Brechin City 2 - 2 Cowdenbeath: Jordan Kirkpatrick the catalyst for Brechin

Published on Wednesday 11 May 2011 17:53

ON-LOAN Hamilton Academical youngster Jordan Kirkpatrick put the angst of his side's demise from the SPL well behind him as he helped keep alive Brechin City's chances of making the First Division play-off final.

Cowdenbeath gained a 2-0 interval lead and looked to be coasting until the arrival of Kirkpatrick and team-mate David McKenna sparked new life into City.

The home side looked as though they had left themselves a mountain to climb after Scott Linton found space inside the Brechin box to give his side a fourth-minute lead.

Brechin struggled to get to grips with the early pace of the game and Cowdenbeath went two goals in front after 31 minutes, with Linton again involved. He cut the ball back from the goal-line for the towering figure of Lewis Coult to head the ball home through a packed penalty area.

At this stage it looked as if it was game and semi-final over for Brechin, but the Glebe Park side gradually regained their composure and enjoyed the lion's share of possession towards the end of the first period.

Their best efforts were from distance, however, with Gary Fusco and Craig Molloy both firing over and past the target from the 25-yard mark.

The introduction of Kirkpatrick and McKenna for Fusco and Neil Janczyk paid off immediately for Brechin. The on-loan winger cut in from the left and struck a crisp drive from 25 yards that gave Ludovic Roy in the visitors' goal no chance.

Brechin now had their tails up and they were rewarded with an equalising goal in the 51st minute.

Kirkpatrick was involved again as he threaded through a lovely weighted pass for Mitchell Megginson to fire the equaliser.

City should have gone in front after Rory McAllister's cross-field pass found McKenna, who was denied by a fine point-blank save by Roy, who went off in the 71st minute after he picked up a knock and was replaced by former City custodian David Hay.

The substitute keeper denied Kevin Byers at his near post as the game ended all-square with everything to play for in the second leg at Central Park on Saturday. Both clubs have asked supporters to note that this game will kick off at 2pm.

Brechin: Nelson, Cook, McBain, McLauchlan, Moyes, Janczyk (McKenna 46), Fusco (Kirkpatrick 46), Molloy, Redman, McAllister, Megginson (Byers 83). Subs Not Used: Scott, White.

Cowdenbeath: Roy (Hay 71), Baxter, Adamson, Crawford, Armstrong, Linton, Coult, O'Brien, Ramsay, Robertson, Stewart. Subs Not Used: Makel, Winter, Byren, Ferguson.