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ON Wednesday (tonight) Brechin City have the opportunity to prove their critics, of which there have been a number in recent weeks, well and truly wrong if they can overcome first division Airdrie United in the first leg of the second division play-off semi-final and take one small step towards the first division.
City produced arguably their best performance in weeks again champions-elect Stirling Albion on Saturday and they have previous scores to settle against the side from Lanarkshire, who have prevented them from progressing to the play-off finals in recent years.
If Jim Duffy and his side can keep the game alive going to the Shyberry on Saturday, who knows what lies ahead for them.
City will be boosted for the first leg of the tie with the return of newly crowned Scottish Professional Footballer's Association Second Division Player of the Year Rory McAllister and young defender Paul McLean, one of the club's most consistent performers all season long.
Brechin's last meeting with the Diamonds over two legs saw the game killed after only minutes of the first leg, with a sending off and a three-nil reverse to overcome. The second leg produced a three-one win for the Diamonds.
The Glebe Parkers will face striker, John Baird, who in his time at Brechin failed to find the net, but has been in decent form for the side from the Shyberry Excelsior.
Baird's side ended up in the play-offs by virtue of a one-nil defeat at the hands of Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday, as the ifs, buts and maybes of the tense finale to the season were finally revealed.
Jim Duffy reflected on what for him has been mission accomplished as he reached the play-off spot following Saturday's one-all draw with Stirling.
"We completed the job that we were asked to do and, to be fair, we have barely been out of the top four all season long," he commented.
"There have been times when we have gone down this season and I have felt we were worth more than we got, but you can argue that at any level of the game at certain times in a season.
"Saturday was all about Allan (Moore) and Roddy (Grant) and the job they have done for Stirling Albion. They have run out as champions and we have to congratulate them on that.
"I think our players have worked tremendously hard this season and they now have the opportunity of winning themselves the chance to go and play at a higher level, something a number of them richly deserve.
"We have never been out of a play-off position all season despite being decimated by injuries. We will have to recharge our batteries for Wednesday (tonight) against Airdrie."
Certainly Saturday's 1100 plus crowd brought a boost to the Glebe Park coffers and a good turn-out of locals to perhaps match if not exceed those from Airdrie might just make all the difference.
And for City, if the opportunity to play in the final and ultimately win a place in division one isn't motivation enough there is the added incentive of getting even greater publicty with both legs of the final shown on BBC Alba.
As one famous TV show game host once said: "You have to be in it to win it". And perhaps starting as outsiders may give Brechin an edge.
After having experienced the football equivalent of being always the bridesmaid and never the bride, is it to be the turn of the reds?
Airdrie United have by far the best goal difference of the bottom three in division one and have lost just two of their last six in the first division.
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Weather for Brechin
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
