A depleted away side relied on some fine saves from keeper Rory Panther to ensure that a Caleb Holness goal on 14 minutes was all that separated the sides at the interval.

It was very much the opposite after the break with Hotspur controlling play but unable to find a breakthrough with Inverkeithing’s Jamie Bowman called upon to make a string of saves.

The defeat leaves Hotspur sitting third in the East of Scotland Football League Second Division South East conference ahead of a crucial week that sees them host leaders Edinburgh United on Saturday before a trip to fourth-placed Hawick Royal Albert on Tuesday evening.

Currie said: “We were short on bodies on Saturday, we had 10 unavailable for whatever reason, so we were kind of up against it.

“We went through with 14 bodies, and had a couple of under-20s on the bench, so it was always going to be a tough day, but sometimes that can galvanise players so I wasn't worried about anything on that side to be honest.

“The first half was a very tough half to be fair, we were under the cosh for the majority, and if it wasn't for our goalie Rory, we could have been down maybe three or four goals.

“I realised at half-time that although they were 1-0 up there was a lot of bickering and that’s what I said to the boys. I thought if we could get an equaliser there was no doubt in my mind that we’d win the game and I challenged them to do that at half-time."

He added: "To be fair to the lads, we were absolutely brilliant in the second half and it was a complete game of two halves. We had chance after chance, their goalie has made three or four really good stops and we just couldn’t find that equaliser.

“It’s disappointing but we’re still in a decent position in the league and the club’s in a really good place. We’ve got two big games coming up this week at home to Edinburgh United then away to Hawick midweek."

Looking ahead to the visit of league leaders United to New Moor Road on Saturday, the co-boss said: "We’re confident. We went on a really good run but although there’s been a couple of defeats lately, we’ve been playing well. Edinburgh United are a good team and they’ve got a lot of big players who could be playing at a higher level.

“They’re top of the league but we’ll go into the game confident and I always say in this league that it really is about who plays best on the day because you can’t predict anything. Everyone can beat everyone else.

“We’ve got a good home record and although they turned us over a wee bit in the first game of the season, we’re a different side and have made some important signings since then. It’s a tough game but definitely one we’re looking forward to and looking to take a positive result from."