Following two successive defeats in the league, the Hibs at last found their shooting boots and deservedly took all three points at Memorial Park.

To say that they came flying out of the traps would be a bit of an understatement because by the sixth minute they found themselves already three goals to the good!

Garry Thomson brilliantly volleyed home Ben Anthony's cross in the 2nd minute and two minutes later Anthony's low strike made it 2-0.

When Adam Drummond headed home Shaun Keatings' free-kick shortly after it looked like the Hibs were going to score every time they went up the park.

To their credit though, Downfield dusted themselves down after this ridiculous start by beginning to impose themselves on the game and Jordan Garden reduced the leeway in the 17th minute with a close-in header from Jordan Hornby's free-kick.

Anthony restored Thornton's three goal advantage in the 28th minute with a powerful low drive from 8 yards to complete the first-half scoring.

There were loud appeals for a penalty from the home side when it looked as though Blair Mudie had barged over Anthony in front of goal in the 67th minute but the referee deemed that the challenge had been legit to the annoyance of the Thornton support.

The Hibs' defence failed to deal with another free-kick from Hornby in the 84th minute allowing Ross Gallacher to stab the ball home from close range to set up an interesting finish to the game.

Or so most people thought, but just two minutes later Anthony secured all three points – and completed his hat-trick - when he coolly slotted home after being put through by Iain Millar's slide-rule pass.

GI Joinery Hibs Man of the Match: Ben Anthony

Thornton Hibs: Linton, Robertson, A.Drummond, Hepburn, Millar, Orrock, Keatings, S.Drummond, Anthony, Thomson, Adam. Subs: Ireland, Coleman, Crichton, Shanks, Warrender.

Downfield: Clarkson, Low, Hornby, Mudie, Duell, Hunter, Colquhoun, Gallacher, Garden, Ogg, Nathan Scott. Subs: Davidson, Macleod, Nicholas Scott, Anderson, Kennedy.

Referee: Mr S.Gill

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - TH 12 Do 3
Attempts on target - TH 8 Do 2
Corners - TH 6 Do 6
Offside - TH 6 Do 6
Fouls committed - TH 15 Do 18
Yellow Cards - TH 2 Do 2
Red Cards - TH 0 Do 0