Thornton slumped to their fifth league defeat of the season with Blairgowrie handing out the punishment this time.

And yet they started the match brightly and took a seventh minute lead thanks to Chris Ireland’s first goal of the season. Liam Ivory’s strong run ended with Gordon O’Brien making a good save to prevent the Hibs doubling their lead shortly after.

Gradually, the Berrypickers came more into the game and Darren Neave almost equalised with a great shot that struck the outside of the post. Graeme French had better luck in the 24th minute as he blasted home Steven Findlay’s cutback.

Six minutes later, Thornton were awarded a penalty when Lee White was brought down in the area. Ireland took it but he was thwarted by a magnificent save from O’Brien.

John Halley’s powerful left wing dash ended with a superb curling shot but the ex-Raith man watched in anguish as the ball struck the post.

Three minutes before half-time, the visitors took the lead when Neave’s header struck the bar but Paul Maloney followed up to squeeze the ball over the line.

The Hibs began the second-half in determined fashion and Chris Ireland netted in the 51st minute following clever wing play involving Halley and Andy Adam. Seven minutes later though, Maloney headed home Findlay’s accurate cross to put Blair back in front.

There were more than decent penalty claims for both sides within the space of sixty seconds. First Maloney went down after a heavy challenge from Mark Rowbotham and when play switched to the other end, Ivory was on the end of a very robust challenge from Scott Tovey. The ref saw nothing in either incident and play continued.

O’Brien made a terrific save to prevent Ireland from claiming a hat-trick and then he made another from John Paul Burns.

The Window Store Hibs’ Man of the Match – Chris Ireland
 
Blairgowrie: O’Brien, Simpson, Nicoll, Tovey, Hay, Axworthy, Findlay, French, Maloney, McDonald, Neave. Subs: Sheed, Millar, Murison, McColl, Menzies.

Referee: Mr C. Carrick.