Match reporter: JOHN LAING

The form book was thrown out of the window as Second-Division Thornton Hibs defeated Premier League opposition at Humbug Park on Saturday in the quarter-final of the Alex Jack Cup. Crossgates had, prior to this game, played nine games, winning seven (including a victory over the Hibs in the East of Scotland Cup) and lost just two. In addition, Primrose are the current holders of the Cup.

An early Jamie McNeish 'goal' was disallowed, although he was to experience better fortune later in the contest.

The majority of close things to an opener though came to the home side but they found Calum Sutherland in the Hibs goal equal to the task meaning that the first-half ended goal-less.

McNeish broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a terrific volley and, just two minutes later, Andy Adam had a great chance to double the Hibs' advantage but as one wag was heard to say, he had a brain-fart moment with his shot going wide of its intended target.

These couple of minutes had the effect of stirring up the hornets' nest as Crossgates exerted some serious pressure on the visitors' goal with the word 'Alamo' springing to mind.

Thornton's defence – which included Stuart Walton on a short-term loan from Dundonald Bluebell - stood firm though and when the home side did manage to work a way through, they found Sutherland in irresistible form.

Five minutes from time, Chris Ireland – in his 250th appearance for the club – ran the ball into the corner-flag as everyone thought he was looking to run down the clock. Instead, he burst free from his markers before cutting the ball back into the path of the in-rushing Adam who wasted no time in smashing the ball beyond the powerless Shaun Hunter.

The outcome of this terrific result is that the Hibs will now play host to Lochore Welfare on the 22nd October with a place in the Cup-Final at stake.

The Station Hotel/ Copland Glazing Hibs' Man of the Match: Ian Shanks

Crossgates Primrose: Hunter, Brown, N.Lawrie, Ritchie, McGuire, S.Lawrie, McKenzie, Reid, Cross, Pollock, Ward. Subs: Robertson, Graham, Campbell, McAteer, Paterson, Muirhead, Dow.

Thornton Hibs: Sutherland, Walton, A.Drummond, Laird, Shanks, Adam, McNeish, Coleman, Ireland, Soutar, McMillan. Subs: Robertson, Allan, Daniel Meldrum, Beard.

Referee: Mr R.Struthers

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - CP 14 TH 5
Attempts on target - CP 8 TH 2
Corners - CP 5 TH 7
Offside - CP 7 TH 2
Fouls committed - CP 9 TH 9
Yellow Cards - CP 3 TH 2
Red Cards - CP 0 TH 0

Attendance: 110