Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City will go into Saturday's First Division Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg at Central Park full of confidence after an absolutely superb fight-back against Cowdenbeath at Glebe Park.

Down 2-0 at half-time and looking dead and buried, City defied expectations and produced one of their best performances of the season after the break to rescue a tie which had seemed out of their grasp.

Substitute Jordan Kirkpatrick pulled a goal back within a minute of the second-half starting and then set up striker Mitch Megginson for the second goal just five minutes later.

City entirely dominated the second-half and must now approach Saturday's game with confidence after such a stirring performance.

Manager Jim Weir kept faith with the side that had beaten Ayr United on Saturday

Cowdenbeath had the first scoring opportunity after just three minutes when Greg Stewart headed a Scott Linton cross just past the post but Linton went one better just a minute later when he blasted home the opener from the edge of the box.

City had a half-chance after 12 minutes when a good Rory McAllister head-flick sent Mitch Megginson clear but the on-loan Aberdeen striker overan the ball and the opportunity was lost.

Lewis Coult had a further chance for Cowden after quarter of an hour when he wheeled round in the box and drilled in a shot but it was well wide of Craig Nelson's left-hand post.

A great piece of play from City almost brought the equaliser five minutes later when McAllister was unlucky to see his shot from an Andrew Cook cross go just over the bar.

The Blue Brazil's off the ball running and quick passing was causing all sorts of problems for the City defence and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead with a fine goal in the 25th minute.

Linton made room for himself on the left and delivered a good cross into the box for the unmarked Coult who had time and space to direct a header past Nelson into the bottom corner of the net.

City though didn't let their heads go down and a long-range effort from Craig Molloy went just past the post in the 36th minute and a Gary Fusco shot five minutes later went the same way.

City started the second-half with Jordan Kirkpatrick and David McKenna replacing Neil Janczyk and Gary Fusco and Kirkpatrick made his presence felt within a minute with a glorious goal.

Picking the ball up 25 yards from goal, the midfielder took a couple of steps forward before unleashing a blistering left-foot drive which entered the net via Ludovic Roy's left-hand post giving the keeper no chance.

City had the bit between their teeth now and they dramatically scored the equaliser five minutes later.

Kirkpatrick played a superb through ball to Megginson who kept his cool before steering the ball well beyond Roy into the bottom corner of the net.

It was all City now and they should have grabbed the lead five minutes later when McAllister raced clear on the right and squared the ball to the unmarked McKenna but Roy brought off a brilliant save to deny him.

City had another chance in the 65th minute when Andrew Cook played a pass to Jamie Redman at the edge of the box but the midfielder fired his shot over the bar.

In the 71st minute the visitors replaced goalkeeper Roy who had picked up an injury with David Hay but City were totally dominating play at this stage and they were desperately unlucky not to grab the lead six minutes later when a netbound Ewan Moyes header was cleared off the line by Linton.

City were surging forward at every opportunity and a Kevin Byers shot was held by Hay with five minutes remaining.

In the final minute McAllister and Kirkpatrick collided with each other in the box, both attempting to get on the end of a Byers cross.

Other Results - First Division Play-Off Semi-Final (First Leg)

Forfar Athletic 1 Ayr United 4

Loons Hammered By Honest Men