Match Report - By John Hoey

Alloa Athletic 0 Brechin City 1

Brechin City's season is over despite defeating Alloa Athletic by 1-0 at Recreation Park.

The Wasps' 2-0 advantage from the first leg proved just too difficult to overcome and despite City having the lion's share of pressure and possession over the course of the 90 minutes, they just couldn't get the goal that would have taken the tie to extra-time.

It was an excellent performance from Ray McKinnon's men and they must be rueing their below par display on the preceding Wednesday night when the Wasps went away with a two-goal win. All City supporters would I am sure agree, that if the players had performed to the same standard that they showed in Saturday it would be City who would be facing Forfar in this week's final.

The only goal of the game came ten minutes from time when Alan Trouten swept the ball home from close-range but despite continuous pressure in the closing stages City could not find the goal they needed.

Manager McKinnon made three changes to the side that lost at the Glebe on Wednesday night. Ewan McNeil, Craig Molloy and Gary Fusco dropped to the bench with Darren McCormack, Calum Tapping and Robert Thomson coming into the starting eleven.

The Wasps threatened the City goal within the first minute when Iain Flannigan delivered a good pass into the path of Kevin Cawley whose shot was blocked by Paul McLean but City hit back straight away and a Robert Thomson drive was deflected for a corner three minutes later.

In the 13th minute, a Ryan McCord free-kick fell just beyond Ben Gordon and a minute later Colin Hamilton made ground on the left and crossed into the box for Andy Jackson who although in good position was unfortunately offside.

The Wasps through should have opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Liam Buchanan picked up a loose ball from McLean and crossed into the box for Flannigan who looked set to score but he incredibly scooped the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

The hosts passed up an equally good opportunity eight minutes later with Michael Chopra shooting wide from a great position after great play from Flannigan had created the opportunity.

City fought back though and they were desperately unlucky in the 31st minute when Jackson picked up a pass from Thomson at the edge of the box and neatly turned Kyle Benedictus before firing in a great left-foot drive which was just inches past John Gibson's right-hand post and a minute before the break, superb play from Bobby Barr saw him push forward into the home penalty-box before releasing Jamie Masson who hurried his shot which sailed over the bar. City were surging forward in an effort to grab the opening goal and they were again very unlucky deep into injury-time when a loose defensive clearance fell to Alan Trouten at the edge of the box who fired in a cracking right-for drive which came crashing back off the crossbar with Gibson beaten.

City were first to threaten after the break and Gordon had to look sharp to turn the ball behind for a corner after a good pass from Thomson had created an opening for Jackson and five minutes later, Trouten collected the ball at the left edge of the penalty-box and tried to place a shot in the far corner of the net which just missed the target by inches.

McLean then made ground on the right and passed to Masson who blasted wide from good position.

The hosts hit back and a Cawley shot was easily held by Smith. However, City pushed forward again, and Calum Tapping who was having a superb match picked up the ball on the right and tried a shot which was tipped over the bar by Gibson and the big keeper was called into action again just a minute later when he held a Thomson header from a Barr cross.

Barr, who was creating all sorts of problems for the home defence then pushed forward into the Alloa box and tried a shot which went narrowly past the target and in the 72nd minute a Thomson shot looked netbound until it took a last minute deflection off an Alloa defender and went out for a corner.

However, City at last got the goal thy so richly deserved with ten minutes remaining after a great three-man move. Masson picked up the ball just within the Alloa half and quickly released Barr who passed first-time into the path of Trouten who swept the ball past Gibson.

City then laid siege towards the Alloa goal but they just could not get the goal that would have taken the tie to extra-time with the last chance falling to them deep into injury-time when Thomson headed a Masson cross just over the bar.

Other Results - Scottish Championship Play-Off Semi-Final (Second Leg)

Stranraer 1 Forfar Athletic 1

Loons Face Wasps In Final After Draw At Stair Park