ERIC ODHIAMBO scored late in the first half and early in the second half as Inverness enjoyed a profitable visit to Paisley.
The striker opened the scoring in stoppage-time before the break, sliding the ball low into the net from close range following Stuart Duff's free-kick.
He then doubled his and his team's tally five minutes after the break by lashing home a cross from Jonny Hayes.
Paul McGowan scored an consolation for hosts St Mirren, but they were unable to find an equaliser as the Highlanders extended their season record of collecting all their points in this season's Clydesdale Bank Premier League away from home.
Inverness captain Richie Foran made his first SPL start of the season as visiting manager Terry Butcher made five changes to the team beaten 6-0 at Celtic in the midweek Co-operative Insurance Cup tie.
Ryan Esson returned in goal and forwards Adam Rooney and Odhiambo were also back, along with defender Stuart Duff in place of the benched Jonny Tuffey, Nick Ross and Shane Sutherland, injured Lee Cox and Stuart Golabek.
Inverness were forced into a change after just 16 minutes when Ross had to come on in place of David Proctor, who had needed treatment after an earlier challenge.
The substitute went close to scoring after 20 minutes with a raking diagonal drive from the edge of the box which only narrowly went wide of the left-hand post.
Inverness took the lead when Odhiambo rolled the ball into the bottom-right corner after playing a one-two with Ross following Duff's free-kick.
It took just five minutes of the second half for Odhiambo to net again.
Hayes stole possession from the feet of McQuade on the halfway line and ran down the right before passing for Odhiambo to lash home confidently from just outside the six-yard box.
Hayes went close to a third six minutes later, grazing the far post with a header from the right side of the box.
Paul McGowan set up a grandstand finish, though, when he reduced the deficit 14 minutes from time, lifting a lovely effort from outside the box high into the net following Van Zanten's free-kick.
St Mirren piled on the pressure around the Inverness goal for the rest of the match but were unable to break through to salvage a point.
Source: ESPN Soccernet
