With no ‘real’ game for either club, a friendly match was arranged to keep the players ticking over. A terrific free-kick from Chris Ireland gave Thornton an interval lead but only because, in stoppage time, Mark Rowbotham brilliantly saved Henry Soblewski’s penalty kick.

And if we thought Ireland’s strike was good, then better was to come. With a strong wind blowing down the pitch, Andy Adam’s free-kick from fully 45 yards fairly zinged in at the postage stamp to double the Hibs’ lead.

A belting strike from a trialist made the final score 3-0. Falkirk play in the same league as Edinburgh United who visit Memorial Park on Fife & Lothians duty next Saturday so a repeat scoreline would suit the Hibs perfectly.

Thornton Hibs: Rowbotham, Wishart, Samson, Grieve, Shanks, Trialist, Crombie, McGuire, Halley, Ireland, Drummond. Subs: Adam, McAinsh, Maxwell, Mullen, S.Wilson, Trialist.

Falkirk: Hardie, Baxter, Keir, Faulds, Lawrie, Aitken, Watson, Lejman, Ure, Myles, Sobolewski. Subs:Griffin, Russel, Christie, Quinn, Macpherson.

Referee: Mr M.Gill