Match reporter: JOHN LAING

Short-staffed Hibs moved up to seventh spot in the league following this hard-earned victory with Shaun Keatings' first-half strike ultimately being the difference between the sides.

The reason that there was only one goal was down to the performances of both goalies who made some great saves although you could argue “That's what they're there for!” but you couldn't fault Sam Townsley for failing to prevent Keating's 29th minute strike from hitting the back of the net as it was an absolute belter that Alisson Becker would've been struggling to get to.

And Keatings came mighty close to claiming a second shortly after with a terrific free-kick that skiffed off the top of the crossbar.

In the second-half, Ryan McEwan, Daniel McNab, Max Coleman and Jamie McNeish all came close to extending Thornton's lead but no cigars were handed out and Kinnoull's day of woe was complete when substitute, Matty Meechan, was ordered-off following a second yellow card offence, this one for putting in a brutal challenge on the Hibs' captain, Dean McMillan.

Sunnydale Executive Travel/ Station Hotel Hibs' Man of the Match: Shaun Keatings

Thornton Hibs: Jarrett, Crichton, McMillan, McEwan, Cunningham, Keatings, Black, Coleman, McCallion, McNab, Soutar. Subs: Jolicoeur, Dawson (T), McNeish, Shanks (T), Doctor.

Kinnoull: Townsley, Whyte, Drysdale, Scott, Wilkie, Wolecki, Clark, Howgate, Anderson, Barbour, Cowie. Subs: Antoniewicz, Robertson, Chalmers, Duncan, Barnes (T), Meechan.

Referee: Mr M.Walsh

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - TH 16 Kin 13
Attempts on target - TH 8 Kin 8
Corners - TH 9 Kin 4
Offside - TH 5 Kin 3
Free kicks conceded - TH 8 Kin 17
Yellow Cards - TH 0 Kin 3
Red Cards - TH 0 Kin 1

Attendance: 84

Statto's Corner:
* The Hibs' goal ended their goalless streak which lasted for 472 minutes, and was the first goal at Memorial Park since 7th August.
* Shaun Keatings' superb strike for the winner was his first in his second spell at Memorial Park and his first for the Hibs since September 2019 when he netted in the last minute of a 7-0 win at Fauldhouse United.
* Macaulay Jarrett kept his second clean sheet of the season in his 8 appearances to date.