Missing regular central defensive pair of Campbell and Wright, Athletic paired Payton and Bowron at the back.
They took the lead after 15 minutes when ROSE curled in a beautiful free kick from 20 yards after Reid was fouled.
Athletic continued to dominate, but, as often happens, they were caught on the break when slack defending allowed Feughside to equalise.
Athletic suffered a blow when Payton pulled up injured, and had to be replaced by Gavin Reid.
Undeterred, they went back in front when Scott Reid's excellent cross was met by GELLAGTLY, and he hammered home from six yards.
Feughside started the second period in determined fashion, and got the equaliser when a poor punch by keeper Anderson was headed home by their striker.
Worse was to follow for Athletic when indecision in defence allowed Feughside's Anderson to lob home from the edge of the box.
Captain Gellatly led by example and turned the game back in favour of Athletic in the last twenty minutes.
Rose made space up the right and sent over a great cross which GELLAGTLY headed past the keeper.
Then, with 10 minutes left, he completed his hat-trick, beating two defenders before stroking past the helpless keeper.
Black and Stephen replaced Ross and S Reid as Feughside stepped up the pace.
Athletic survived a few scares as Feughside threw everything forward in search of the equaliser, but they held out to reach the final despite Rose being sent-off for dissent in the final minute.
This victory owed more to effort and determination than to silky football, but given the conditions, this was still an excellent result.
Man of the match was, without doubt, Barry Gellatly, who took his goal tally to over 30 for the season.

Final Score: Stonehaven Athletic 4 - Feughside 3

Team: Anderson, Alexander, Henderson, Bowron, Payton, Ross, S Reid, Gellatly, Rose, Milne, Mitchell. Subs - Black, G Reid, Stephen, Cohen, Cameron.