Typical April conditions, cool, bright and blustery, greeted the teams for this Regional Cup Quarter Final, with a tie against Culter or Parkvale awaiting the winner.

In a repeat of the match on Tuesday, Hermes made a confident start, enjoying the bulk of possession and pressing the visitors defence with waves of attacks.

The home side’s forwards were particularly lively, interchanging at pace and pouring forward at every opportunity.

In the 6th minute a great run by Stephen Jack opened up a chance for Craig Macklin but his powerful shot found the side-netting.

Three minutes later Hermes deservedly took the lead when Michael Dawson flicked on a quick throw in and STEPHEN JACK, racing unmarked into the box, volleyed the ball past the despairing Scott Goodbrand.

Hermes continued to display the attacking flair which had been such a feature of their early-season play and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead in 28 minutes.

This time Jack turned provider when he took a quick throw-in, catching the Stoneywood defence napping and finding Dawson on the edge of the six yard box. A desperate lunge from behind by a defender caught Dawson in the act of shooting and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

However, there was a let-off for Stoneywood when he produced a yellow card instead of the anticipated red.

LEE SMITH stepped up but his poorly-struck kick was saved by Goodbrand; unfortunately for the keeper, Smith had followed –up his penalty attempt and he bundled the ball over the line for Hermes second.

Hermes continued to dominate and it looked as if they would reach the break with a comfortable lead but, against the run of play, in the 43rd minute, the visitors contrived to conjure up a goal out of nothing, when they were awarded a free kick just outside the left corner of the penalty box.

ROSS GOODBRAND’S kick appeared to carry little menace but somehow it evaded the diving Lee Sweeney to nestle in the bottom right had corner of the net.

Half-time: Hermes 2-1 FC Stoneywood

The late first-half goal appeared to have had a marked effect on both teams, with Hermes appearing to have lost a bit of their edge and the visitors finding renewed confidence.

Hermes were still enjoying the greater share of possession but they were not carving out clear cut chances and Stoneywood carried more of a threat as the half wore on.

In 74 minutes Jack was replaced by Erik Thomson but the stalemate continued.

In 79 minutes Hermes fell foul of another free kick when ALASDAIR BROWN rose unchallenged in the six-yard box the head home a well-flighted kick.

Hermes were stung into action and they restored their lead within 60 seconds when ALAN MCRAE emulated Brown by heading powerfully into the visitors’ net from a Thomson corner.

Allan Fuller came on for Craig Macklin before the restart and Hermes ran down the clock for a welcome win.

Full-time: Hermes 3-2 FC Stoneywood

Hermes controlled the first half, yet, disappointingly, had only a single goal advantage to show for their efforts.

Stoneywood, heartened by their unlikely counter, appeared much more confident in the second half and the home side almost paid the penalty for their failure to turn early pressure into goals.

Fortunately their immediate reply to the visitors’ leveller, was to race to the other end and restore their lead.

These two sides will meet again next Saturday at Uniconn Park in a much more important encounter with vital Superleague points at stake and Hermes will have to be at their very best to ensure they do not slip up in the tightly fought title race.