Thornton scraped into the second round of the East of Scotland Cup after a penalty shoot out against a Harp side who, following their second-half performance, would probably feel that they’d done enough in normal time to warrant victory.

The Hibs, with three changes from the side that had thumped Forfar Albion in their previous outing, began the better side and so it was against the run of play when Conor Ireland rifled a low shot beyond debut man, Jamie Young, in the 14th minute to give the visitors the lead.

In the 28th minute, Daniel McNab played a corner-kick to the edge of the box where Garry Thomson took one touch before blasting the ball into the net to make it all-square. Within sixty seconds of this goal, Thomson slammed home another to give the home side a half-time lead.
 
In the second-half, the Hibs were on the back foot for long periods although they did look dangerous on the break with Chris Hutchison making a breathtaking stop from Ross Morgan’s equally brilliant volley that had ‘Goal’ stamped all over it until the Harp ‘keeper pulled off a save that wont be bettered all season. An equaliser was always on the cards though and Brian Scrimgeour’s terrific free-kick in the 76th minute levelled the tie.

And so the game went to penalties with Jamie Young saving twice before Garry Thomson netted the 14th, and decisive, spot-kick.
 
The Window Store Hibs’ Man of the Match: Garry Thomson
 
Lochee Harp: Hutchison, Kelly, McCabe, McHugh, Hay, Scimgeour, C.Petrie, I.Petrie, McDonald, Anderson, Ireland. Subs: Allan, Kane, Mullen, Dack, Brown.
 
Referee: Mr M. Gill
 
Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - TH 13 LH 11
Attempts on target - TH 8 LH 7
Corners - TH 7 LH 3
Fouls committed - TH 11 LH 9
Yellow Cards - TH 1 LH 4
Red Cards - TH 0 LH 0