Match reporter: JOHN LAING

A superb second-half defensive display allowed the Hibs to collect the three points that sees them consolidate their sixth place in the First Division and closes the gap on fourth placed Newtongrange to four points.

Prior to kick-off a minute's silence was observed in memory of Roy Tiernan who passed away recently. In the mid 60s he founded well known Thornton business, Decorland, who currently have their name emblazoned on the front of one of the Hibs' kits.

The previous Saturday Murray Black, on the occasion of his thirty seventh appearance, scored his first goal for Thornton and he must've enjoyed it so much that he decided to do it again in the 9th minute with a terrific strike from the edge of the big box that gave Sam Scott no chance.

And just five minutes at the back of that Garry Thomson converted Jamie McNeish's knock-down to double the Hibs' advantage.

That was the end of the first-half goals with the closest thing to another being a great strike from Michael Jones that just cleared Craig Doctor's crossbar.

Early in the second-half Thomson had a netbound shot blocked but Liam Gray enjoyed better fortune in the 50th minute when he rose to head home Aidan Barrowman's cross to reduce the deficit.

Thereafter it wasn't quite one-way traffic but there's no doubt that Nitten created far more goalscoring opportunities but the Hibs defence stood firm and the visitors must've known it just wasn't going to be their day when Doctor tipped Jones' shot onto the inside of the post. The ball then ran along the goal-line before Stuart Drummond smashed the ball out of the danger zone.

Decorland/ Station Hotel Hibs' Men of the Match: Stuart Drummond & Sean Cunningham

Thornton Hibs: Doctor, Rodger, McMillan, Drummond, Cunningham, Adam, McNeish, Allan, Black, Thomson, McNab. Subs: Jarrett, Westwaters, Hain, Soutar, Jolicoeur, Jeffries.

Newtongrange Star: Scott, Brogan, Gray, McKenzie, Conlon, Sutherland, Barrowman, Hutton, Reid, Connor, Jones. Subs: Dowie, Davidson, Beattie, Buchanan, Neilson, Briggs.

Referee: Mr S. King

Attendance: 142

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - TH 2 NS 14
Attempts on target - TH 2 NS 6
Corners - TH 1 NS 6
Offside - TH 1 NS 4
Free kicks conceded - TH 14 NS 6
Yellow Cards - TH 3 NS 2
Red Cards - TH 0 NS 0

Statto's Corner:
* Dean McMillan made his 150th League appearance for the Hibs.
* Garry Thomson scored his first goal against Newtongrange Star and they became the 69th different team against which Garry has netted.
* Garry's goal (his 5th in 4 games) was the 300th that the Hibs have scored in the East of Scotland Football League.
* Jamie McNeish's assist for the second goal was his 7th of the season and takes his goal involvements into double figures for the season.