The scoreline might suggest otherwise but this was a marked improvement from Thornton after the previous Saturday's debacle at Gorebridge. Haddington were, over the piece, the better side but it ultimately took two wonder strikes and a penalty to separate the sides.

The visitors showed their intent straight from kick-off and came close to taking a first minute lead but the Hibs fought back and Scott Gilfillan watched in anguish as his low strike from outside the box took a deflection off a Haddington defender and struck the outside of the post for a fruitless corner-kick.

Liam Amos made a brilliant save to prevent Garry Thomson's 37th minute free-kick from counting and his block after Jack Wilson had pounced on the loose ball was equally impressive. This was crucial to the eventual outcome of the game because two minutes later Chris Inglis' curling shot from  an acute angle from wide on the left nestled in the far sidenet for one of the best strikes seen at Memorial Park this season.

Just before half-time, the Hi-Hi's doubled their lead from the penalty spot through Andrew Forbes after Arran Ponton was brought down by Daniel McNab.

Dion Gear made a great save to prevent Scott Wright from making it three before the ref called a halt to first-half proceedings and then early in the second-half, the Hibs' 'keeper had another good save from Paul Devlin to keep his team in the game.

Perhaps the potential turning point in the game came in the 62nd minute when Lea Schiavone was flattened by Michael Fairnie. The Man on the Moon would've seen it was a penalty-kick but, crucially, the Man in Black saw no infringement. Apt, then, that the sponsor's name on the rear of the ref's warm-up top was for Specsavers!

Garry Thomson, twice, came close to reducing the leeway but the only other goal came from Robert Berry in the dying moments when he caught Scott Wright's cutback with as sweet a strike as you'll see all season from the edge of the area.

Window Store Hibs' Man of the Match – Lea Schiavone

Haddington Athletic: Amos, Forbes, Draper, Cunnison, Inglis, Fairnie, Wright, Berry, Hume, Devlin, Ponton. Subs: McPartlin, Sproule, Harvey, Dick, Bleakley.

Referee: Mr P. McLean