Match reporter: JOHN LAING

When the clubs met on day one of this season it was Sauchie who breezed to a 3-0 win but the tables were turned this time round as the Hibs made it four wins – AND four clean sheets – on the trot.

The game was in its infancy when Joe Kinninmonth tried his luck with a volley that was gathered by Evan Collumbine then at the other end Macaulay Jarrett denied Ross Nimmo the opener.

Right on the stroke of half-time Dan McBay's cut back found Keir Allan but his fierce drive whistled narrowly over to leave the first-half goal-less.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 57th minute after Campbell Dowie rose to head home Darren Ormiston's cross and Dowie wasn't far away from doubling the Hibs lead with another header from Murray Black's corner-kick that flashed over. Dowie then turned provide with a cross that Ormiston headed just wide of its intended target.

Late in the game Lewis Bennett twice came close and Sean Cunningham was just out of luck after getting on the end of another Black corner-kick.

Sauchie: Collumbine, J.Kavanagh, Cringean, Scott, Hutchinson, Griffiths, Kelly, Davidson, Nimmo, O'Connor, Fekete. Subs: Weatherby, Simpson, Robbins, Miller, D.Kavanagh.

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

Referee: Mr S.Christie

Attendance: 126

Man of the Match: CAMPBELL DOWIE (sponsored by DAVIE REDPATH and IAIN GOSDEN)

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - SJ 5 TH 9
Attempts on target - SJ 1 TH 3
Attempts blocked - SJ 2 TH 1
Corners - SJ 2 TH 6
Offside - SJ 2 TH 1
Free kicks conceded - SJ 9 TH 12
Yellow Cards - SJ 1 TH 2
Red Cards - SJ 0 TH 0

Statto's Corner:
* This was the Hibs second visit to Beechwood Park under Craig Gilbert and his side replicated the scoreline from 2018 in the Fife and Lothians Cup.
* Macaulay Jarrett kept this fourth clean sheet in a row and fifth of the season to make it 22 in 64 appearances for Thornton.
* The Hibs are now joint top of the Premier Division clean sheet table with Dunbar United (both on four).
* Campbell Dowie now has five goal involvements (3 goals & 2 assists) from his ten appearances to date.