Gibson curled home a brilliant early goal at Fir Park and Jarvis finished clinically for his first Kilmarnock goal. Gretna striker Colin McMenamin missed a penalty three minutes after Killie's second and Gavin Skelton's excellent injury-time strike came too late for Gretna to launch a comeback.

Kilmarnock had looked the likelier team to score in the second period, while Gretna again failed to make the most of their limited opportunities.

Kilmarnock were forced into a late change when Simon Ford fell ill but Ryan O'Leary's return from injury softened the blow.

James Fowler also came back from the ankle injury that he suffered on the opening day against Celtic to replace the injured Gary Wales. Gretna threatened first when Abdul Osman shot just wide from 25 yards.

However, Killie were ahead just inside the fourth minute courtesy of Gibson's brilliant finish.

Colin Nish released Rhian Dodds down the right and he held off Evan Horwood before crossing to the far side of the box where Gibson curled high into the corner. Killie remained in control and Nish shot a yard over from outside the box after Dodds had won possession.

The home side found it difficult to penetrate Killie's back four in the first quarter but they finally began to press.

Craig Barr put in a dangerous cross from the right only for Alan Combe to claw it away from the onrushing Skelton.

McMenamin had half a chance soon after when the ball broke to him on the edge of the box but he could not keep his shot down.

Killie were forced to reshuffle when O'Leary went off with a head knock and young Irishman Tim Clancy came on for his debut at left-back with Frazer Wright moving inside. Wright made a crucial penalty-box challenge on Fabian Yantorno after McMenamin had helped on a long ball, doing enough to take the sting out his shot as Combe saved comfortably.

And Gretna were made to pay for the missed opportunities when Jarvis doubled Killie's lead in the 36th minute with a clinical finish from 12 yards after Nish had headed down Grant Murray's cross.

Murray almost undid his good work three minutes later when his clumsy challenge on Yantorno gave Gretna a penalty. But McMenamin blasted the spot-kick off the underside of the bar and it bounced to safety.

Killie almost finished off the game before half-time when Gretna keeper Greg Fleming's kick-out rebounded off Jarvis, but the on-loan Norwich striker was brushed aside as he tried to head home and Nish's chip was comfortably cleared off the line by Aurelien Collin.

Osman did not reappear for the second half as Paartalu took his place in a new 4-3-3 formation.

The sub had the first chance in the 58th minute when he beat Combe to Yantorno's inswinging free-kick only to see his header crash off the bar and over.

But hopes of a comeback among the Gretna fans in the 1,516 crowd failed to materialise as Killie stifled their hosts. Former Killie centre-half Chris Innes hit his own post as he steered Gibson's cross away from Jarvis as the Ayrshire side broke.

Gretna's frustration was evident as Barr followed Osman and McMenamin into the book for a show of dissent that forced Iain Brines to halt the play.

Nish almost scored a glorious third but his 20-yard lob struck the bar after sub David Fernandez had helped the ball on.

Gretna refused to give up and Combe dived low to push away sub Mickhael Buscher's powerful 25-yard strike.

Fleming made a good one-on-one save from Dodds in injury-time after a brilliant reverse pass by Fernandez.

Skelton volleyed home from 20 yards with the outside of his left boot but Brines ended the match seconds after the restart.