Thornton Hibs have experienced great variations in fortune this season but not in the way things panned out in a single game as they did at Moorside Park on Wednesday night.

The Bluebell threatened to blow the Hibs away as they raced into a three-goal lead by the 18th minute. Murray Carstairs’ clinical finishes had the home side two up in the 3rd & 13th minutes and then Derek Wallace took advantage when the trialist ‘keeper spilled the ball to claim the third.

Dundonald were playing some great one and two touch stuff and either a damage limitation exercise by Thornton or a cricket score looked on the cards. Oh Ye of little faith!

Within a minute of the re-start, Lee White made it to the byeline and his perfect cutback was volleyed in great style beyond Martin Melia by Garry Thomson. Incredibly, just three minutes later, the deficit was reduced to one. A quick throw-in from White to Keiran McGuire saw the former Dunfermline Athletic midfielder volley the ball into the path of Thomson. His first time curling shot gave Melia no chance as it flashed in at the postage stamp.

Just before half-time, White received the ball on the right flank. He cut inside Jay Stein and bent the ball round Meila and into the opposite top corner to level the game and complete the scoring in an unforgettable first-half.

After sharing six goals in 45 minutes surely the same couldn’t be repeated again! The Hibs managed to maintain their momentum though by hitting another three but Dundonald could only score one.

In the 52nd minute, McGuire’s fierce drive was well parried by Melia but Kris Maxwell raced in to head the ball over the line to put Thornton in front. Four minutes later, Garry Thomson completed his hat-trick with a low shot and then five minutes before time up, Chris Ireland turned his man then shot low into the net.

Within sixty seconds, Stuart Cargill pulled one back and that was the end of a scoring on a memorable night – if you were a Hibs’ supporter!

Dundonald Bluebell: Melia, Page, Stein, Juskowiak, Murray, Wallace, Greig, Bissett, Cargill, Forbes, Carstairs. Subs: Neish, Gillies, Grubb.

Referee: Mr C. Carrick