Thornton kept the pressure on league leaders Kirrie with this win on an immaculate Oglivy Park playing surface.

Chris Ireland gave the Hibs a 3rd minute lead after Daniel McNab's strike came back off the crossbar but it has to be said that after that, most of the first-half belonged to the Vics who were unfortunate to see a Jonathon Bastow 'goal' disallowed for offside in the 26th minute.

In the dying seconds of the first-half, Thornton were awarded a penalty that was soft to say the least so perhaps justice was done when Jack Whitton made a brilliant save to deny Ireland.

It was a different Hibs in the second-half though as they upped the ante and it was no surprise when Ireland headed home Shaun Keatings' corner-kick in the 52nd minute.

Ian Hepburn's deft head-flick from Raymond Crichton's cross in the 74th minute sealed the victory for Craig Gilbert's men to keep their hopes of promotion very much alive.

SM Electrical Services (Fife) Hibs' Man of the Match: Nicky McGowan

Arbroath Vics: Whitton, Bastow, Clark, Findlater, Fotheringham, Lyons, Lewis, Chalmers, Wilson, Gillespie, Warren. Subs: Walker, Paterson, Gray, Sturrock, Lyall

Thornton Hibs: Linton, D.Robertson, McMillan, Drummond, McGowan, Coleman, Keatings, Hepburn, Ireland, Thomson, McNab. Subs: M.Robertson, Burns, Crichton.

Referee: Mr R.Taylor.