By FOS Editor
May 12 2011

The SFL promotion/relegation play offs got underway with the semi finals first legs last night.

There was mixed results for the sides in the First Division play offs, with Brechin drawing with Cowdenbeath, and Ayr United taking a comfortable lead over Forfar.

A fine second-half comeback from Second Division Brechin ensured their play-off semi-final against Cowdenbeath is finely poised after the first leg. Scott Linton found the bottom corner from 20 yards for First Division Cowden after four minutes and crossed for Lewis Coult to head the second.

Brechin had rarely threatened, but Jordan Kirkpatrick fired in from 25 yards a minute after the break. Mitchel Megginson slammed home from 12 yards five minutes later to make it 2-2.

Ayr United established a three goal lead in their first leg with Forfar. Michael Moffat guiding the ball home for Ayr from 12 yards after two minutes, but Chris Templeman headed a reply eight minutes later.

But Moffat's cross was inadvertently turned past his own goalkeeper by Jamie Bishop after 35 minutes. Ryan McCann slotted in after 52 minutes and Andy Rodgers coolly added another.

In the Second Division a late strike from Scott Chaplin sealed a 1-1 draw for Albion Rovers. Queen’s Park had opened the scoring after only 11 minutes through Smith, to leave the tie finely balanced ahead of Saturday’s second leg.

In the other semi final Annan took a slender one goal lead over Alloa Athletic, Strikes in either half from Aaron Muirhead and Jack Steele gave Annan a win over Alloa in the first leg of their play-off semi-final. Andy Scott pulled one back for the Wasps late in the game to leave this one also finely balanced.