John Robertson’s side put in a brave performance in Tuesday’s Scottish Communities League Cup tie, but they were always going to run out of steam when they were reduced to 10 men on the interval.
Striker Robert Ogleby was controversially red-carded for a second booking, a decision which angered the Fifers boss.
But goals by Mo Sissoko and ex-Dundee star Gary Harkins put paid to the Fifers’ hopes of a hat-trick of SPL scalps, after cup wins this season over Aberdeen at Pittodrie and at home against local rivals Dunfermline.
Robertson said: ”I’m disappointed for the players and disappointed for the fans. If it had been 11 v 11 we could have been sitting in the semi-final of the league cup.
”The sending-off turned the game. The second booking was never a booking and Ogleby was sitting in the dressing room in tears.”
He added: ”There is no words to describe how proud I am of my side. We made Kilmarnock look very ordinary in the first half and we felt disappointed being level at half-time and a man down.
”We needed to be at our best for a cup upset and we were at our best, the only thing that let us down was a bit of luck.
”It was a tragedy for Mark Ridgers as well. He had a magnificent match and caught everything, and came to try to catch another one when maybe he should have punched the ball.”
The Fifers were afforded total respect by Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels, who named an unchanged starting 11 from that which drew 0-0 on Saturday at Fir Park against Motherwell.
Killie came into the match without a win in five league games since their 5-0 win over Queen of the South at Rugby Park in the cup, and made early advances to improve on that.
For the second division Fifers, it was always going to be a special occasion their first league cup quarter-final for 50 years. And Robertson’s side showed they were going to fight every inch of the way.
After 15 minutes the Fifers caused a few hearts to skip a beat in the SPL outfit when Darren Smith slipped the ball wide for Ogleby to cut in from the right and fire a fierce shot into the side netting.
But the minnows’ hopes of glory were dealt a crushing blow when Ogleby, booked on 19 minutes for a late challenge on Danny Buijs, was send packing by referee Mike Tumilty for a lunge on Pascali, seconds from the break.
Even down to 10 men a win was still a possibility for the Fifers until 17 minutes from time, when substitute Garry Hay swung over a corner from the right which slipped through Ridgers’ hands to the back post for Sissoko to fire the ball home from 10 yards for his first goal of the season.
Nine minutes from full-time, Harkins followed up to drill the ball home from 18 yards after Dean Shiels had been stopped in his tracks.
Kilmarnock boss Shiels said: ”Ogleby let his team down with two needless fouls, but I think East Fife deserved credit.
”They did their manager, their club and the second division proud. Our boys looked apprehensive with East Fife playing a high-pressure game.
”I’m just delighted we are in the semi-finals and sitting one point off the top six in the SPL.”
Attendance 4,029.