Match reporter: JOHN LAING

This match was the proverbial game of two halves with the Hibs enjoying the bulk of possession in the first 45 with the visitors the better side after the interval.

Garry Thomson had the ball in the net early on but he was deemed to be in an offside position. Jack Goodall then saved well at Thomson's feet before he was called into action again to save Stuart Drummond's effort from 25 yards.

It was the 18th minute when Thornton finally broke the deadlock as Drummond rose to head home Dean McMillan's corner-kick.

Goodall came to Kirkcaldy's rescue with saves from Joe Kinninmonth and Jamie McNeish, then it was the 29th minute when Macauley Jarrett made his first save to deny Fraser Armstrong an equaliser.

It was the 39th minute before Craig Gilbert's side doubled their lead after Thomson dinked the ball over Goodall before rolling the ball into the unguarded net. And it could've been 3-0 at half-time had Goodall not managed to push Tommy Simpson's effort wide of its intended target.

Hibs supporters must've thought their team had it 'in the bag' when the referee sounded the half-time whistle but Kirkcaldy's players had other ideas and early in the second-half Keane Whittet wasn't far away from reducing the deficit then Jarrett saved well to prevent Jack O'Donnell's header from counting.

Ross Hain came close to extending Thornton's lead but, after he cleverly clipped the ball over the outrushing Goodall, he watched in despair as the ball landed on the roof of the net.

It was the 63rd minute when Conrad Court's side pulled one back through Logan King and it would've been all square in the 76th minute but for Jarrett's great tip over from O'Donnell.

Thornton made sure all three points remained at Memorial Park in the 85th minute but it has to be said that it was kamikaze defending that afforded Hain the opportunity to stab the ball over the line from close range.

Decorland/ Station Hotel Hibs' Man of the Match: Sean Cunningham

Thornton Hibs: Jarrett, McGair, McMillan, Drummond, Cunningham, McNeish, Simpson, Allan, Kinninmonth, Thomson, Sutherland. Subs: Hain, Jefferies, Robertson, Black, McNab, Keatings.

Kirkcaldy & Dysart: Goodall, Armstrong, McGregor, Dall, J.O'Donnell, Donald, K.O'Donnell, King, Ormiston, Wilkie, Whittet. Subs: Kane, Courts, Bowie, Barbour, Douglas, Watson, Sigdel.

Referee: Mr C.Sanderson.

Attendance: 115