Match reporter: JOHN LAING

Despite Garry Thomson claiming his 18th hat-trick in a Hibs' jersey, it was the visitors who eventually collected all three points thanks to Kayne Paterson's 88th minute winner.

In the opening stages, a Lewis Rodger strike was deflected for a corner-kick and Daniel McNab watched a shot from distance flash over the bar but the opening goal came at the other end in the 9th minute when Josh Lamond smacked home the loose ball after Macauley Jarrett had saved well from Kayne Paterson.

The Hibs appeal for a penalty-kick when they thought that Murray Black had been impeded fell upon deaf ears then when the referee awarded a spot-kick a few minutes later for a foul on Andy McCallion, Leith's objections to this were rubber-eared too. Thomson wasn't arguing about this as he levelled affairs with 17 minutes played.

The Hibs' skipper must've thought he'd given his side the lead shortly after with a terrific volley however Jamie Smith pulled off one of the best saves spectators in Memorial Park will surely view all season. There were a few more close things at both ends before Daniel McNab, in the 36th minute, sent in a cross that Thomson headed beyond Smith to give Craig Gilbert's side the lead.

A well struck shot from distance by Paterson gave Jarrett no chance to make it all-square in the 53rd minute then eight minutes later Sonny Swanson's low cross was converted by Lamond to re-establish Athletic's lead.

With five minutes remaining Thomson headed home Andy Adam's corner-kick and just as it looked as if this would be enough for the teams to claim a point each, Paterson capitalised on slack defending to net the winner with a well-placed lob.

Thornton Hibs: Jarrett, Rodger, McMillan, Allan, Cunningham, Adam, Soutar, McCallion, Black, Thomson, McNab. Subs: Doctor, Westwaters, Hain, Joilcoeur, Shanks.

Leith Athletic: Jamie Smith, Zajac, Baxter, Hume, McKay, Martin, MacKenzie, Paterson, Lamond, Burt, Swanson. Subs: McRae, Egan, Milne, King, Conafray, Kay, Jack Smith (T).

Referee: Mr K. Gibson

Match statistics:
Attempts at goal - TH 12 LA 10
Attempts on target - TH 6 LA 7
Corners - TH 5 LA 5
Offside - TH 3 LA 2
Free kicks conceded - TH 11 LA 15
Yellow Cards - TH 2 LA 7
Red Cards - TH 0 LA 0

Attendance: 118

Statto's Corner:
* Garry Thomson netted his 18th career hat-trick for the Hibs. It was the first occasion he has been on the losing side after scoring a hat-trick. The last Hibs player to suffer this fate was Chris Ireland in a 4-5 home defeat to Blairgowrie in September 2016.
* Garry has now scored 10 in five League appearances against Leith Athletic. They become the third team against which he has reached double figures in League matches; the others being Forfar Albion (12) and Fauldhouse United (10).
* This was only the third time we have witnessed a 3-4 scoreline under Craig Gilbert, and all three have now come at Memorial Park (previous in May 2012 against Bankfoot Athletic and November 2009 against Jeanfield Swifts).