Had this game been a boxing match the referee would have been expected to call a halt to proceedings at half-time so much were the visitors on top.

And when John Halley’s sizzling strike into the postage stamp gave the Hibs a 47th minute lead, it looked as if they would go on to win convincingly.

This goal had the effect of kick-starting Harp into life though and after Mark Rowbotham had pulled off a great save from Dominic Blair in the 57th minute, Jonathon McBride followed up to rattle the ball home. Four minutes later, the Hibs’ defence was posted missing when a long throw-in found Blair and he despatched the ball beyond Rowbotham.

The Hibs’ goalie then pulled off a miraculous double save to prevent Harp from doubling their lead and this was crucial because in the 78th minute Thornton were awarded a penalty-kick. New signing, Stevie Leslie, was right on the shoulder of his marker who was deemed to have handled and Kris Maxwell netted from the spot.

The closest thing to a winner came when Darren Brown tipped Chris Ireland’s header onto the bar but over the piece a draw was probably a fair result.
 
Window Store Hibs’ Man of the Match – Mark Rowbotham
 
Lochee Harp: Brown, McKay, Paterson, Anderson, Allan, Millar, Mullen, Ramsay, McDonald, Blair, McKillen. Subs: McBride, Dack, Ireland, Fotheringham, Gormley.
 
Referee: Mr K. Graham.