Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City will contest their first ever First Division Play-Off Final after a tremendous 1-0 away win at Airdrie in the second-leg of their semi-final tie.

City were under the cosh for much of the opening 45 minutes but the defence superbly marshalled by Barry Smith and Paul McLean stood firm and Craig Nelson really didn’t have many saves to make in the first-half.

Rory McAllister grabbed a wonderful winner for City in 61 minutes when his superb 25 yard strike left Diamonds keeper Lee Hollis clutching at thin air and although Airdrie put a lot of pressure on in the closing stages, Brechin could even had added to their tally as the home side, in an effort to get on even terms, left themselves exposed at the back.

The result relegates Airdrie to the Second Division but City have a great opportunity to move up to the First Division if they can overcome Cowdenbeath who defeated Alloa in the other semi-final tie.

The first-leg will be at Central Park this coming Wednesday evening with a 7.45pm kick-off while the second-leg will take place at Glebe Park next Sunday afternoon.

Manager Jim Duffy was delighted at the final whistle

“ It's a fantastic result. You can't underestimate the result.
"The boys have played two games in three days, being at their work in-between times. We've got 15 players in our squad. You could some of them were absolutely dead on their feet in the last 10-15 minutes.
"But they defended unbelievably resolutely. As a manager, you can only ask for 100% from your players and we got that in abundance today.
"Over two games, I felt we deserved to go through and it's over two games that counts and we've won home and away against a First Division side. You can't ask for anymore than that.
"Rory McAllister's been absolutely immense all season. He was a handful all day. Not just his goals, his work ethic is magnificent. I'm stunned that other people haven't wanted to buy him. If he keeps the way he's playing, I'm sure he'll get a break in the future.
"There were some contentious decisions, they obviously believe it was over the line. I couldn't really see it, it did look it to be honest.
"It may well have hit the boy (on the hand), but I haven't asked any questions like that, I'm just delighted for the players."

City made just one change from the side that started on Wednesday night with Mark Archdeacon dropping to the bench with Steven Canning moving up front and Krisjanis Vallers coming in in midfield.

Richard Walker picked up a loose ball for City in the first minute and moved in on goal, but his shot from around 20 yards was well off target.

Airdrie then exerted a bit of pressure and Ricky Waddell delivered a dangerous cross into the City penalty-box but there were no takers and Mark Docherty cleared.

Waddell tried his luck with a snap shot from 25 yards in the 7th minute but it went well over the bar.

The hosts were powering forward and a shot from Scott McGlaughlin from the edge of the box hit the crossbar with the Diamonds players claiming it had crossed the line.

City had a huge let-off in the 24th minute when Scott Gemmill beat Docherty and cut back the ball for Diarmuid O’Carroll, but the striker with the goal at his mercy blasted wide.

City had an even bigger let-off just four minutes later when Canning appeared to use a hand to clear a Gemmill drive from the edge of the box off the line with Airdrie players and supporters howling for a penalty.

King relieved the pressure slightly when he sent a long pass for McAllister to chase and although the striker managed to get in a shot it was well off target.

Airdrie kept pressing for the opener and came close again in the 34th minute when John Baird side-footed the ball just past the post after Nelson had parried an O’Carroll shot.

McAllister did well for City three minutes later when he picked up a Canning pass and moved in on goal but he was outnumbered by Airdrie defenders and although he managed to get in a shot, it was easily saved by Hollis.

A good move between Canning and McAllister a minute before the break gave Kevin Byers an opportunity but his effort was well saved by Hollis.

City had the first chance of the second-half when Byers picked up a loose pass from Baird and tried his luck from 25 yards but he was well off target.

Canning had a go a couple of minutes later when he turned and shot from the edge of the box but his effort was well wide.

In the 52nd minute, Nelson came to City’s rescue when he brilliantly tipped a blistering drive from Ryan McCann over the crossbar.

However, City sensationally took the lead with a wonderful goal from McAllister in the 61st minute.

The striker picked up a pass from Canning and bore in on goal before firing home a superb drive from 25 yards which gave Hollis no chance.

Airdrie powered forward in an effort to get on level terms and substitute Darren Smith fired a shot high and wide from good position in the 64th minute.

The Diamonds came close again a couple of minutes later when Baird curled a free-kick against the bar.

As the minutes were ticking away, the hosts were exerting a lot of pressure, but the City defence with Smith and McLean in inspired form were giving absolutely nothing away.

In the 83rd minute, a Gemmill header from a Waddell cross was well held by Nelson and the big keeper did well again a couple of minutes later when he dived to his right to save a Smith header.

At the other end, Hollis had to look sharp to block a Terry Masson close-range shot and with four minutes remaining, City should have doubled their lead when a Canning cross from the right was first of all missed by McAllister and then McLean.

Airdrie Boss Kenny Black said,

“ I am struggling for words. I am as disappointed as I have ever been for a very long time. It is a hard one for us to take.
"It was a really flat performance in the second half, but we could have scored and, I think if we had, we had enough energy to score more.
"They had a terrific save by Craig Nelson from Ryan McCann's volley 10 to 15 minutes into the second half and that was the defining moment of the game."

Other Results - Playoff 2nd Leg

Alloa Athletic 0 Cowdenbeath 2

Blue Brazil Reach Play-Off Final