Second-half goals from Chris Ireland and Garry Thomson secured victory for Thornton to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Prior to that, Mathew Gay had slammed the ball off the post and at the other end, Paul Duncan’s outrageous attempt from fully 45 yards just cleared its intended target.

Ireland eventually broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute when he headed home Gay’s corner-kick. The Hibs were then reduced to ten men after their skipper, Ian Hepburn, was ordered-off for a second yellow card offence.

This didn’t appear to hinder Thornton because shortly after there was almost an exact replica of their goal except on this occasion Gary Inglis made a superb save to prevent the ball crossing the line.

With eight minutes remaining, Lochore left-back, Kris Vaughan joined Hepburn in the pavilion following his second yellow card and within minutes of this Thomson made sure of the points with a clinical dink over Inglis.
 
Window Store Hibs’ Man of the Match: Ian Shanks
 
Lochore Welfare: Inglis, Laing, Vaughan, Deas, Cusick, Duncan, S.Renton, Dair, Watt, Celentano, Campbell. Subs: G.Renton, Shankland, Murray, Penman, Crowe.
 
Referee: Mr M. Gill