A spectacular strike from Barry Robson 10 minutes from time gave Inverness Caledonian Thistle a 1-0 win at home to Clyde and kept them flying high at the top of Scottish League Division One.

Clyde made a bright start and Alan Kernaghan headed inches wide from a Jack Ross corner in the eighth minute.

Thistle were quick to react and Dennis Wyness headed over from a cross by Ross Tokely.

The home side maintained their pressure and Clyde goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell made a fine save when Roy McBain unleashed a blistering 15-yard drive just before the break.

Halliwell again came to his team's rescue when he denied Wyness and McBain in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

But Robson eventually snatched the winner with a thundering 25-yard free-kick after he had been bundled off the ball by Kernaghan.

Caley are a point clear at the top after ten-man Falkirk remained in second thanks to taking a precious three points away from McDiarmid Park with a well-earned 1-0 victory over fellow title hopefuls St Johnstone.

Kevin James headed a superb winner in the 61st minute of a forgettable match, sparing the blushes of team-mate Owen Coyle who missed an 85th-minute penalty.

James rose to head home Craig McPherson's corner for his second winner against Saints this season having won the reverse fixture for Falkirk in September with a carbon-copy header.

Former Saints star Steve Tosh was bizarrely sent off for celebrating the goal but that only served to fire up the visitors, who should have gone even further ahead through Coyle and Samuel.

In the dying minutes, Saints skipper Jim Weir blatantly upended Colin Samuel on the goalline, but goalkeeper Alan Main superbly saved Coyle's penalty.

Ryan Stevenson had a great chance to equalise in the last minute but Jamie McQuilken's last-gasp headed intervention ensured an away win.

Elsewhere, St Mirren edged out visitors Ayr United 1-0 in an absorbing game thanks to an opportunist 38th-minute strike from Junior Mendes.

The striker collected a slick pass from Graham Guy, left two defenders in his wake and released a 35-yard shot which beat bemused goalkeeper John Dodds thanks to a last-minute bobble.

Ayr had their moments and James Grady, Scott Chaplain and Eddie Annand all fired shots at St Mirren goalkeeper Kris Robertson but found the youngster equal to the task.

In the second half, Ayr had an amazing escape when in the space of a minute Martin Cameron (twice) and Mendes had goalbound shots blocked and deflected to safety.

Just before the final whistle, Cameron could have secured the points when, in front of goal with only the Ayr goalkeeper to beat, he sliced the ball wide.

Arbroath contributed to their own downfall in a 2-1 defeat at home to Queen of the South.

They carelessly conceded the second goal just after the restart and then had John Cusick sent off for his second bookable offence after 57 minutes.

For much of the first half, Arbroath kept the ball in the visitors' half without threatening to score.

Queens were much more productive on the counter-attack and opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Peter Weatherson set Steven Bowey off running from 30 yards out without an Arbroath defender in sight. No offside flag was raised and Bowey tucked the ball under Craig Hinchcliffe.

Arbroath won six corners in the first half-hour but failed to force a save from Andy Goram.

The second half had barely started when unmarked Derek Lyle scored from six yards. Cusick was booked for dissent after 52 minutes and soon afterwards was shown the red card for another offence.

Murray McDowell raised hopes of a revival when he scored from close range after 62 minutes, but in the end Arbroath's desperate efforts were not enough.

In the day's remaining game, new Ross County manager Alex Smith did not get the result he wanted at Recreation Park, where his side were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Alloa.

Alloa, who had lost all their previous seven home matches this season, made a good start but were stunned when Brian Irvine gave the visitors a 38th-minute lead after a goalmouth scramble.

But the Wasps were given a boost after 63 minutes when Ian Little rose to head a fine equaliser from a deep cross by Andy Seaton.

Midway through the first half, it needed three fine saves from goalkeeper Myles Hogarth to keep Alloa in with a chance.

In the dying minutes, Alloa showed much more spirit and were worthy of their first home point this season.