Can this be done

I don’t know of a specific plugin for your intended use.
Check these plugins if (there may be more) any will do what you intend to do.

You can use a text widget with a shortcode that checks the category and gets the correct post.

To get shortcodes to work in widgets, add this to functions.php:

add_filter('widget_text','do_shortcode');

In the function that your shortcode calls, use something like this:

$output = '';
$cat = get_query_var('cat');
if (intval($cat)) {
   // Use the cat id in $cat to get the post and format into $output
}
return $output;

that sounds good vtxyzzy the only trouble is im a bit of an old dumb fart when it comes to the usage of codes lol

vtxyzzy has provided superb solution!

add_filter('widget_text','do_shortcode');

that goes in your current theme’s functions.php after the <?php tag

the shortcode i believe goes in your page.

the only trouble is im a bit of an old dumb fart when it comes to the usage of codes lol

That’s when a plugin comes in handy, provided you can find one that will do exactly what you want it do.

But I will go for vtxyzzy’s solution, which is excellent indeed. Just play with it, I am sure you can get to work. Just make sure to backup everything in case.

@coxie, since I am a bit of an old fart myself, I will be glad to help. Just email me at mac =at= mcdspot =dot= com and I will try to provide some code for you to copy.

cheers vtx I have sent one and thanks t-p for the response also.

You got the right address. Check your email.