Match reporter: JOHN LAING

Make no mistake – this was the proverbial game of two halves! But for some excellent goalkeeping by Craig Doctor to deny Mark McGovern on more than one occasion the home side could've had the game done and dusted by half-time.

In added time, Harris Jolicouer came close to putting the Hibs ahead after being set up by Campbell Dowie but instead Nicky Reid struck a beauty at the other end to open the scoring and nobody could deny that this was no more than Preston deserved.

The second-half began in similar fashion with Doctor denying Reid, Marc Forsyth and Joe Tait and this was to prove crucial because in the 71st minute Murray Black hit a reeker from 20 yards over the outstretched arms of Sam Gray for the equaliser. This was Thornton's first goal of the season only 331 minutes after kick-off on day one!

In the 75th minute, Stuart Drummond sent substitute, Lewis Bennett, racing up the left and he then played the ball back into the path of Drummond to allow him to put the Hibs ahead and surely this proves the old adage that you can wait ages for a bus to turn up then two arrive together!

There was no further scoring meaning that Craig Gilbert's side will need to wait to find out who they will meet in the third round of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.

Preston Athletic: Gray, Henderson, Gallentes, Wishart, Forsyth, Brown, Domyil, Greig, Reid, McGovern, Subasic. Subs: Andrews, Baptie, Tait, Laidlaw, Combe, Briggs.

Thornton Hibs: Doctor, Rodger, Fyffe, Herd, Grierson, Drummond, Dowie, McBay, Jolicoeur, Kinninmonth, Black. Subs: Jarrett, Watson, Bennett, McNab.

Referee: M. Grzonkowski

Man of the Match: LEWIS BENNETT (sponsored by JOHN LAING and WENDY ENGLISH & MANDY STEWART)

Attendance: 80

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - PA 14 TH 9
Attempts on target - PA 9 TH 4
Attempts blocked - PA 1 TH 1
Corners - PA 4 TH 5
Offside - PA 2 TH 2
Free kicks conceded - PA 10 TH 10
Yellow Cards - PA 1 TH 1
Red Cards - PA 0 TH 0

Statto's Corner:
* This was the third time the sides have met at the same stage of the competition and it is the Hibs first win.
* Murray Black scored Thornton's first goal of the season on his 75th career start.
* Stuart Drummond took his goals tally on to 81 from 313 appearances.