Match reporter: JOHN LAING

Thornton Hibs turned in one of their best performances of the season to take the three points that allowed them to close the gap on fifth place Crossgates to just one point.

And yet it was the home side who looked most likely to take the lead as they forced four corner-kicks in quick succession only for the Hibs defence to clear the danger every time. Then in the 26th minute Jamie McNeish's perfect cross was headed home by leading scorer, Garry Thomson, and barely sixty seconds later Murray Black smashed home the second with some Crossgates' supporters using 'industrial language' as they berated their players.

In the 35th minute Stuart Drummond rose to head Andy Adam's corner-kick past Matthew Rollo and just four minutes at the back of that Daniel McNab's cross was brilliantly finished by Thomson to give the Hibs a four goal lead and that was the end of the first-half scoring.

Crossgates reduced the deficit in the 58th minute when Rab Kinnaird's effort looped over everyone and just as it looked as if it was going to go over it dropped into the net.

Thereafter both teams came close to scoring but good defending ensured that there were no more goals.

Decorland/ Station Hotel Hibs Man of the Match: Garry Thomson

Crossgates Primrose: Rollo, Reid, Murray, Kellichan, Smith, Murphy, Henderson, McAteer, Anderson, Ramsay, Deas. Subs: Gilchrist, Kinnaird, Easton, Mahady (T), McKenzie, Morris.

Thornton Hibs: Doctor, Rodger, McMillan, Drummond, Cunningham, Adam, McNeish, Allan, Black, Thomson, McNab. Subs: Jarrett, Westwaters, Hain, Keatings.

Referee: Mr C.Newman.

Attendance: 86

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - CP 5 TH 15
Attempts on target - CP 4 TH 9
Corners - CP 6 TH 3
Offside - CP 0 TH 3
Free kicks conceded - CP 11 TH 13
Yellow Cards - CP 1 TH 2
Red Cards - CP 0 TH 0

Statto's Corner:
* This was the first League meeting between the sides at Humbug Park since September 2012 (the Hibs won 2-0 that day with first half goals from Coco Mullen and - who else - Garry Thomson).
* Thornton completed the League double over Crossgates for this season and have now lost only once in the previous eight meetings in all competitions.
* Murray Black netted his first goal for the Hibs in his 37th appearance (30 starts plus 7 sub). Of the outfield players in the current squad, only Lewis Rodger has yet to find the net.