Brechin produced a remarkable second-half fightback to earn a point and put a dent in Cowdenbeath’s second division title bid.
The Fife side stormed into a 3-0 lead at half-time but were still pegged back.
“The players take the pats on the back when it goes well but they must also take responsibility when they let everyone down,” said shell-shocked Cowden boss Danny Lennon.
Cowden had dominated from the second minute when Gareth Wardlaw slid home a Paul McQuade cross.
Cowden were 2-0 up by the sixth minute after a poor clearance dropped to Darren McGregor who lashed a 25-yard volley past Craig Nelson.
The visitors regularly found space around the City penalty area and, although half chances fell to City’s Mark Archdeacon and Rory McAllister, it was no surprise when McQuade played a neat one-two with Jon Robertson then sent a pass into the path of Wardlaw whose well-timed run took him in for his second goal.
The roles were reversed after the break and in 52 minutes McAllister smashed the ball into the net after being found by a Charlie King cross.
Two minutes later another King pass split the defence for McAllister to side-foot home his 27th goal of the season.
Brechin kept driving forward and in the 59th minute visiting keeper David Hay was relieved to watch the ball trundle wide after he fumbled a King drive and Cowdenbeath countered with a McQuade shot off the bar.
It looked as if the Fifers would hang on but in the 86th minute Kris Vallers battled his way into the box and crashed an angled drive past the keeper.GuaranteedThe result left Cowden seven points behind leaders Alloa, although the point guaranteed a play-off spot. Brechin need two more points to join them in the play-offs.
“We were like a rabbit caught in the headlights,” said City boss Jim Duffy.
“Cowdenbeath came out of the blocks and before we had time to settle we were two goals down.
“But in the second half we again showed we had pride and desire. We took the game to Cowdenbeath and our first goal gave us a glimmer of hope. It was a fantastic point for us.”
For Lennon it felt like a defeat.
“I was disappointed in the manner we lost momentum. You need to know the job to do when you don’t have possession and we only started playing again in the last two or three minutes.
“Full credit to Brechin and McAllister and King caused us problems with a willingness to keep going.”
Brechin expect to be without Barry Smith for the return game at Cowdenbeath on Saturday after he had to have stitches in a head gash.
Attendance: 304.