Young hails East Fife performance after narrow defeat in Inverness

East Fife boss Darren Young was delighted with his side despite their 1- 0 loss in Inverness.

The defeat ended East Fife’s Betfred Cup campaign at the group stage with the Methil men having just the three points to show for their efforts.

But boss Young doesn’t believe t h a t ’s a fair representation of how his side has played during a campaign which saw them grouped with Cowdenbeath and three Championship teams, including league favourites Hearts.

Caley secured the win with a second half strike on Saturday with the Fifers passing up the chance to secure at least one point with a late penalty miss.

Young insisted his side gave him everything.

He said: “I thought we were outstanding from start to finish. Every single player was brilliant.

“We created a lot of chances and put a lot of balls into the box. On another day Jack Hamilton could have had a hat-trick.”

The hosts had an early sight of goal when Kai Kennedy dragged his effort wide and East Fife striker Ryan Wallace should have done better but lashed a strike high over the bar.

A Fife free-kick was then touched into the box by Stewart Murdoch into the path of Chris Higgins but his effort from point-blank range was beaten away by Caley keeper Cameron Mackay.

Hamilton almost took the lead early in the second half with a header which drifted narrowly over the bar.

The on-loan Livingston striker then pulled a terrific low save out of Mackay.

Sub Thomas Collins was lively and the Caley defence had to be at their best to scramble back and clear his dangerous cross.

Inverness grabbed the lead when Shane Sutherland powered Cameron Harper’s corner beyond Fife keeper Jordan Hart. East Fife pressed for an equaliser and bombarded the Caley goal.

After Robbie Deas tripped Hamilton inside the box the Methil striker himself stepped up to take the resultant spot-kick but his effort was stopped by Mackay.