ROLLERCOASTER. Perhaps the most satisfactory term to epitomise the Inverness Caley Thistle career of Carl Tremarco – the scorer of his side’s only goal in a slender victory over Morton at the weekend.

The full-back’s near-post run and header resulted in an effort marginally more accurate than his right-foot volley in the Scottish Cup replay days earlier, with the width of the bar that night ensuring another passionate yet generous Highland derby would end in a four-goal draw.

The tie therefore had to be settled by spot-kicks, with manager John Robertson later admitting he sought a marginal gain if such a scenario came to pass by having his charges practise from 15 yards out rather than the regulation 12. It worked as four of the five expertly dispatched their efforts, with Nathan Austin doing enough to sneak his past Scott Fox in the Ross County goal.

Tremarco spurned a charitable opportunity to make it a brace on Saturday, with a back-post run reminiscent of his goal-scoring run during the 2016/17 season – a campaign in which he found the net seven times, having only mustered two in a single season prior to that.

Dominant performances by Graeme Shinnie after Tremarco signed from Macclesfield in the summer of 2013 reduced his status to mere back-up. He would have to wait until Shinnie migrated to Pittodrie to establish himself as a dependable first-choice full-back.

His status as a back-up evolved into first-team regular once Graeme Shinnie went to Aberdeen, though before then, Tremarco was called upon to deputise in the Scottish Cup winning side of 2015 due to absences.

A whirlwind of emotions engulfed the defender that day too. Yes, he ended the afternoon by triumphantly raising the trophy above his head, though not before apologising to his team-mates for his error which, in his attempts to redress, saw him ordered off.

Since then he has suffered relegation from the Premiership, been appointed club captain, skippered the side to Irn Bru Cup success – again scoring the game’s sole goal via a back-post run – and was sorely missed earlier in the season while out injured, especially when the club took the necessary decision to release Riccardo Calder after he was found guilty of assaulting a woman.

Rollercoaster is also far from the least suitable term to describe Caley’s season so far as well – in what is their 25th anniversary year.

One thing that has remained fairly consistent – aside from their spate of consecutive draws near the start of the season – has been team selection, though whether Robertson can be accused of being too dogmatic is up for debate.

He has stuck largely with the same XI, with seven players starting in 80% or more of their league matches. Another five have started at least 14 of the 25 Championship fixtures.

Tremarco’s weekend winner means their recent form now reads WLDLDW, while unfortunate exits in the Betfred Cup and a somewhat disappointing league campaign have been compensated for by the lure of the play-offs and the fact they have a Scottish Cup quarter-final against fellow Championship opposition to look forward to.

Their league form may leave a lot to be desired, but results in cup competitions thus far, Challenge Cup aside, will stand them in good stead should they obtain a top-four finish.

Duffy's delight as dominant Dom lifts Dumbarton

THERE have been times this season when the Dumbarton treatment room must have resembled the aftermath of the Battle of Thermopylae.

Multiple casualties has been one of the few constants of their campaign, leaving Stevie Aitken, and now Jim Duffy, unable to name a full complement of substitutes.

Even recent improvements in this department left them only able to select six bodies beyond their starting eleven for Saturday’s encounter with East Fife. 

Several weeks ago this column suggested that Duffy’s debut win as Dumbarton manager – an emphatic 4-0 victory over Saturday’s opponents – was a sign of things to come. 

However, a mere pair of triumphs in their next 12 League One matches left them two points off the rock-bottom with the prospect of relegation staring them in the face. 

Suddenly, back-to-back victories – including a barnstorming 4-3 on Saturday – seven goals scored and two masterful displays from Dom Thomas has morphed their precarious position into something much more encouraging.

Those latest wins leaves them four matches unbeaten and five points off Stenhousemuir who occupy the automatic relegation slot – with the caveat that all three sides below them have a game in hand.

It sets Duffy’s men up nicely for the battle about to ensue for their final 10 matches of the season.

Chance for Blue Toon to go top

GIVEN the extraordinary turnaround in fortunes of current League Two pace-setters Edinburgh City, it is perhaps unfortunate that they should be at risk of relinquishing their lead this evening.

The capital side have not lost back-to-back defeats in the league this season, and even bounced back from a disappointing Irn-Bru Cup exit to Welsh side Connah’s Quay with a 2-0 victory over Cowdenbeath at the weekend.

Despite that keeping them at the top of the pile, Peterhead stayed on their coattails with a victory of their own over Stirling. 

It’s no exaggeration to say that Jim McInally’s men have an embarrassment of riches in attack. Rory McAllister, the scorer of the only goal of a poor match, exemplified the options they have.

McAllister, who now has 13 for the campaign, was supplemented by the additions of Ryan Dow and Derek Lyle at the start of the season, while Shane Sutherland was added last month, bolstering the attack further.

If whatever combination McInally chooses can click again tonight against Cowdenbeath, the Blue Toon will leapfrog City and take a two-point advantage going into the final 11 matches.