After being relegated last season, Stonehaven find themselves promoted at the first time of asking. They finished third in the First Division, but second-placed Inverness City do not have a ground which meets the necessary criteria and were denied pr
omotion.
Stonehaven were asked to face Buchanhaven, who finished second-bottom in the Superleague, in a one-off play-off.
Hive's triumph will save them a fortune in travelling expenses next season compared with this, as most of the Superleague sides are based in and around Aberdeen.
The promotion is a fitting tribute to long-serving Stonehaven manager Derek Allan who has now stood down.
The Hive took the lead in the second minute after great work from Ryan Stewart saw him play the ball neatly into the path of Hudson who made no mistake in firing past Simpson for his 17th of the season.
The goal seemed to come too early however as after this Stonehaven were rarely a threat and went in at half time trailing after goals from Scott Barbour and Nico Marchi put Hearts 2-1 in front.
Tactical and personnel changes at half time saw Rob Armstrong replaced by Paul Nicoll and the formation changed to a more attacking 4-3-3 which immediately paid dividends when the ball was picked up 25 yards from goal by Stewart and at the second attempt, he fired home an unstoppable effort to make it 2-2.
There were half chances for both teams however the game seemed likely to be heading for a penalty shootout until with seconds left, a corner from Bryant landed at the feet of Nicoll following a scramble in the box and he stabbed the ball home for the most dramatic of winners.
Stonehaven: Michael Smith, Low, Mathieson, Taylor, Barbour, Brooks (Bryant 80), Stewart, Donald, Hudson, Armstrong (Nicoll 45), Glass (James Smith 88). Sub: Blacklaws.
