Stonehaven bowed out of the GA Engineering Inter Regional Cup in poor conditions at Glenury Park.
Both camps had expressed surprise that it was allowed to go ahead in the first place
Athletic opened the scoring in eight minutes after Stuart McConnachie’s speculative effort took a wicked deflection past the despairing Gavin Robertson.
Midway through the half, Hive levelled after a wonderful solo effort from Rob Armstrong who slotted the ball beyond the reach of Iain Ross.
That was how it stood at the break but 12 minutes after the restart, Athletic got themselves in front for the second time. Again, there was a large element of luck as Kevin Buchan’s attempted cross somehow ended up in the back of the net.
Again, Stonehaven refused to buckle and were rewarded when Armstrong scored with another fine solo effort. However, with eight minutes remaining, Grant Lawson put the visitors in front for a third time and, with Hive pressing for the equaliser, Buchan took advantage to make it four with just a couple of minutes to go.
Stonehaven boss Ian Esslemont was not too unhappy after the game, although he expressed concern at the damage the match had done to the Glenury Park surface. He said: “Our groundsman Kenny Black has put so much effort into maintaining the pitch but it’s in such a state after that one that I can see it being out of action for possibly the next month or so.
“Both sets of players deserve a lot of credit for making the best of what were absolutely terrible conditions that made it something of a lottery.
” I was delighted for Rob Armstrong, who scored two terrific goals. He should be scoring more often and he knows that.”
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