The home side started brightly too, with Cruickshank featuring prominently in several attacks up the Hermes right wing and it was no surprise when he was heavily involved in Hermes opener in fifteen minutes, releasing CALLUM INNES at the edge of the Culter box and the midfielder found the net with a low drive which just nicked off a defender before nestling in the far corner.

Culter enjoyed a spell of possession, but were finding it difficult to breakdown the stuffy Hermes rearguard.

On the rare occasions when they did glimpse a sight of goal, they found keeper Sweeney in superb form.

The Bridge of Don outfit extended their lead in 38 minutes and once again it was that man INNES who provided the finishing touches to a great move involving Cruickshank, Courage and Dawson and, although Buchanan blocked his first effort, the ball rebounded off the midfielder into the net.

Just before half time, Sweeney pulled off another great block to preserve his side’s two goal lead.

Half-time: Hermes 2-0 Culter

The second half began with Sweeney called into action again as he brilliantly dived full length to turn a Gordon effort on to the post, where the ball was belted clear.

In 56 minutes, Culter were handed a great opportunity to claw their way back into the game, when Freeland was adjudged to have committed a foul by landing on the ball after being pushed over by an attacker and the referee pointed to the spot.

Once again Sweeney rose to the challenge, not only parrying Gordon’s effort but then blocking two rebounds to protect his clean sheet.

This reverse seemed to knock some of the fight out of the visitors, and Hermes regained control over the game.

In 69 minutes Stevenson replaced the hard-working Courage, whose tireless efforts had been a real thorn in the side of the Culter defence and the pattern of Hermes possession and waves of attacks continued.

Two minutes later Hermes looked to have sewn up the win when MICHAEL DAWSON raced into the box and found the net from the narrowest of angles with Buchanan beaten.

With 15 minutes left, McKechnie made way for Niven and in the 86th minute LEE SMITH, rounded off a great display, with a composed finish from the penalty spot, after Dawson had been brought down.

Full-time: Hermes 4-0 Culter

All round, Hermes best display of the season so far. Every player contributed to an excellent result, in seeing off a decent Culter side, which was eventually over powered by the hard-working and skilful homesters.

Hermes also passed up several gilt-edged chances, so the result could have been even more lop-sided.

However, the home side owe a debt to keeper Lee Sweeney who, although overall not being too busy, managed to pull off several crucial saves at vital times in the match, thwarting the visitor’s efforts to maintain a foothold in the game.

There are several contenders for Man of the Match but the award goes to Lee Sweeney for his vital interventions at key moments, culminating in a penalty save, thus keeping a third clean sheet in a row.