A last-gasp Danny Anderson goal gave Stonehaven the points against nine-man Bridge of Don Thistle at Aberdeen Sports Village as the McBookie.com NRJFA Premier League got under way.
The visitors went in front early in the first half when Cameron Cook played in Josh Christie, who rounded keeper Keith Robertshaw before tapping the ball into the empty net.
On 24 minutes, it was all-square when Bridge of Don Thistle’s Liam Burnett sent a clever free-kick in at the front post.
After Christie missed a good chance to score a second for Hive, the Jags went in front three minutes before the interval thanks to James Bain, who knocked the ball home at the second attempt after the Stonehaven offside trap was breached.
Stonehaven had a couple of chances to level in the opening exchanges of the second half – with a Christie volley going over the bar and a David Baillie effort adjudged not to have crossed the line. Then, on 76 minutes, Anderson played in Baillie, who rounded keeper Robertshaw, only to see the ball come back off the base of the post.
However, shortly afterwards, Anderson was fouled in the area by Bridge of Don keeper Robertshaw, and Baillie made no mistake from the resultant spot-kick to make it 2-2.
With seven minutes remaining, there was controversy when Hive’s Christie was clipped by Thistle’s Cammy Bowden just outside the area. The referee felt there was enough in the challenge to warrant a red card and then fellow Bridge of Don centre-back Craig McKeown followed him down the tunnel for protesting too strongly to the assistant.
The nine men held out until stoppage time, when a Finn Masson cross from the right was only cleared as far as Anderson – who whipped the ball beyond Robertshaw for the winner.
Victorious Hive manager Martyn Rollo is pleased with his squad’s early season form, saying: “We’re just carrying on from last season when we finished really strongly.
“We knew we were in for a tough game as it is a difficult place to go, but we went into it with confidence.
“We’ve brought in Cameron Beattie from Banks o’ Dee and Lewis Kidd from Sunnybank, as well as promoting four youth players.
“Our aim is to consolidate and finish in the top half of the table and do well in the cup competitions.”
Tuesday evening sees Stonehaven play their final Grill League Cup Group 4 match – at with Stoneywood Parkvale the visitors at Glenury Park (kick off 7.30pm).
With both sides having won their opening two games, it will be a case of winner takes all, and it’s one Rollo is looking forward to.
He said: “We had some great battles with them last term in the run for the First Division title and it’ll be a good one.”
Stonehaven follow up the Stoneywood Parkvale match with a Premier League home clash against Dyce on Saturday.
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