Two goals in two minutes earned Inverness their first win in 12 games in front of a record low Clydesdale Bank Premier League attendance at Fir Park.

Just 431 fans watched Gretna goalkeeper Greg Fleming rescue his side numerous times before Roy McBain fired Caley Thistle ahead in the 71st minute.

Don Cowie soon made it 2-0 but Craig Barr then gave the fans of closure-threatened Gretna something to cheer by narrowing the Highland side's lead.

The match had been in doubt all week with Gretna's administrators, Wilson Field, reluctant to go ahead until the SPL intervened with assurances over cash advances.

Gretna had no substitute goalkeeper as Artur Krysiak was absent, and both sides made three changes, John-Paul Kissock, Craig Barr and Rostyn Griffiths coming in for Gretna and Dennis Wyness, Markus Paatelainen and Barry Wilson earning recalls for an Inverness side who had not won since beating Gretna in January.

The opening stages were uncomfortable viewing for Gretna caretaker boss Mick Wadsworth as Fleming rescued his side three times within five minutes.

He stopped the unmarked Wyness shooting home from 12 yards following a Dougie Imrie cutback seconds after the start and soon pushed out Phil McGuire's header from a corner delivered by Imrie.

Moments later Wyness cut inside a defender but Fleming rushed off his line to block. Gretna stemmed the tide and Brendan McGill had a 20-yard shot saved by Michael Fraser.

The home side started playing the ball around but, with defender Kyle Naughton in a lone striker's role, there was no end product.

Wyness shot wide under pressure and Caley Thistle reassumed control in the latter stages of the half.

Paatelainen controlled a long diagonal ball, cut inside Griffiths and curled a 15-yard shot towards the far corner, but the ball bounced off the inside of the post.

Wyness then shot straight at Fleming after Don Cowie's flick before the striker missed an open goal.

A mistake by Abdul Osman set up David Proctor as Fleming faced three Caley Thistle players but the goalkeeper again blocked before Wyness rolled the rebound past the far post with Paatelainen electing to leave it.

Osman then handled on the edge of the box as referee Mike Tumilty awarded a penalty.

But he switched the decision to a free-kick following consultation with his assistant and Cowie blasted the set-piece over.

The Gretna fans were on their feet five minutes after the restart when Kissock struck the bar from 20 yards after Fraser had dropped a high ball.

Imrie appeared to be brought down by Fleming as the goalkeeper raced to the edge of his box but Tumilty booked the Inverness striker for diving.

The former Clyde man failed to make amends when he headed over from six yards following a Cowie cross.

Kissock then sliced wide when McGill's short corner caught out the visitors, and Wilson missed a glorious chance at the other end when he volleyed over from eight yards after Paatelainen's deep cross.

Imrie was then too high with another free header from six yards following a Ross Tokely cross.

But Inverness finally added the finishing touches to their play when the ball broke well for Roy McBain 15 yards out and he struck a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Soon Cowie ran on to Imrie's ball over the top and volleyed into an empty net after Fleming had got a hand to his attempted lob.

Gretna pulled one back with 10 minutes left when Barr finished inside the near post after Fraser had spilled Naughton's shot following good skill by the makeshift striker on the edge of the box.

They battled for an equaliser without success and their next fight will be to ensure they survive until their next match against St Mirren at Fir Park on Wednesday.

Teams:

Gretna Fleming, Barr, Griffiths, Meynell, Naughton, McGill, Osman, Murray (Wilkinson 78), Skelton, Deverdics (Hogg 78), Kissock (Taylor 85).

Subs Not Used: Schultz-Eklund, Fisher, Robinson, Sharples.

Booked: Osman.

Goals: Barr 80.

Inverness CT Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, Proctor, Hastings, Wilson, McBain, Imrie, Cowie, Paatelainen (Hart 83),Wyness (McAllister 83).

Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Gillespie, Kerr, Vigurs, Duff.

Booked: Tokely, Imrie.

Goals: McBain 71, Cowie 73.

Att: 431

Ref: M Tumilty (Scotland).