Airdrie have progressed to their second Challenge Cup outing in two consecutive years after beating Brechin 4-3 on penalties.

Mark Roberts opened the scoring on 23 minutes when his header from an Armstrong cross was headed against the post and bounced off goalkeeper Mark Cairns and then into the net.

Minutes later vetern striker Owen Coyle had a chance to double the home sides lead only for Cairns to save from his header to keep his team in the tie. After that Brechin came into the game more and by the time the second half came the were dominating the Airdrie goal.

The Airdrie defence had done well to stop Brechin from getting the equaliser until Fotheringham scored with a header from a Roddy Grant cross. Although it had appeared that Fotheringham had climbed all over the Airdrie defender, referee Hugh Dallas gave the goal to send the game into extra time.

Both teams were beggining to get tired and there was a lack of scoring chances. The only chances both teams had was headers from both Roddy Grant and Owen Coyle, but to come to no unveil.

As both teams failed to grab a winner in extra time, the match was to be decided on penalties with Paul Armstrong converting the decisive penalty.

Airdrie: Ferguson, Armstrong, McPherson, MacDonald, McManus, James, Beesley , MacFarlane, Coyle, Roberts, Smith

Subs: Gardner, McDonald, Taylor, Dunn, Bennett