Match reporter: JOHN LAING

Thornton recorded their third win and third clean sheet on the bounce at a sunny Memorial Park.

Both teams came close to breaking the deadlock before Campbell Dowie netted from the angle in the 8th minute after Daniel Gaffney in the visitor's goal could only parry Joe Kinninmonth's shot into the Hibs number nine's path.

Darren Ormiston twice came close to putting Thornton further ahead then at the other end Samuel Nicholson headed Darren Liddell's cross just wide.

Gaffney made a brilliant save to prevent Cammy Fyffe's free-kick from counting then Murray Black had a shot diverted wide by Alistair Croall.

Another goal was on the cards though and it came in the 24th minute when Kinninmonth converted Keir Allan's cross at the front post.

In the 32nd minute a long ball upfield found Black who still had a bit of work to do before he smacked the ball home from 10 yards.

Perhaps a combination of Thornton taking their foot off the gas in the second-half plus the visitors responding to a half-time 'telling off' meant that Whitburn created more chances but they couldn't find the net the closest thing being a Ross Crawford shot that saw Macaulay Jarrett pull off an outstanding save to tip the ball over.

Thornton Hibs: Jarrett, Rodger, Fyffe, McBay, Cunningham, Grierson, Black, Allan, Dowie, Ormiston, Kinninmonth. Subs: Doctor, Coleman, Bennett, Herd, Jolicoeur, McNab.

Whitburn: Gaffney, Gillespie, Croall, Watson, Zata, Liddell, Henderson, Crawford, Watson, Nicolson, Gray. Subs: Woodburn, Thomson, Russell, Edwards, Kerr.

Referee: Mr B. Graham

Attendance: 110

Statto's Corner:
* This was the 11th League meeting between the sides under Craig Gilbert; record now W6, D1, L4, GF25, GA16
* The 3-0 scoreline was the 50th time a Hibs side has won by a three-goal margin under Craig Gilbert - 3-0 x21, 4-1 x18, 5-2 x9, 6-3 x2