Brechin City were bitterly disappointed not to quality for the First Division play-off final despite a 3-2 victory over Alloa Athletic, who now face near neighbours Dunfermline Athletic in the two-leg final.
Andy Jackson gave City the dream start they had been looking for after only three minutes when he slotted home a pass from Ryan Ferguson but the Wasps equalised nine minutes before the break with a highly controversial goal from Kevin Cawley.
When the ball was played into the City penalty box both Cawley and striker Calum Elliot looked to be in offside positions but the far-side linesman’s flag stayed down and Cawley fired past Michael Andrews from around four yards out.
The City players looked stunned that the goal was allowed to stand and there was further consternation in both technical areas with City boss Ray McKinnon, coach Grant Johnston and Alloa manager Paul Hartley all being sent to the stand by referee William Collum.
City didn’t let those events affect them and they regained the lead seven minutes into the second-half when Alan Trouten converted from the penalty-spot after Ryan Tiffoney had handled a Jonathan Stewart shot in the box.
The Wasps hit back though to level the match for the second time, with Elliot hitting home a penalty after City skipper Ewan Moyes had been adjudged to have brought him down in the box.
City battled on but time was against them and despite Jackson scoring his second goal of the game deep into injury-time, it was too little too late.
City coach Darren Taylor, standing in for McKinnon at the post-match press conference, heaped praise on his players for their efforts.
“We couldn’t have asked for any more from the players. I thought that they were magnificent,” he said. “We hoped we would get an early goal but never thought that it would come after just three minutes.
“However, we were furious about Alloa’s equalising goal. The players came into the dressing-room at half-time absolutely adamant that their player was in an offside position when he scored and it certainly looked that way from where I was standing.
“However, all credit to the players who came out for the second half and fought back to get in front and even when Alloa scored again from the penalty spot the lads kept battling on and deservedly grabbed the winning goal.
“We are so proud of the players. They are a fantastic group to work with and I feel so sorry for them that we didn’t quite make it.”