Craig Gilbert admitted he simply kicked his players' backsides at the interval to inspire the comeback. The Thornton Hibs boss was speaking after his side's Scottish Communities Cup second-round win at Memorial Park, where the first half had ended goalless against a young Westdyke side. Gilbert's half-time team talk clearly had the desired effect, as his side erupted after the break.
Who scored for Thornton Hibs in the second half?
The goals came from Sean Cunningham, Lewis Bennett and Stuart Drummond, who all found the net after the break. The trio secured a comfortable 3-0 victory and could have added further chances, with Gilbert noting his side converted their opportunities and might have finished with five, six or seven goals by the end of the match.
What did Craig Gilbert say about the opposition?
Gilton described the opposing Westdyke team as a young Aberdeen-based side who have only been together for two or three years. He praised their enthusiasm and energy but noted they were essentially a 20s team trying to play football and keep the ball on the deck. Gilbert's assessment highlighted the experience gap that his side exploited after half-time.
Can Hibs kickstart their season with these results?
Thornton Hibs opened their campaign with four losses and a draw, leaving them second bottom of the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division. Gilbert suggested these two cup fixtures could help his side kickstart their season, stating they have said it is a chance to hopefully get six points. The manager recently outlined his displeasure that three players had missed key fixtures due to being on holiday, but confirmed 90% of his squad is now available.
What is the injury situation for Hibs?
Gilbert recently expressed frustration that three players had missed key fixtures recently due to being on holiday. He revealed there is a holiday board that was basically filled up to the maximum a few weeks ago, but players have since said there are no more holidays this year. The manager stated players understand they cannot let the team down and need to look ahead at the fixtures in place, with Gilbert suggesting holiday periods should be moved from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday instead.
Thornton Hibs will look to build on this cup victory when they host Dundonald Bluebell in the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division, with another home encounter against Whitburn to follow on Saturday. The team will be aiming to use this momentum to climb off the bottom of the table and improve their early season form.
