THE Bees had their sting drawn when keeper Darren Rudd saw red for handling outside the box just before half-time, but it didn’t stop them earning their stripes with a 3-2 win home win over PILCS.

Govilon-based Forgeside had a couple of early chances in the Gwent Premier 2 clash, including the returning Jordan Parfitt hitting the bar, only for a PILCS break to make it 0-1 after seven minutes.

But the Bees battled back and after winning a free-kick on 23 minutes, up stepped captain David Gulliford to rifle in from 25 yards to level it.

The rest of the half was pretty even, but then a mix up over a throw in saw PILCS regain the lead seven minutes before the break.

Forgeside had a great chance to level before the break though when Malaki Williams won a penalty.

Gulliford stepped up and hit it well, but the PILCS goalkeeper pulled off a great save to stay in front.

And worse followed for the Bees when their own goalkeeper Rudd was sent off for handball, with Jake Saunders then sacrificed and young Ollie Carter coming on for his debut.

The 10-man Bees kicked off the second half brightly though, with Nyall Brown putting in a great shift.

And when new signing Adam Bosley put a goal kick straight over the Green and Whites on 56 minutes, Parfitt latched onto the loose ball and finished well to level 2-2.

And 10 minutes later, Parfitt was brought down and Shane Beaumont stepped up to place the ball in the net for a deserved 3-2 lead.

The Bees kept pushing but couldn't find another despite Brown hitting the post with a curling shot.

And they finished the game in a defensive block as the 10 men ran out of steam, but held on for their second win in four days.