The Rock beckons

[tm4tj]

2025 AD

 

Inverness have a big cushion over the automatic relegation spot at the moment as we approach the final Admin Derby of the Season from Hell. At the moment we have an eighteen point advantage over bottom club Dumbarton. However, let's not lose site of the fact that the Sons have a superior goals for total than us. We are the third poorest goals for side in League1. On the plus side, we have the third best defensive record in the league. Dumbarton gave Arbroath a hard time in their re-arranged fixture in midweek before going down 2-1. If you haven't seen the opening goal from the Sons' Michael Ruth yet, take a look at his free kick. Boom! What a stunning strike, and in off the bar! Beware the angry Son. The downside of their battling performance in midweek was that the game was played in a monsoon on a ploughed field. I hope the pitch recovers in time for this weekend. We had our own stunning goal last week when a Savage diagonal > Devine volley > and Bray diving header bulleted into the net to earn us a valuable point in a lack lustre display against Montrose.

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Match/Ticket/Travel Info

Update from the Supporters Trust Meeting

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2025

Mar 8th	League (League 1)	?	A	?
Jan 4th	League (League 1)	2 - 0	H	1,894

2024

Oct 26th	League (League 1)	1 - 3	A	872
Aug 3rd	League (League 1)	1 - 1	H	1,439

2023

Jul 18th

League Cup

1 - 2              A

594

2018

Apr 18th	League	1 - 0	A	392
Apr 14th	League	5 - 1	H	2,355
Mar 24th	Challenge Cup (Final)	1 - 0	N	4,602

2017

Dec 16th	League	1 - 0	H	2,103
Sep 23rd	League	1 - 2	A	594

Prior to 2017 we only met twice, in 2002 and 2007 with Inverness winning both League Cup encounters. 2002 was our first meeting and who else but Dennis Wyness and Paul Ritchie were the scorers in a 2-0 win at the Caledonian Stadium.

The first ever meeting of these clubs and it was a one sided affair in front of 667 fans. Despite Dumbarton's lofty position at the top of Division 2 they were outclassed by Caley Thistle. In 12 minutes Stephen Grindlay blocked a Charlie Christie shot with his legs after the born-again striker took full advantage of a half chance in the box. Six minutes later Grindlay palmed away a 20 yard shot from Barry Robson. Christie limped off in 21 minutes and was replaced by Paul Ritchie. Two minutes later Dennis Wyness played a one-two with Russell Duncan then pulled his shot wide. The opener came just a minute after that when Robson found Wyness in the box and he scored from 10 yards after a neat 'Wyness Shuffle'. Four minutes into the second half Ross Tokely fired wide then Robson curled a shot over the bar. In 52 minutes Grindlay saved his side once more when he tipped over a Richie Hart drive. In a rare Dumbarton foray upfield a minute later Craig McEwan hit the side netting from 12 yards. Ritchie headed over then saw a shot cleared off the line by David Stewart before he scored with a blistering 16 yard drive in 71 minutes. Robson and Duncan came close towards the final whistle but the Dumbarton defence held out. 2-0 flattered Dumbarton and they had Grindlay to thank for keeping the score down.

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  ?  /

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. Off to Dumbarton on Saturday and at home to Stenhousemuir on Tuesday night...

Latest Team News from within: Luis Longstaff was helped off the park last weekend against Montrose with a hamstring injury and will be going for a scan to assess the damage. It looks likely that he will miss out. Scott Kellacher is also wary of the pitch at Dumbarton and that will determine his selection and style.

 

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table ahead of the final Admin Derby of the season 1. Arbroath  27 15 4 8 45 29 49 2. Stenhousemuir 26 13 5 8 39 26 44 3. Cove Rangers 26 12 5 9 43 31 41 4. Alloa Athletic 27 10 10 7 39 32 40 5. Q.O.S. 27 10 5 12 28 32 35 6. Kelty Hearts 26 9 7 10 31 27 34 7. Montrose 27 7 10 10 28 35 31 8. Annan Athletic 27 7 6 14 29 51 27 9. Inverness CT 26 11 8 7 29 28 26 10. Dumbarton 27 5 8 14 34 54 8

Michael Ruth's sublime free kick. Pick that one out...

Free-kick perfection

@Dumbartonfc's Michael Ruth with one for the cameras pic.twitter.com/fm9hdfttS4

— SPFL (@spfl) March 5, 2025

 

 

Last Six: D  L  L  L  L  L  

<<<This was their Starting XI v Arbroath.

Not great results for Dumbarton over the last half dozen games. February was a poor Month for the Son's. It all started innocuously with a home draw v Alloa (1-1). It was all downhill thereafer. Losses at Annan (2-1), a tough one to take at home to Montrose (2-3) and defeat at Cove (2-1) March has seen two home defeats by Stenhousemuir (1-3) and Tuesday night against League Leaders Arbroath (1-2). It's been a tough run for the Son's but don't be fooled, they won't go down without a fight and trounced us 3-1 the last time we were here in Scott Kellacher's first game in charge.

Top scorer is jointly held by Carlo Pignatiello and Michael Ruth with six goals each. Like us, the January sales were not really for Dumbarton: Loan in: Owen Hayward, goalkeeper (Falkirk); Milosz Sliwinski, goalkeeper (Queen's Park). Looks like they will be putting two in goals against us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Son's fans can be seen watching a previous encounter perched precariously on the 'Rock' basking in the sunshine as the eagles kept their distance circling overhead.

