East Fife boss urging players to step up after two red cards

Darren Yo u n g has challenged his East Fife players to step up to the plate after losing Danny Denholm and Aaron Dunsmore to red cards in the defeat at Cove.

Denholm was given a straight red card by referee Gavin Ross in the first half for a wild lunge on Mitch Megginson, who got two of the hosts’ three goals.

Dunsmore picked up a second booking inside the final 20 minutes, after Jack Hamilton had pulled one back for East Fife and Leighton McIntosh had restored the hosts’ twogoal cushion.

Both players will now be missing for the Bayview opener against Montrose next weekend.

Young said: “The guys that have been sent off put themselves in a position for other guys to come in and take their place. It’s up to these guys to show what they’re made of and take the jersey.

“I think the first one, although Danny went in quite quick, he said his feet were on the ground. But at the same time he has dived in.

“The second one the boys are saying was (a booking). He was on a booking, so it was stupid from his point of view to go and do that.”

Young’s side started b r i g h t l y, with Liam Newton having the first sight of goal, before Chris

Higgins was penalised for a clip on Jamie Masson. Me g g i n s o n , h o w e v e r, blasted the subsequent penalty high over the top.

D e n h o lm w a s dismissed on 37 minutes and shor t ly a fter Megginson had Cove in front, nipping in at the front post to turn in Scott Ross’ cross.

Jamie Semple missed a great chance to extend their lead at the start of the second period but Megginson grabbed his second just before the h o u r, fi n i s h i n g from McIntosh’s cut-back.

Hamilton capitalised on a poor pass from Scott Ross to drag the away side back into the game but McIntosh made sure of the points with 17 minutes to go, pouncing on the rebound after Brett Long parried Masson’s effort.

Young added: “We felt we managed to get ourselves back in the game and at 11 v 11 we were competing. There wasn’t much in it. We go down to 10 men and they get the goal.

“We feel for the second goal there’s a foul for us in the build- up and the referee doesn’t see it. The boys kept going and we got back into it at 2-1 and I felt we could have got ourselves a wee half-chance.

“They go and get a third goal and that kills us off. We go down to nine men and that puts us under pressure. It’s a bit disappointing and a bit of ill-discipline, which we’ll have to have a look at.”