Hermes manager Steven Watson praised the resilience and flexibility of his side as they rounded out 2025 with a win against Colony Park in Inverurie. Despite Jack Craig’s red card at half time, goals from Matthew Stewart, Craig, James McMahon, and Paul Esslemont made it a comfortable afternoon for the away side, with Colony Park’s goals arriving courtesy of Calvin Roddie and David Clark.

Steven said: “We’ve been decimated by illness throughout the week and didn’t manage to train so we were much less prepared than normal.

“But we still had a lot of quality available and although a few players were out of position we were still really strong and played very well.

“The red card was frustrating but it prompted a gritty, determined response from the team which was so important in that second half.

“It’s a big win to end the year with and we can look to get ourselves back to full strength with a huge game against Bridge of Don Thistle in early January.”

Hermes made the better start and were rewarded after just nine minutes with a well worked lead. Craig tore down the right wing and his cross was headed home from eight yards by Stewart.

Their lead would be short lived however as Colony Park restored parity in the 16th minute. A pass back to Hermes ‘keeper Grant Corbett was too short and Tome Nadji was able to draw the penalty by snatching the ball before Corbett swiped his legs. Roddie stepped up and duly fired the ball down the middle and in.

The goal did little to faze Hermes and they retook the lead in the 33rd minute. Another cross from the right- this time by McMahon- was met by Craig who scored from close range.

Hermes doubled their lead five minutes before the interval when McMahon showed great strength to hold off the Colony defense and skill to chip the encroaching goalkeeper.

The away side’s afternoon would be made more difficult when Craig received his marching orders in the 42nd minute after an off-the-ball incident, but they reacted well and grabbed the killer fourth on the hour mark. Paul Esslemont was isolated but once he collected the ball, the striker made no mistake to fire across goal and into the bottom corner.

The game slowed into the final stages but Colony managed to grab a late consolation. Clark received the ball at the edge of the box and found the bottom corner with a pinpoint strike in the 91st minute.