On-loan Arsenal striker Anthony Stokes celebrated the news he can remain at Falkirk until the end of the season with a remarkable first-half hat-trick against shell-shocked Inverness.

The 18-year-old burst into life with three goals in only 13 minutes as Falkirk ripped Caley apart at Rugby Park.

His devastating finishing killed the match as a contest before the interval but Inverness midfielder Ian Black's stupidity did his side no favours.

The whistle had gone for the interval when the 21-year-old was booked twice by referee Mike Tumilty in quick succession for kicking the ball away to earn a silly red card.

Stokes pushed hard to add to his tally after the break as Falkirk used their one-man advantage to the full.

However, it was John Rankin, the match-winner on Wednesday night against Rangers, who scored the only goal of the second half as he fired a dipping drive over home keeper Jeroen Lambers in injury time.

Falkirk were denied the services of striker Alan Gow through flu and handed French defender Cedric Uras his debut and looked keen to feel their way into the match early on.

Consequently, it was Inverness who enjoyed the better of the opening play and Black sent a 25-yard free-kick curling just wide in the fourth minute.

Stokes was forced to plough a lone furrow up front with the experienced Russell Latapy just behind him and was finally presented with his first opportunity in the 20th minute after a mistake allowed him to run through on goal.

But Caley Thistle defender Darren Dods managed to get back to challenge and the off-balance marksman's eventual shot was dragged across the face of the goal.

Stokes threatened again in the 28th minute after some neat interplay with Latapy but Grant Munro did well to cover across and nip the ball away from the Irishman.

But Falkirk finally took the lead in the 33rd minute.

Kenny Milne fed Latapy just inside the visitors' half and his turn and through ball were sublime and allowed Stokes a clear run on goal.

There was no way the youngster was going to miss and he calmly right-footed his finish beyond Brown's despairing dive.

Only four minutes later, Stokes grabbed a superb second.

The 18-year-old played a quick-fire one-two with midfielder Vitor Lima and sped his way to the edge of the six-yard box before beating Brown from a tight angle.

Stokes was in the right place at the right time on the stroke of half-time to complete his hat-trick as he latched onto Kenny Milne's cutback after neat play from Patrick Cregg.

Amazingly the action was not finished there as Black was booked twice after the half-time whistle for kicking the ball away.

There was little respite for Inverness with the Bairns' passing style superbly suited to making the most of their one-man advantage and Stokes had chances to add to his tally.

Falkirk stopper Darren Barr came within a whisker of adding a fourth in the 68th minute as he ambled forward from defence and curled a tremendous effort onto the underside of the bar.

Twice in the last five minutes the Irishman could have grabbed a fourth.

First, he rattled the crossbar with a shot from a tight angle which Brown appeared to get a fingertip to and then he managed to volley wide from six yards out after being presented with a gilt-edged chance by Mark Twaddle's cross.

But in injury time, it was Inverness who scored when Rankin found the target.

Still there was time for Stokes to have one last effort but Brown batted away his curling shot from 25 yards.

Teams:

Falkirk Lambers, Ross, Barr, Milne (Twaddle 65), Dodd, Uras,Cregg, Lima (Thomson 72), O'Donnell, Latapy (John Stewart 78),Stokes.

Subs Not Used: Higgins, Scobbie, Craig, McManus.

Booked: Dodd.

Goals: Stokes 33, 37, 45.

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Dods, McBain, Hastings, Munro,Black, Rankin, Morgan (Duncan 70), Wyness (McAllister 78),Bayne (McSwegan 76).

Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Wilson, Sutherland.

Sent Off: Black (46).

Booked: McBain, Black, Munro.

Goals: Rankin 90.

Att: 4,516

Ref: M Tumilty (Scotland).