Huntly came from behind to beat Turriff United at Christie Park in an entertaining and fiercely contested encounter.
Both sides created a number of openings over the 90 minutes, but the Blacks and Golds were more clinical, which ultimately made the difference.
The visitors started brightly and looked to get their forwards in behind with some searching through balls.
It was from such a situation that Turriff took the lead in the fifth minute.
They broke at pace from a Huntly corner with Owen Kinsella slipping in his brother Luke down the right flank. Alex Thoirs slid in and brought him down, although Thoirs did also appear to touch the ball.
But referee Mat Northcroft pointed to the spot and Robert Ward fired past goalkeeper John Farquhar from 12 yards.
Huntly equalised just after the quarter-hour mark when Ashley Ballam glanced Kai Ross’s corner from the left into the net at the near post.
The home side went in front in the 26th minute after a defensive mix-up from Turriff.
Declan Milne’s quick throw-in should have been easily dealt with by Owen Kinsella but, when he attempted to pass back to goalie Jacob Otto, the keeper came off his line looking to clear and Kinsella’s pass went beyond Otto leaving Ross with a tap-in.
Turriff started the second period on the front foot, but a poor touch let down former Huntly striker Matthew McDonald.
On the hour Ward had Farquhar at full stretch to parry away a free-kick from the edge of the box and shortly after the Black and Golds’ keeper punched Liam Norris’s swirling delivery clear.
Huntly striker Declan Milne passed up two good chances midway through the second half.
Twice Ross played him through but Otto raced out to smother the first effort and Milne’s next attempt seconds later was straight at the goalie.
McDonald’s low shot fizzed wide for Turriff, but 12 minutes from time Huntly sealed the points when Milne’s cross from the left was turned into his own net by United captain Cammy Bowden.