So that’s twice the Hibs have come up against Premier League Livvy in cup competitions this season and on both occasions – this time the Fife & Lothians Cup - they’ve been a wee bit unfortunate to have been beaten by the West Lothian side.

It’s goals that count though and in that respect Livingston definitely came out on top as they were more clinical than Thornton.

Livvy took the lead after just two minutes when one of the smallest men on the park, Craig Russell, rose to head home a deep cross.

Mark Rowbotham then, twice, made timely saves to prevent Bryan Jaconelli from increasing the home side’s tally. Gradually, the Hibs came more into things and were unlucky not to equalise in the 11th minute. Lee White cleverly duped his opponent before sending in a powerful shot that hit the inside of the ‘keeper’s leg and came back off the front of the post.

Then a good move involving Mathew Gay and Andrew Adam ended with Garry Thomson crashing a shot narrowly wide. Gay struck a free-kick from which Darren Dolan made a flying save and it looked only a matter of time until the ball found the back of the net. In the 28th minute there was another goal but it came at the ‘wrong’ end as far as the Hibs were concerned. Robert Burns sent in a free-kick that Daniel Forbes headed beyond Rowbotham.

Just before half-time, Thornton finally found the net when, after Gay had been brought down by Jack McWilliams, Adam Drummond netted from the penalty spot.

Livingston regained their two-goal advantage on the hour mark after Rowbotham had saved well from David Murphy and the ball fell kindly for Jaconelli who slammed it home.

The Hibs wouldn’t lie down though and they pulled one back in the 74th minute when Willie Clark’s low cross was deflected onto his own post by Steven Dolan and Drummond followed up to claim his second goal of the game.

Deep into stoppage time, Richard Kay sealed victory for Livvy when he got on the end of McWilliams’ low cross to steer the ball into the net.
 
Window Store Hibs’ Man of the Match – Adam Drummond
 
Livingston United: D.Dolan, Thomson, McWilliams, Cane, S.Dolan, Burns, C.Russell, Drummond, Forbes, Jaconelli, Murphy. Subs: S.Russell, Wilson, Donnelly, Baxter, Kay.
 
Referee: Mr L. Mackinnon