Match Report - By John Hoey

Cowdenbeath 1 Brechin City 3 (After Extra-Time)

Brechin City will go into the draw for the second round of the Petrofac Training Cup after a 3-1 extra-time victory over Cowdenbeath at Central Park.

The Blue Brazil had led 1-0 at half-time after former Stenhousemuir striker Sean Higgins found the net after 13 minutes, but City came out for the second-half very much on the offensive and they scored a deserved equaliser 19 minutes into the half when Robert Thomson, who had replaced Gary Fusco just seconds earlier swept home the leveller with his first touch of the ball.

City then pushed forward at every opportunity in an effort to grab the winning goal but at the end of the regulation 90 minutes, both sides were locked together at 1-1.

However, City made the vital breakthrough within three minutes of the start of extra-time when a drive from the left from trialist Ross Brash was parried by Cowdenbeath keeper Robbie Thomson into the path of Alan Trouten and 'Trouts' made no mistake from around a yard out, and victory was sealed three minutes into the second period of extra-time when substitute Ryan Ferguson blasted home goal number three from the edge of the box .

Manager Ray McKinnon handed competitive debuts to new signings Jamie McCormack and Callum Tapping who lined up at right-back and central midfield respectively while close-season signings Colin Hamilton and Darren McCormack came in in defence.

The first chance of the match came City's way after just three minutes when Andy Jackson fired in a shot from just out with the penalty-area but unfortunately it was over the bar. However, the hosts grabbed the opener in their first real attack of the match after 13 minutes when Sean Higgins collected the ball at the left side of the City box and showed great skill and composure before tucking a low shot into the far bottom corner of the net and Jon Robertson tried a shot from the edge of the box just three minutes later but it was well wide of the target.

City had a half-chance after 33 minutes when Gary Fusco tried a shot from around 25 yards out but it was unfortunately well wide. The visitors had a better opportunity five minutes later when a great Jamie McCormack cross from the right found Jackson in perfect position but he steered his header just wide of Robbie Thomson's left-hand post and and a Colin Hamilton cross from the left was just missed by McCormack with three minutes of the half remaining.

City came out for the second-half in a determined frame of mind and within three minutes, Bobby Barr found himself in space on the left and he delivered a good low cross into the Cowden box, but there were unfortunately no takers.

Craig Molloy tried a shot five minutes later after collecting a short pass from Hamilton but Thomson saved easily. However, City made the vital breakthrough in the 64th minute with a great goal from Robert Thomson.

Andy Jackson played a great pass down the left to the big man who had come on for Gary Fusco just seconds earlier and he kept his cool to sweep home the leveller with his first touch of the ball.

City then pushed forward in an effort to find the winner but at the end of regulation time both sides were locked together at 1-1.

However, City grabbed the initiative within three minutes of added time.

Trialist Ross Brash made ground on the left and fired in a shot which was parried by Thomson into the path of Trouten who made no mistake from around a yard out.

City kept up the pressure, and they sealed the win three minutes into the second period of extra-time when substitute Ryan Ferguson collected a short pass from Trouten and blasted home goal number three.