Thornton recovered from conceding a first minute goal to run out convincing winners at Tulloch Park in their last competitive game of 2016. Kieran Donald was Kinnoull's marksman meaning that the first thing the Hibs' debut goalkeeper, Ryan Linton, had to do was pick the ball out of the back of the net.
 
Chris Ireland levelled things just two minutes later when he converted Garry Thomson's free-kick and incredibly, by the 6th minute, Stuart Drummond had the visitors ahead with Thomson again providing the assist.

Ireland was in inspired form and he doubled his tally in the 31st minute when his strong 30 yard run ended with him clipping the ball past Gordon Chalmers.

A minute into the second-half, Daniel McNab was cleverly played in by Ireland and he coolly skipped round Chalmers before guiding the ball into the empty goal.

This victory was the Hibs' 800th ever league victory – not a bad wee early Christmas present!

SM Electrical Services (Fife) Ltd Hibs' Man of the Match – Chris Ireland

Kinnoull: Chalmers, Crockatt, Burton, Gray, Wooley, Ferguson, Smith, Mackie, Norrie, McCaffrey, Donald. Subs: T.Whyte, Kinnaird, Hutchison, Fleming, Hepburn.

Thornton Hibs: Linton, M.Robertson, McMillan, Drummond, Shields, McGowan, McNab, Hepburn, Ireland, Crichton, Thomson. Subs: Strachan, Coleman, Burns, Clark.

Referee: Mr J. Stewart

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - Kin 5 TH 13
Attempts on target - Kin 4 TH 7
Corners - Kin 2 TH 6
Offside - Kin 5 TH 3
Fouls committed - Kin 17 TH 17
Yellow Cards - Kin 1 TH 0
Red Cards - Kin 0 TH 0