Inverness Caledonian Thistle player-manager Craig Brewster celebrated his team's 'homecoming' with a goal against former club, Dunfermline.

Brewster quit the Pars to take over the Highland hotseat in November, but sentimentality was pushed to one side as he sealed the three points after Barry Wilson had grabbed a 35th-minute opener.

There was a party atmosphere at the newly-named Tulloch Caledonian Stadium as Caley made their Bank of Scotland Premier League bow in their spiritual home.

After playing half the season in a ground-share with Aberdeen, the home fans were simply delighted to be back in the Highland city.

And Juanjo could have given Inverness an early lead when he met a Graham Bayne cross from the right flank, but found himself under pressure from two Pars' defenders and sent the ball well over the crossbar instead.

Wilson then chipped over a 25-yard effort in an attempt to spark some life into a game, which had failed to catch the imagination of a big home crowd.

Dunfermline's biggest contribution in the opening 45 minutes came thanks to Aaron Labonte, who was booked for a late challenge on Stuart Golabek before making way for Greg Ross after just 34 minutes.

The only highlight of a disappointing first half was Wilson's superb goal 10 minutes before half time.

He picked up a long ball from the middle of the park before making a run to the edge of the area and sending a superb curling effort into the top corner of the net leaving Dunfermline goalkeeper Derek Stillie with no chance.

Inverness continued to pile the pressure on Dunfermline within a minute of the restart.

Juanjo broke clear into the box and tried to round Stillie before bulleting a shot at goal, but the Dunfermline goalkeeper managed to get a hand to the ball and block the effort before Ross Tokely fired over from the resultant corner.

Richie Hart then embarked on a superb run, which saw him shrug off four Dunfermline players, but he took one touch too many and Stillie raced off his line to smother.

But there was little respite for the Pars' defence.

This time, Tokely tried to square into the path of the on-rushing Bayne, but Andy Tod managed to intercept the move at the near post and clear the danger.

Caley were relentless in their search for the second goal and almost found it when Tokely squared to Bayne at the near post, but he stabbed agonisingly wide from a few yards.

Brewster may be in the twilight of his playing career at the age of 38 but the Inverness boss showed he had not lost his goalscoring touch when he doubled the lead in the 74th minute.

Russell Duncan supplied an impressive through ball but it was Brewster himself who grabbed all the plaudits with a stunning left-footed finish from eight yards.

Dunfermline tried to hit back through Lee Makel's thunderous drive, but the ball fell just over the crossbar.

Teams

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Wilson (McBain 88), Duncan, Juanjo (Fatai 77), Hart, Brewster, Bayne (Prunty 82).

Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Hastings, Black.

Goals: Wilson 35, Brewster 74.

Dunfermline Stillie, Labonte (Ross 34), Skerla, Tod, Scott Thomson, Nicholson, Makel, Mason, Dempsey, Christiansen (Darren Young 64), Hunt (Mehmet 55).

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Campbell, Dunn, Craig Wilson.

Booked: Labonte, Tod.

Att: 5,449

Ref: S Conroy (Scotland).