Anyone visiting Memorial Park on Friday afternoon would’ve seen that it was more suited to hosting a sailing regatta than a game of football the next day. When football forum ‘experts’ were predicting that there would be no football in Thornton on Saturday, this merely served to spur the Hibs’ officials on and whilst the miracle wasn’t quite up there with the feeding of the Five Thousand, it’s fair to say that what they achieved to get ‘The San Siro’ playable was remarkable.

And they were rewarded for their efforts with a convincing 4-1 win. John Halley earned the Hibs a 6th minute penalty when, after nutmegging a Luncarty defender in the area, he was pulled back. The skipper, Adam Drummond, converted the spot-kick to put his side ahead. In the 41st minute, Halley skipped round Benjamin Tough and stroked the ball into the empty net to give the Hibs a 2-0 half-time lead.

Adam Drummond made it three with a classy finish in the 65th minute. Chris Ireland’s pass was perfect for Drummond to run onto. With Tough racing from his line in an attempt to reach the ball first, Drummond, at full pelt, deftly chipped the ball over the Bleachers’ goalie and into the net via the inside of the upright.

After the goal of the game came the move of the game. Stuart Wilson played the ball to Paul Laurie and he swiftly sent Lee White scarpering up the left. His superb cross meant that Coco Mullen didn’t have to break stride as he swept the ball into the net.

Careless defending though gave Robert Goodwillie the opportunity to score from 18 yards – Luncarty’s first league goal of the season – to blot the Hibs’ copybook.

Thornton finished the game with nine men. First of all, Paul Laurie was red-carded for his challenge on Benjamin Tough although the underfoot conditions appeared to play a part in this as Laurie couldn’t stop himself from sliding into the Luncarty ‘keeper. With all their subs being used up, Bradley Grieve couldn’t be replaced after he took a sore one and it’s to be hoped the injury isn’t as bad as first feared as he could miss next Saturday’s ‘Scottish’ trip to take on Culter.

Luncarty: Tough, McKeracher, Angus, McCulloch, Wilcox, Scott, Hampton, Mathews, Bailey, Makain, Farrell. Subs: Hynd, Goodwillie, McLean.

Referee: Mr D.McKenzie