Hermes bounced back from their disappointment last week in the best possible way by beating Forfar West End on penalties at a cold and wet Strathmore Park today.

The home side kicked off and immediately put a strangely hesitant and lethargic Hermes side under pressure.

Looking distinctly hungover from last week, Hermes found themselves deservedly two down inside the first half hour, to goals from GRAHAM HART and CRAIG BELL.

The visitors gradually clawed their way back into the tie and MICHAEL DAWSON capped a good spell of pressure by putting the finishing touches to a great move by David Stevenson.

Half time: Forfar West End 2-1 Hermes

Within twelve minutes of the restart, Hermes had restored parity and MICHAEL DAWSON was again on target, with a precise shot into the corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.

Hermes introduced a couple of subs in 65 and 78 minutes with Aaron Scoular and David Wilson replacing Christopher Courage and Greg Alexander respectively.

In a game littered with bookings and injury stoppages, Hermes were having the best of things, keeping their focus and concentration, as the play stuttered and spluttered.

With two minutes left, penalties loomed but then, suddenly, the game burst into life again.

West End dramatically took the lead through MATTY RAMSAY who rounded off a great move which for once, carved open the Hermes defence, leaving him the simple task of beating the unprotected Lee Sweeney.

It looked all over for the North Superleague side but they surged forward yet again and the referee pointed to the spot when Michael Dawson was pulled back by a desperate defender.

LEE SMITH stepped up, and with the clock showing ninety minutes, showed his strength of character to lash home an unstoppable penalty.

There was likely to be a considerable spell of time added on, and Hermes task to see this out, was not made easier when Fraser Strachan picked up a second yellow and saw red.

In the 93rd minute Michael Smith was brought on for Andrew Close but his contribution was cut short when he was shown a straight red card after tussling with a Forfar player near the touchline. As a result of the same incident, the home side's captain and scorer of their third goal, Matty Ramsay, also received his marching orders.

There was no further scoring and the game finished all-square.

Full time: Forfar West End 3-3 Hermes

The game went to a penalty decider and Lee Sweeney turned out to be the hero of the hour, brilliantly saving the home side's first and second efforts.

Although David Stevenson also missed the target, LEE SMITH, MICHAEL DAWSON and AARON SCOULAR all netted, so when West End missed their final kick, it was all over and Hermes were through, winning 3-2 on penalties.

Hermes looked dead and buried after half an hour but their battling qualities, backed by no little skill and great organisation, especially in their back four, repeatedly catching over-eager home forwards in a well worked offside trap, saw them through to an eventual but hard-fought victory.

Their reward for their efforts is yet another visit to Tayside to take on Broughty Athletic in the Quarter Finals.