Gerard Aafjes marked his return to action with the only goal as Falkirk beat fellow form side Inverness to press their claims for a top-six finish in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Inverness saw their five-match winning run in the league come to an end, as Falkirk improved their recent record which now shows they have lost just two of their last 10 games.

Falkirk climbed above Caley Thistle into seventh place with their victory.

Aafjes, back in action after a foot injury, headed the only goal of the game in the 35th minute and Falkirk missed several second-half chances to extend their lead.

Craig Brewster's Inverness side were well below their best and could have few complaints about the result.

Falkirk boss John Hughes was positive in his approach and fielded strikers Pedro Moutinho, Michael Higdon and Graham Barrett in his starting line-up.

Following the 3-2 win over Hearts on Saturday, Caley Thistle boss Brewster named an unchanged side and kept faith with his 4-2-3-1 formation, spearheaded by Romanian striker Marius Niculae.

A tight decision ruling Higdon offside after five minutes initially frustrated Falkirk, but the home side were playing with plenty of belief as Scott Arfield saw plenty of the ball.

They went close after 10 minutes when fine play from Arfield gave Moutinho space and he turned his marker exquisitely but his shot flew wide.

Inverness should have broken the deadlock after 11 minutes when Niculae fed John Rankin, but from 15 yards his effort flew over the crossbar.

After 18 minutes, a sweet move again involving Moutinho and hot prospect Arfield led to the final ball going the wrong side of Barrett who failed to connect properly.

A flurry of incidents towards the end of the first half had the sizeable home crowd in the Falkirk Stadium on the edge of their seats.

Falkirk's possession and dominance was countered by Inverness who were more direct in their approach, but the final killer pass was lacking for the visitors.

Rankin made a mess of a chance for Inverness after 33 minutes when he received the ball 25 yards from goal following a Tam Scobbie error.

He wasted time and an attempted pass across goal was easily mopped up by the Falkirk back line.

Then Aafjes' glancing header took Falkirk into a deserved lead.

Moutinho's inswinging corner picked out the Dutchman at the near post and his glancing header shaved the underside of the bar on its way into the net.

Inverness opened the second half more aggressively, with Ross Tokely - defying the wind which was against the visitors - driving the team forward.

Despite their efforts, an ambitious overhead kick by Grant Munro was as close as Brewster's side came to restoring parity.

Falkirk made a change after 56 minutes, withdrawing Barrett and bringing on the inspirational Russell Latapy.

Falkirk then had three corners in quick succession around the hour mark but could not stretch their lead, however they were back on top.

Brewster sensed his side were struggling to make an impact and made a double substitution, bringing on Barry Wilson and Graham Bayne for Don Cowie and Roy McBain.

The introduction of Latapy gave Falkirk new direction and purpose.

The Trinidad and Tobago veteran jinked past three men before being fouled on the edge of the area in the 72nd minute.

He took the free-kick himself and his right-footed drive missed by inches.

Moments later Moutinho was denied when his shot from a tight angle produced a low save from Michael Fraser.

It seemed only a matter of time before Falkirk would score a second decisive goal.

Moutinho wasted another opportunity which was set up by the inventive Latapy whose defence-splitting pass merited a lethal finish.

In the dying moments both Moutinho and Cregg had glorious opportunities to gift wrap the three points.

Moutinho wasted his effort and Cregg opted to take a dramatic tumble, right in front of the referee, picking up a yellow card.

Despite some wasteful finishing Falkirk were not to be denied a victory and finished the stronger side in a match they unquestionably deserved to win.

Teams:

Falkirk Krul, Ross, Scobbie, Aafjes, Holden, Cregg, Arfield (Milne 68), Thomson, Moutinho, Barrett (Latapy 57),Higdon (Finnigan 82).

Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Allison, Riera, Mitchell.

Booked: Cregg.

Goals: Aafjes 35.

Inverness CT Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, Munro, Hastings, McBain (Bayne 62), Black, Duncan, Cowie (Wilson 62), Niculae, Rankin.

Subs Not Used: Malkowski, McAllister, Proctor, Gillespie, Duff.

Booked: Black.

Att: 5,265

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).