Brechin City boss Ray McKinnon was both delighted and relieved after his side clinched their place in the Scottish Championship play-offs following a 2-2 draw against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.
City found themselves two goals down within the first 11 minutes after Martin Grehan had headed the Warriors in front after just two minutes with Alan Lithgow adding a second 10 minutes later.
However, Andy Jackson fired home from around 15 yards seconds after Lithgow’s goal to reduce the deficit and Alan Trouten’s blistering close-range drive eight minutes later levelled the match.
Clear-cut chances for both sides after the break were at a premium and the Warriors’ cause wasn’t helped late on in the half when Grehan was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Thereafter, City were quite content to keep possession and see out the match to ensure their top four finish.
“I’m delighted that we’ve got the point we needed but it was certainly a very nervy last 10 minutes as anything can happen in football,” McKinnon said.
“We knew that if we couldn’t win the league our only route to promotion was through the play-offs and I’m absolutely delighted for the guys that we’ve achieved that objective.”
“We got off to the worst possible start losing two goals within the first 10 minutes.
“We gave away a cheap throw-in which then led to a corner from which Stenny scored their first goal.
“However, maybe that’s what was needed to spring us into life and Andy Jackson’s goal was so important coming as it did immediately after Stenny’s second goal.”