Dundee B Hit for Six - KDM Trophy

Dundee threw in a couple of curve balls in the shape of first team squad players in keeper Kieran O'Hara and centre back Aaron Donnelly. Former Caley Jags loan player Charlie Reilly returned to the Caledonian Stadium for his first comeback game since injury. He looked lively when he played for us but his time here was cut short with a bad knee injury. First half goals from Mitchell Robertson, Jordan Alonge and Billy Mckay had Inverness in the driving seat at the interval. Charlie Reilly had smacked the bar in the best moment for the visitors. After the interval Paul Allan added a fourth and Alfie Bavidge knocked in a fifth with Sole the provider for both goals before he notched one for himself.

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Billy Mckay had the first effort after four minutes but keeper Kieran O'Hara saved low down. Alfie Bavidge was blocked minutes later and Adam MacKinnon saw a shot tipped over after quarter of an hour. Plenty of home pressure and a goal was coming. And boom! It came through Mitchell Robertson from the resultant corner as he headed the hosts in front from Luis Longstaff's corner kick. Oosenburgh headed over as the Dee came forward and MacKinnon was keen to have a go minutes later and he was again denied by O'Hara from distance. Nothing the keeper could do when Jordan Alonge fired into the top corner midway through the half to make it 2-0. What a hit from Alonge! Bavidge went close to number three moments later, the ball going narrowly wide. Dundee had a couple of moments of their own with the excellent Charlie Reilly striking the bar with half an hour gone from long range and Logan Ross was called into action to deny Ashton Leiper. Eight minutes before the interval Billy Mckay added a third goal from inside the box.

HALF TIME: 3-0

Liam Sole replaced Longstaff at the break and as play resumed Mckay saw O'Hara brilliantly save low in the bottom right corner. Substitute Sole brought out another save from the keeper but he couldn't stop Paul Allan making it 4-0, firing high into the net, Sole with the assist. The substitutions started and Howett was denied by Logan Ross before Bavidge shot wide at the other end and Sole saw O'Hara keep out another effort. More subs for both sides into the final twenty minutes but the goals still came as Alfie Bavidge the fifth of the night from close range from another Sole assist. Sole himself ended the scoring with the sixth goal to keep us top of the table after four games.

FULL TIME: 6-0

 What can you say?

Not sure this experiment needs to be repeated but that's another doing for a B team. The bottom 8 places are occupied by B teams. 😮 You've got to feel for some of the B team youngsters getting thrown to the wolves. On the other hand, as mentioned, it's great to get game time for fringe and returning players

Robert on CTO picked out the positives: I’m enjoying the Challenge Cup as it is letting us see players who would otherwise get limited game time, and with a large squad that is valuable.

It’s letting Adam MacKinnon and Paul Allan, for example, get minutes in them after injury.

It was a routine win and could have been more but for several good saves by the Dundee goalie.

MacKinnon ran the show, especially in the second half. Alonge scored a goal of the season contender. Robertson again looked the part. Kerr and Sam Thompson did not look out of place after they came on.

Yes I’d rather see Highland League teams involved rather than B teams, but I cannot see the format changing.

However, win promotion and we go straight in at the last 32 stage and that has to be our aim.

So to sum up, a useful competition given the size of our squad, getting minutes into players and showing the competition we have for places in the league starting line up.

And it’s nice to see us top of the table!

IBM was happy: Another very good performance from all the team including those that have not had much game time and the two young subs that came on later! Good passing and movement and six good goals from different players! The only real chance Dundee had was rattling the bar in the first half. Well done to the management and all the team for a very good game to watch

Jordan Alonge

Date:  23/09/2025  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: **** Referee: Daniel Graves 
 
Inverness CT: 6

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Ross; Millen, Robertson, Savage (Kerr 55), Strachan, Longstaff (Sole 46), Allan (Sam Thompson 55), Alonge, MacKinnon, B Mckay, Bavidge

• Subs (not used):  Munro; MacLeod, Devine, MacIntyre, Chalmers, Zimba

• Scorers: Robertson (15), Alonge (23), B Mckay (37), Allan (52), Bavidge (76)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

Dundee 'B': 0

• Manager: Scott Robertson

• Lineup:  O'Hara; Baird (Scott 64), Browne (L Perrie 75), Crombie, Oosenbrugh, Donnelly,

• Mitchell, Reilly (Howett 46), Bland (C Perrie 64), Rooney (Johnstone 75), Leiper

• Subs (not used): Lynch; Boyd,

• Scorers: none

• Booked: Baird (22)

• Sent Off: none