spoony and Morgan Bates making the bench. Marvin Bartley took his squad North along with the Curse having just collected his second Manager of the Month award. Marvin made two changes from last starting XI with Lloyd and Bilham in and O'Donnell and MacIntyre benched along with big Hamzad. At the end of a tasty match, the Curse did its job and Stenny suffered their first defeat of the League campaign after first half strikes from Adam MacKinnon and Calum MacLeod as the Caley Jags flexed their muscles, especially in the first half where keeper Darren Jamieson pulled off a handful of great saves and another couple in the second half to keep the score respectable.

Stenny remain top with the Caley Jags jumping three places to fifth after today's results. Despite the defeat, the Warriors won't take this lying down and are here to stay, defensively resilient and tidy on the ball, but Inverness were a class above today and Stenny could have no complaints had we scored five.

Enjoy the weekend Caley Jags fans

The damp conditions from Friday continued into Saturday with some really heavy downpours throughout the day. We set the ball rolling with our customary have a throw-in kick-off. It was a lively start by the hosts against one of the tightest defences in the Championship. Keeper Darren Jamieson would be a key player in the opening exchanges with a string of crucial saves. Firstly he had to move sharply to claw away a deflected ball from Luis Longstaff to keep it out of the net in the third minute following a sweeping move from right to left. Five minutes later he made a tremendous save to deny Liam Sole after Longstaff's deep cross found Sole around ten yards out but the big keeper spread himself well to palm the ball to safety across his six yard box. We were getting a lot of joy down the left and another Luis speccial was inches away from wee Alfie's napper. The midfielder finding himself in the net as the ball fizzed just over his head. The Warriors first moment came from a well worked twentieth minute free kick that ended with Kinlay Bilham curling a great effort from thirty-five yards plus with Ross Munro just able to tip the ball away and stop it entering the postage stamp corner as the keeper bounced off his post. A minute later Munro started a rapid counter which saw Layton Stewart lose control of the ball as he tried to round the keeper but overcooked his touch. Five minutes later and we opened the scoring and once more it was a sublime ball across the box from Luis on the left. It was laid back to Adam MacKinnon to hit a trundler into the bottom corner from the edge of the box which appeared to wrongfoot the keeper who could only watch as the ball rolled just inside his left post. Alfie Stewart went into the left side of the box but the keeper stood tall to block his attempt. Ten minutes before the break Sole might have done better from a great position but his shot was weak after a brilliant take on the run before cutting inside and shooting, the keeper able to block the ball away with his legs. We took the lead following a wrestling bout on the right wing. Alfie Stewart eventually outsmarted the corner flag with a sharp slamdown as he delivered a brilliant dipping ball that Calum MacLeod met before the keeper to flash the ball into the net for a deserved second goal. Still the chances kept coming and a shot from the edge of the box cleared the bar with wee Alfie holding his head in anguish.

HALF TIME: 2-0

After that brilliant first half came the second half slump as we held what we had for the first twenty minutes choosing to defend in depth and giving the ball away cheaply. In saying that, Stenhousemuir rarely threatened with Calum MacLeod, Kerr Smith, Remi Savage and Graeme Shinnie stifling the visitors attacking threat. During our rest period, Munro had to palm away an effort from Lloyd and had to scramble across his line to usher an effort just wide from the corner. Then came the monsoon to dampen the spirits and wake us from our slumber and Big Hamzad entered the fray. He may be an awkward customer but he won his fair share of high balls punted in his general direction, but ended up getting booked minutes before the end. After Alfie Stewart mugged a defender, he was very unlucky to see Jamieson finger tip his flighted effort from forty-five yards onto the post and rebound kindly for him to enable him to collect the loose ball. Great vision from the wee midfielder. MacKinnon skied an effort over the bar and held his head in frustration after a quick counter down the right with Sole crossing in although Layton Stewart may have been better placed to round off that move and a Stenny break forward ended with a flick over the bar by Anderson from three yards. Miss of the match goes to Longstaff after he was teed up by Bavidge, but Luis took a touch or two too many and as he turned back onto his right foot a defender steamed into him and the chance went abegging when he looked favourite to score. Fortunately all his good work was done in the first half so we'll let him off.

FULL TIME: 2-0

Great all round team performance today with Luis Longstaff prominent in a dominant first half. Remi Savage was awesome at the back and Graeme Shinnie looked at home at left back. Calum Macleod was solid in defence and scored a well worked header from the corner and special mention to Kerr Smith who looked really comfortable filling Danny Devine's boots.