Although heavy, Uniconn Park was in surprisingly good condition for this Superleague meeting between teams with almost the entire length of the league separating them.

Hermes had come out on top in two previous meetings this season but Cruden Bay showed no signs of an inferiority complex as they launched into an early series of attacks.

In only nine minutes they grabbed the lead when RYAN DUNCAN was allowed to race clear of the home defence and, although keeper Lee Sweeney seemed to have retrieved the situation, the striker recovered the ball and rolled it into the net past the stranded keeper.

Hermes were finding the heavy conditions testing and their normal passing game was breaking down time after time.

The visitors were keeping up a good work rate and were not allowing the Uniconn Park side time to settle on the ball.

MICHAEL DAWSON had been a revelation this season for his chasing of lost causes and closing down keepers, forcing them to hurry their clearances.

This had already paid off with a goal this term and, in 22 minutes , Hermes drew level thanks to Dawson’s efforts.

Ian Summers in the Bay goal appeared to have plenty of time to deal with a passback but he took an extra touch and, when he was closed down in a flash, his attempted clearance ricocheted off Dawson’s back and rolled agonisingly slowly into the empty net.

Hermes still hadn’t clicked into top gear and Cruden Bay’s all-action style was forcing the home side into a series of errors.

Half-time: Hermes 1-1 Cruden Bay

There were chances at either end as both teams struggled with the deteriorating playing surface. Neither team was able to capitalise and, as the half wore on, the underdogs looked increasingly likely to get something for their efforts, with Hermes looking out of sorts.

On the hour mark, Andrew Close, returning from a long spell on the sidelines through injury, replaced Richard Wyness.

Hermes were still struggling to impose themselves on their hard-working opponents and they introduced two more subs, Calum Murray and David Stevenson for Alan McRae and Craig Macklin in an effort to get control of the match.

Despite these changes the home side were still not firing on all cylinders and Cruden Bay could have taken the lead on a couple of occasions.

However this Hermes team has the great asset of a never-say-die attitude, allied to a high level of talent and this was in evidence when they went ahead in 78 minutes.

After being awarded a free kick some 25 yards form goal, LEE SMITH stepped up, as he has done so many times this season, to fire an unstoppable drive into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, past the helpless Summers.

Cruden Bay were still looking dangerous and Hermes were facing a tricky last ten minutes. The home side breathed a collective sigh of relief when, with a few minutes remaining, DAVID STEVENSON capitalised on a breakaway and calmly stroked the ball into the net for the clinching goal.

Full-time: Hermes 3-1 Cruden Bay

Cruden Bay belied their lowly status and took the game to Hermes right from the start. In the end, however, all their efforts came to nothing and they travelled home empty handed. It might have been a different story, had their forwards showed a little more composure in front of goal.

Hermes have developed the priceless knack of winning when not at their best and this game was a case in point. Despite being far short of their usual standard, they collected all three points to keep up the pressure on their rivals.

They showed real grit in sticking to their task against committed opponents and, while free-flowing football was not much in evidence, the end result was another three points in the bag and on to a fresh challenge next week.