Match reporter: JOHN LAING

Thornton Hibs have some outstanding memories of Creamery Park as this is where they won the Fife and Lothians Cup in 2019. Sadly this time round was a day to forget for them as they huffed and puffed but just couldn't really trouble Alexander McMahon in the home goal who surely won't have an easier afternoon all season.

Bathgate came close to opening the scoring very early on with Andrew Forbes' header flashing narrowly over and then at the other end Dan McBay set up Garry Thomson but the Hibs' captain's strike went wide of its intended target.

McBay almost found the net in the 15th minute when he got on the end of Lewis Rodger's cross however his header landed on the roof of the net.

The only goal of the game came in the 26th minute in bizarre fashion as Tommy Simpson's pass-back bobbled over Macaulay Jarrett's foot and trickled over the line.

Jarrett came to the Hibs rescue in the second-half to prevent Craig Johnston from extending Bathgate's the lead with the closest thing to an equaliser coming from Thomson who headed Shaun Keatings' free-kick past the post.

Right at the death Keir Bradley thought he'd netted a second however Lewis Rodger did well to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Bathgate Thistle: McMahon, Macadam, Whitelaw, Tapping, Cormack, Johnston, Rodger, Armstrong, Wilson, Forbes, Bradley. Subs: Macdonald, Stevenson, McKay, Peddie, Boyd, Coyle, McAuley.

Thornton Hibs: Jarrett, Rodger, McMillan, Grierson, Cunningham, Simpson, Black, Drummond, Kinninmonth, Thomson, McBay. Subs: Couser, Coleman, McNab, Healy, Allan, Keatings.

Referee: Mr E.Cairns

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - BT 9 TH 8
Attempts on target - BT 4 TH 0
Attempts blocked - BT 2 TH 1
Corners - BT 1 TH 2
Offside - BT 3 TH 5
Free kicks conceded - BT 13 TH 14
Yellow Cards - BT 1 TH 4
Red Cards - BT 0 TH 0