Conditions were much more benevolent than those endured on Saturday by players and spectators alike, at nearby Denmore Park, as this Superleague match got underway.

With both sides desperate for points, for very different reasons, Stoneywood fighting for survival and Hermes striving to keep their title hopes alive, this promised to be an exciting encounter.

The home side got off to a sluggish start which gave the more lively visitors great encouragement.

Hermes had already survived a couple of early scares when, in the 19th minute, ELLIOT DUFF shot Stoneywood into the lead.

Wide on the right he broke through one tackle and found himself in the clear, giving Lee Sweeney no chance with a low curling shot which found the net just inside the far post.

Hermes quickly recovered and found themselves back on level terms within four minutes when Erik Thomson and Lee Smith combined well in a move which ended with the ball being fired across the face of the goal where MICHAEL DAWSON was lurking and he confidently stroked the ball into the net, past the despairing Scott Goodbrand.

Unfortunately the goal did nothing to improve the play of either side and the half was played out with Hermes continuing to misfire and FC Stoneywood’s hard work preventing the home side from settling on the ball.

At times, the pitch seemed overcrowded with little room, or time, for players to settle on the ball and beat a man or find a pass.

Half time: Hermes 1-1 FC Stoneywood

The decisive action in the game came only four minutes into the second half when full back ANDREW SMITH rolled a pass-back to his keeper from the right wing.

There appeared to be absolutely no danger but unfortunately the ball took a huge bobble just as the keeper prepared to launch his clearance and skipped over his foot, trundling into the empty net.

The goal was “credited” to Smith, the last player to touch the ball but, in fairness there was absolutely no blame attached to him.

At last Hermes settled down and began to knock the ball about but, despite several chances they could not find the killer third goal which would give them some breathing space.

Jamie McLachlan pulled up in 54 minutes and had to be replaced by Michael Smith and shortly afterwards Philip Cruickshank must have thought he had doubled the home side’s lead when he was on hand to volley a cross from six yards towards goal but Goodbrand somehow pulled off a brilliant low diving save to thwart the Hermes full-back.

With twenty minutes to go Craig Macklin came on for Andrew Close as the Uniconn Park side kept striving for another goal.

The makeshift young Stoneywood side were now visibly tiring and Hermes comfortably managed to see out the remaining minutes.

Nevertheless there was a collective sigh of relief round Uniconn Park when the final whistle sounded and a hard-earned three points were finally in the bag.

Full time: Hermes 2-1 FC Stoneywood

A hard fought win and Hermes move on with grateful thanks for a big slice of luck.

Although the home side dominated the final third of the match, when the dust settled, a friendly bobble was the only thing that stood between Hermes and two dropped points.

Once again however Hermes displayed grit and determination in abundance when called for.

FC Stoneywood could barely scrape a starting XI but for an hour they worked hard to keep the home side at bay. However they ran out of steam in the second half and might well have conceded more goals. With games running out, they face an uphill task to climb out of the bottom two