The Sons moved away from Boghead in 2000 and Dumbarton Football Stadium, locally known as 'The Rock' was officially opened on 2nd December 2000, and they kicked off in style with a 3-0 win over Elgin City. It's an imposing landscape with the Rock and Dumbarton Castle next to the ground. It has a capacity of 2020 and it's had many names since it opened as the Strathclyde Homes Stadium and kept that title for eleven years. It's now tagged as the Marbill Coaches Stadium since last July.

[The Mantis]

Since Michael Ruth went off injured we can only hope his chances of recovery are about the same as the pitch…

[CELTIC1CALEY3]

They appear sharper than us on this front   https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/hopes-raised-dumbarton-fcs-administration-34817572

[+CaleyHedgehog]

Gie it laldy, boys.Today we will escape the relegation zone, I'm sure. 

 

[big cherly]

Just get a feeling this game could be a  bit of a battle. I thought Dumbarton were dreadful last time we played them. That said they will be wanting to show they’re not going to be relegated without taking a few scalps on the way down. 
They have had positive noises in the press about 12 interested parties taking over (out of Admin). They lost 1-2 to Arbroath, so that shows grit to me.  Add to that Scotty going public slagging of there pitch (it is a bog), well, they will want to prove a point. 

Hope I am wrong and we skip back up the A9 with an easy 3 points and 8th place. 
bc

 

[tm4tj]

Almost Ruthless. He's on the bench.

4 or 5 changes for the Sons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Longstaff out. Brannan starts.

 

 

 

[KennySim93]

Annan losing so as it stands we're out of the relegation zone.  We're absolutely battering Dumbarton on the stats, so hopefully we can make the breakthrough in the second half.

[KennySim93]

GET IN!!!!

[KennySim93]

Nothing better than a last minute winner to get out of the relegation zone!

[Caley Mad In Berks]

Talk about leaving it late?  But I'll take that.  Well done lads. Out of the bottom 2 now and within touching distance of Montrose.  I can settle down now and enjoy Scotland beat Wales at Murrayfield.

Onwards and upwards

 

[Kind of Blue]

That’s a wonderful result and it’s great to finally move into 8th!

[Yngwie]

Left it late but this is a good day for us!

[ClickbaitProponent]

Get a win next week and then our game in hand and hope some of the results start to go our way and we could be knocking on 5th. I'll take 5th happily now after all we have been through but I would love 4th even more!!!

[Ronaldo]

A sunny smiley day all round, sensational boys well done!

[Satan]

Mackay subbed off, Bavidge into the middle and scores a minute later...

[Robert]

Happy with that. Well done all!

Nice to be winning late points after all the late ones we’ve lost in recent seasons!

[tm4tj]

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Arbroath	28	17	52
2	Stenny	27	15	47
3	Cove	27	14	44
4	Alloa Ath	28	6	40
5	Kelty Hearts	27	4	35
6	Queen of Sth	28	-6	35
7	Montrose	28	-7	32
8	Inverness CT	27	2	29
9	Annan Ath	28	-24	27
10	Dumbarton	28	-21	08

[+snorbens_caleyman]

32 minutes ago, ClickbaitProponent said:

Get a win next week and then our game in hand

The game in hand is on Tuesday night.  The postponed home game against Stenny.

[Charles Bannerman]

“NOW THS IS NOT THE END. IT IS NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING OF THE END. BUT IT IS, PERHAPS, THE END OF THE BEGINNING.”

Winston Churchill, 1942, speaking after victory at the Battle of El Alamein.

We just need to get the Administrator moving!

[RednBlackComeback]

1 hour ago, Satan said:

Mackay subbed off, Bavidge into the middle and scores a minute later...

I wasn’t at the game, but surely no coincidence?

<<Shurely shome coincidensh Shatan>> shaid tm4tj

[+snorbens_caleyman]

"SOME CHICKEN! SOME NECK!"

Definitely not Duncan Ferguson, speaking after the 15 point deduction.

Edited March 8 by snorbens_caleyman

[bishbashbosh]

20 minutes ago, Charles Bannerman said:

“NOW THS IS NOT THE END. IT IS NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING OF THE END. BUT IT IS, PERHAPS, THE END OF THE BEGINNING.”

Winston Churchill, 1942, speaking after victory at the Battle of El Alamein.

We just need to get the Administrator moving!

Who did he play for. 

sorry couldn’t resist it.  bit windy in Tenerife so left the pool and headed to the pub for a couple of hours.

bavidge scores 90 plus 3, gets booked 90 plus 4. Hope he isn’t clocking up the booking points. 
great result, well done guys.
Quick shower, dinner, then off to the temple bar, Costa Adeje for some more of the amber nectar.

hopefully I won’t post later on as it will be a load of p1sh I will be talking.
Get in their first, I know I talk it most of the time.

[Robert]

7 minutes ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

"SOME CHICKEN! SOME NECK!"

Definitely not Duncan Ferguson, speaking after the 15 point deduction.

Indeed, he’d already accepted we’d be relegated and had his excuses ready!

As fans we all knew we’d clawback the gap and Scott & co have done just that.

However, the job is not done yet and we need to keep the recent run going to ensure safety. 

[IBM]

At 90 minutes I was thinking to myself we would settle for a draw now rather then Dumbarton score, and then up pops Alfie with the winner  Well done again for another great team effort and I am really looking forward to the game on Tuesday night.

And don't forget the wee history lesson from Charles 

[tm4tj]

He got booked for this celebration...

Now that’s what you call a goal celebration pic.twitter.com/oMlTf9hWSQ

— Sidemen (@Sidemen) March 8, 2025