Match reporter: JOHN LAING

To say that Thornton went into this Alex Jack Cup cup-tie understaffed would be a gross understatement as they were able to name just one substitute and that was goalkeeper, Callum Doran, who was prepared to come on as an outfield player if he had to.

So full marks go to Craig Gilbert's players who turned in a very gutsy performance on an extremely warm day with their reward being a trip to England to take on Tweedmouth Rangers in the second round.

Garry Thomson snr put the Hibs ahead in the 20th minute with a stunning free-kick from fully 30 yards that flew into the top corner with Calum Reid absolutely powerless to prevent it from counting.

The students equalised in the 34th minute when Hamish McLeod finished off a move following good play from Alisdair Shrive and Alex Chingwalu.

Thornton regained the lead in the 65th minute with goalkeeper, Jordan Millar, claiming the assist as it was his long ball upfield that found Darren Ormiston 25 yards from goal. The striker turned Josh Wishart then smashed the ball towards goal. We'll never know if Reid would've been able to save this initial strike but he had absolutely no chance of getting to the ball after it took a wicked deflection off Jack Thomson and looped over the stranded goalie and into the back of the net.

Two excellent saves from Millar, the first from Todd Teviotdale and the second from Craig Smith allowed the Hibs to claim victory at the John Brydson Arena.

SM Electrical Services Hibs' Man of the Match: Garry Thomson snr

Heriot-Watt University: Reid, Teviotdale, Chingwalu, Thomson, Wishart, Shrive, Mackie, Cairns, McLeod, Macdonald. Subs: McMahon, Kennedy, Hogg, Kerr, Smith, Richmond.

Thornton Hibs: Millar, Robertson, McMillan, S.Drummond, Adam, Coleman, McNeish, McWatt, Ormiston, Thomson snr, Thomson jnr. Sub: Doran.

Referee: Mr S.Morris

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - HWU 7 TH 5
Attempts on target - HWU 4 TH 3
Blocked attempts - HWU 0 TH 1
Corners - HWU 3 TH 3
Offside - HWU 7 TH 0
Fouls committed - HWU 12 TH 7
Yellow Cards - HWU 3 TH 0
Red Cards - HWU 1 TH 0