INVERNESS CT 5 Doran (17), Austin (41, 50, 66), Vigurs (63) DUMBARTON 1 G. Gallacher (13)

Nathan Austin’s inspired hat-trick helped resurgent Caley Thistle rout the struggling Sons for their biggest win of the campaign.

The ex-falkirk striker was in lethal mood as the five-goal beating kept the Highlanders closing in on the play-offs.

Grant Gallacher’s early opener proved a false dawn for relegationthreatened Dumbarton before the hosts made it seven games unbeaten.

Manager John Robertson admitted: “Their goal was the best thing that could have happened to us. It woke us up.

“Dumbarton are a credit, year on year, as a part-time team they keep defying the odds – and I’m convinced they will again this year.

“We’ve said all along, Nathan had a goal pedigree with East Fife and Falkirk.

“He got injured and fell out of the Falkirk team this year.

“We know he can score goals if we provide him with the ammo – and we did today.”

Home left-back Ricky Calder was left for dead by lively Sons’ wide man Andrew Stirling before his cutback found Gallacher firing in from 10 yards.

But the hosts mustered a leveller just four minutes later through Irishman Aaron Doran’s breathtaking 25-yard shot.

Approaching half-time, Doran’s clever pass found Austin nipping around the Sons keeper to net brilliantly from a tight angle.

The Highlanders were cruising five minutes into the second half when George Oakley’s lay-off was lifted over the keeper by Liam Polworth to tee up a simple Austin finish.

Iain Vigurs’ netted with a sharp 10-yard strike after more home pressure and Austin then completed his hat-trick with the coolest of 14-yard strikes from Calder’s lay-off.

Sons boss Stephen Aitken felt his team’s spate of four midweek games had taken a toll.

He said: “The games have caught up with us now – and that’s understandable.

“We’re asking part-time players to keep going to the well and I feel for the lads.

“They’re down in the dumps. It was a game too far for us.”