Ian Black holds off St Mirren midfielder Gary Mason

Garry Brady's first goal of the season gave St Mirren their first victory of the season.

Inverness Caley Thistle took a deserved lead into the break courtesy of Adam Rooney's penalty on 43 minutes.

But Billy Mehmet prodded the ball under goalkeeper Michael Fraser after the hour mark to draw the Buddies level.

And with 10 minutes to go Brady latched on to a Stephen McGinn cross to hammer the ball high past Michael Fraser to take a much-needed three points.

The home side were in the ascendancy early on and had the first chance when Ross Tokely's free-kick found Rooney in space, but Garry Wood was not quick enough to make anything of his knockdown.

St Mirren had their first opportunity after 15 minutes when Steven Robb's corner fell to Brady on the edge of the box, but he dragged his effort harmlessly wide.

The visitors appealed for a penalty in the 26th minute when Gary Mason fell in the box under pressure from Black, but referee Iain Brines waved play on.

Slack play from Jim Hamilton allowed Iain Vigurs to break and his threaded ball put Rooney through on goal, but the Irishman's effort was well blocked by Buddies captain John Potter.

But the home side took a deserved lead in the 43rd minute from a penalty.

Tokely threaded a clever ball through to Wood, who was brought down in the box by Franco Miranda, and Rooney smashed the ball low and hard into the back of the net from the spot

Caley Thistle started the second half strongly, with Rooney almost capitalising on a Will Haining mistake, but his effort smashed off Mark Howard's bar.

Howard produced a terrific save at full stretch 10 minutes into the second half to deny the impressive Wood as Inverness looked to put the game beyond doubt.

However, the travelling support had something to cheer about after 61 minutes when Billy Mehmet out-sprinted the home defence to poke the ball past Fraser.

Howard then pulled off a miraculous save when a Rooney shot was almost deflected into his own net by Haining.

But it was the Saints who sealed the win in the 80th minute when Brady smashed a loose ball high into the roof of the net.

Inverness manager Craig Brewster:
"I don't think either side hurt each other in the first half but we got the bonus of a penalty.

"We created a few good opportunities but it just didn't fall for us today.

"I don't think Michael Fraser had a save to make all game and then picks the ball out of the net twice.

"Credit to St Mirren for coming from a goal behind, but the second goal we lost in particular was a travesty."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson:
"We're delighted with the result but that's the poorest performance we've had so far this season.

"But sometimes football can be like that, and you need to put points on the board.

"I've been saying for a number of weeks that we haven't been getting what our performances have merited.

"At times we rode our luck but sometimes you get the breaks."

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, Duff, Hastings, Cowie, Black, McBain (Wilson 77), Vigurs (Imrie 72), Rooney (Barrowman 76), Wood.
Subs Not Used: Esson, Djebi-Zadi, McAllister, Munro.

Booked: Tokely.

Goals: Rooney 43 pen.

St Mirren: Howard, Ross, Haining, Potter, Miranda, Dorman, Mason, Brady, Robb (McGinn 72), Mehmet (Dargo 89), Hamilton.
Subs Not Used: Smith, Murray, Wyness, McAusland, Cuthbert.

Booked: Howard.

Goals: Mehmet 61, Brady 80.

Att: 3,501

Ref: I Brines.

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: St Mirren's Jim Hamilton, 9.00 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.