The match attracted only 431 fans to Fir Park, a record SPL low
Second-half goals by Roy McBain and Don Cowie ended Inverness Caley Thistle's miserable run of form in front of a record low SPL crowd of just 431.
Gretna, relegated last week, frustrated the visitors for much of the match, with keeper Greg Fleming making three fine saves in the first five minutes.
McBain slotted an angled shot beyond Fleming in 71 minutes before Cowie rolled the ball in to double the lead.
Craig Barr pulled one back from close range with ten minutes remaining.
The match was a frustrating occasion for Inverness for much of the match, their players missing several chances to put them ahead in the first half.
Within 50 seconds Fleming was sufficiently alert to turn a Dennis Wyness shot around the post.
Moments later a Phil McGuire header from a corner kick looked goalbound, but again Fleming was there to deny the Highlanders.
Wyness was frustrated in five minutes when his second goalscoring chance was wasted, with Fleming yet again the barrier for Gretna.
Having released 20 members of staff from their books, Gretna were playing without a substitute goalkeeper or recognised striker.
McBain opens the scoring for Inverness against relegated Gretna
Referee Mike Tumilty and his assistants twice denied Caley's penalty claims.
Just before half-time Abdul Osman was booked for deliberately handling the ball, but to the relief of the Gretna players the foul was judged to have taken place just outside the box.
There was a moment of controversy when Tumilty booked Inverness Caley's Dougie Imrie for diving, when the visitors were making strong claims for a penalty and the dismissal of Gretna's only goalkeeper, Fleming.
Gretna coach Mick Wadsworth was back in the dug-out, having missed last weekend's game at St Mirren when relegation was confirmed.
But his options to change the pattern of the match were limited by the inclusion of seven inexperienced young players in the squad.
Inverness were without the suspended duo of Grant Munro and Russell Duncan, and at half-time they were certainly missing the presence of Marius Niculae, who failed a late fitness test.
Gretna's only chance in the first half came courtesy of Brendan McGill, who unleashed a shot in 11 minutes that Michael Fraser saved comfortably.
David Proctor, Ross Tokely, Phil McGuire and Markus Paatelainen represented a considerable aerial threat for the Highlanders, but all too often the delivery from wide areas was poor.
Eventually, though, Fleming's goal was breached when Dougie Imrie unselfishly fed the ball to Roy McBain to open the scoring.
Boosted by the goal, Inverness made a quick break up the park two minutes later and doubled their advantage through Don Cowie, scoring his eighth goal of the season.
Michael Fraser was unable to hold a Kyle Naughton shot in the 80th minute. Craig Barr was first to react, blasting home from a few yards out.
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