As far as Thornton were concerned, this was another two points dropped as they hit the frame of the goal no fewer than four times and also came close on numerous other occasions.

They started at a ferocious pace and with three minutes played Stevie Leslie was the first to see a shot strike the upright. A minute later, Garry Thomson’s shot was well saved by Craig Houston and when Leslie pounced on the loose ball, his shot was deflected for a corner-kick. Thomson took it and Adam Drummond just got in front of Houston to head home at the near post.

Thomson had another shot deflected wide and then Drummond had the ball in the net again only for it to be disallowed for offside. Leslie watched his fierce drive well saved before Ian Hepburn’s 25-yard strike rebounded off the crossbar.

After weathering this early storm and doing well only to concede one goal, the home side came more into things with Alan Tulleth netting before the ref ruled that he was offside.

In the 27th minute, Dean Elder equalised from the spot after Ian Shanks downed Tulleth in the box.

Just before half-time, Leslie’s brilliant dink over the outrushing Houston deserved better than hitting the crossbar with Aiden Gordon smashing the rebound wide of its intended target.

Eight minutes into the second-half, Leslie chipped the goalkeeper but he watched in agony as the ball went narrowly over.

There was always a danger that Newburgh might steal a goal though and Tulleth came close to doing this with a left wing cross that bounced on the top of the bar. In the 63rd minute, Drummond came desperately close to putting the Hibs back in front with a thunderous 25-yard strike that slammed off the post to the relief of the ‘Burgh defence.

A minute later, Newburgh took the lead. Tulleth, who was a thorn in the Hibs’ flesh all afternoon, sent in a perfect low cross from the left which Steven Harris converted in style. This lead lasted barely sixty seconds though before Chris Ireland levelled affairs from 12 yards.

Newburgh might’ve gone ahead again but only Rikki Wells will know how he managed to miss from point blank range with the goal at his mercy.

Late in the game, Leslie was felled in the area but the ref waved play on to the consternation of the men in purple with even home supporters conceding that they were very fortunate not to concede a penalty.
 
Window Store Hibs’ Man of the Match – Ian Hepburn
 
Newburgh: Houston, Honeyman, McAdam, Davidson, Ross, Ferguson, Spence, Manzie, Harris, Tulleth, Elder. Subs: Butter, Gray, McNiven, Wells, Hood.
 
Referee: Mr K. Maskell