To punish battling Fifers
have an attempt at goal, nodded his effort into the six yard box, allowing Thistle to clear.
Gary Caldwell was quick to shuffle his pack, introducing Blair Spittal and Chris Doolan.
The subs took no time to have an effect as Thistle took the lead shortly after the hour mark, Steven Anderson heading home a Craig Slater corner.
The Fifers tried to salvage the tie and came close to levelling matters when Jonny Court was inches away from connecting with an Anton Dowds cross.
Young’s side continued to heap pressure on Partick but just couldn’t find a way through what was a well drilled backline.
Home boss Darren Young was proud of his side despite the defeat.
He said: “Again we’ve gone toe-to-toe with a full-time team and put in a good performance.
“It’s frustrating to lose the goal from the set-piece, though, and we should have taken our chances when we were on top.
“If you don’t then you get punished and Steven Anderson has done that.
“It’s disappointing because that’s something we highlighted.
“But apart from that they only had another one or two chances.” EAST Fife:
(4-4-2) Long 7, C. Watson 7, Slattery 7, Dunlop 6, Meggatt 6, Docherty 6, Watt 6 (Court 69, 3), Linton 7 (Bell 79, 3), Davidson 7, Dowds 6, Currie 6 (B. Watson 81, 2) Unused - Terry (Gk), Dunsmore, Kane.
PARTICK THISTLE: (3-5-2) Hazard 7, Saunders 6 (Doolan 57, 3), Anderson 7, Mcmillan 7, Elliot 7, Bannigan 6, Fitzpatrick 6 (Spittal 60, 3), Slater 6, Penrice 7, Harkins 7, Storey 6 (Mansell 80, 2) Unused – Sneddon (Gk), Mcginty, Wilson, Coulibaly.