Thanks to a Charlie King penalty, Brechin take a one-goal lead into the second leg and the knowledge that if they show anything close to last night’s form they have a decent chance of progressing in the play-offs.
The forecast might have been even more positive had they converted a couple more of their chances, and Airdrie could have had no complaints.
“We have played as well as that in patches, but never for the full 90 minutes,” said City manager Jim Duffy.
“It is disappointing just to have a one-goal advantage. Airdrie must be delighted.”
Airdrie manager Kenny Black admitted his side would have to improve dramatically if their battle to stay in the first division was to stay alive.
“We were lucky to get away with 2-1. They were more hungry and we got what we deserved. They have players who can hurt you, but that’s not something our players had not been told.”
It was as good a game as Glebe Park has seen all season and it opened promisingly for home fans when Mark Archdeacon laid the ball off for Rory McAllister to have his first crack at goal in the third minute.
Two minutes later the Airdrie defence was again split, this time by a Steve Canning pass, and with keeper Lee Hollis well off his line Charlie King only just failed to connect with his attempt to lob the ball into the gaping net.
A shot from Scott McLauchlin was pushed round the post by home keeper Craig Nelson as both teams showed they were keen to have a go.
City opened the scoring in the 10th minute when King weaved his way down the right and parted to McAllister.
He spotted Hollis was again well off his line and chipped a perfectly-weighted shot from the edge of the box over the keeper for his 28th goal of the season. The lead lasted five minutes.
The strong-running John Baird attacked down the left and his low cross was met by Scott Gemmill who volleyed in at the near post.
Brechin swept back into the attack and King shot over then a McAllister header was cleared off the goal line.
The second goal came in 43 minutes. Referee Brian Winter allowed City the advantage as Kevin Byers rode a hefty tackle from Richard Waddell and McAllister’s strength carried the ball into the penalty area where he was felled by Robert Donnelly.
King smacked home the penalty for his 15th goal of the season.
City were even more dominant in the second half and it was 30 minutes old before Nelson was called upon to make his first save from a McLauchlin shot.
Before and after that rare foray and right up to the dying minutes, Airdrie’s goal was peppered with shots from McAllister, Mark Docherty, Richard Walker and Byers who had a drive blocked on the line by Ryan McCann.
“We are part timers and we will have to wait until Saturday to see if the legs can get going again,” said Duffy.
Attendance 583.