When two of the league’s top scoring sides came head to head, goals were always going to be on the agenda and the teams didn’t fail to live up to expectations as they hit the back of the net no fewer than seven times in a keenly contested game.

The visitors looked more likely to score first in the opening stages so it was somewhat against the run of play when the Hibs took the lead in the 28th minute. Daniel McNab’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Garry Thomson for Chris Ireland to nod home.

Four minutes later the Hibs doubled their lead. The Shipbuilders’ goalie, Calum Brodie, made a hash of a clearance and this was pounced on by Chris Ireland. He could’ve attempted to add to his tally but unselfishly laid the ball off to Ross Morgan who guided the ball into the net.

Within two minutes of this, Daniel McNab’s cross was buried by Ireland and at this stage it looked all over bar the shouting.
 
Early in the second-half, Ross Morgan watched in anguish as his header came back off the crossbar and had this gone in it would surely have ended the game as a contest.

Liam Ross pulled one back for the visitors in the 56th minute and when Andrew Millar’s low drive reduced the deficit to one in the 69th minute it was ‘game on’. Four minutes later it was all square as David Black’s close range volley found the back of the net.

To squander a three goal lead is a real test for any team but Thornton rose to the challenge when substitute, Stevie Leslie, clinically buried Garry Thomson’s pass in the 80th minute to earn the home side all three points.
 
The Window Store Hibs' Man of the Match - Daniel McNab
 
Dundee East Craigie: Brodie, McNally, McDonald, Black, Ferrie, Gray, Brannan, Walls, Millar, Constable, Wilson. Subs: Ross, Malone, Welsh, Mann, Brown.
 
Referee: Mr R. Whyte
 
Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - TH 12 DEC 7
Attempts on target - TH 7 DEC 6
Corners - TH 4 DEC 6
Fouls committed - TH 16 DEC 15
Yellow Cards - TH 3 DEC 2
Red Cards - TH 0 DEC 0