The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rovers go nap against Buckie as East Fife break Betfred Cup duck in five-goal thriller
Former Lichtie striker fires hat-trick as Arbroath are hit for six at Easter Road
There was no room for sentiment at Easter Road as Simon Murray dismantled the club where he carved out his reputation, with his deadly hat-trick inspiring Hibernian to a 6-1 win over Arbroath last night.
The Lichties required no introduction to the threat of the clinical marksman, who scored 19 goals for the club during the 2014/15 campaign, earning a move to Dundee United – however they were powerless to stop him running riot in the capital last night.
Ryan Porteous enhanced his growing reputation by bagging a brace for the hosts and John McGinn curled home a stunner.
Steven Doris did briefly level the score at 1-1 but, as Arbroath boss Dick Campbell acknowledged, his side were ultimately “spanked”, with Danny Swanson also missing a penalty-kick.
The win sees Hibs leapfrog the Red Lichties in Group D of the Betfred Cup and Campbell’s men must now beat Ross County at Gayfield on Saturday to have any hope of progressing.
“You can see they have been working with Simon,” said Campbell. “His front-play and use of the ball was excellent and he took his goals well.
“He’s an ex-Arbroath boy and he’s doing well and, honestly, I was very impressed with Hibs with the pace and quality they showed. I think they’ll trouble the top teams this season.
“It was constant waves of attack and it just echoes what I’ve said: it’s ridiculous playing Cup ties at this stage of the season and, although we missed a couple of chances at important times, we were well spanked.”
Hibs thought they had claimed the lead after just seven minutes. Steven Whittaker, occupying a role in central midfield on his second home debut for the Hibees, cut the Arbroath defence open with a fine pass to allow Murray to scamper free, round Ricky Gomes and roll the ball into the net. However, the offside flag was up.
Murray, however, would not be denied and he broke the deadlock when he headed a fine David Gray delivery beyond Gomes.
The floodgates threatened to open in the aftermath of Hibs’ opener, with Arbroath’s Canadian keeper forced into fine low saves to deny Martin Boyle and Murray, who was tormenting his erstwhile employers with his lightning pace.
A glorious chance for Hibs to double their advantage came and went when Porteous was fouled in the box, only for Swanson to lash his penalty kick wildly over the bar.
Hibs temporarily paid for their profligacy when a delightfully worked corner routine involving Ryan McCord and Linn culminated in a low cross to Doris at the back-post and he coolly slotted beyond Laidlaw.
However, parity was fleeting for Campbell’s men as the hosts regained their lead on the stroke of half-time through Porteous, with the youngster rising highest to power a McGinn delivery into the net from 12 yards.
Two goals in two minutes put the game to bed immediately after the interval. Murray gave the Hibees breathing room when he tapped home from point-blank range following a fine run and cross by Boyle, before a wonderful curling effort by McGinn made it four.
Arbroath weathered the storm until the dying embers when a late collapse saw Porteous convert another thundering header and Murray slam a superb volley past Gomes at the back post.
Hibs: Laidlaw; Porteous, Fontaine (Shaw 75), Ambrose; Gray, Whittaker, McGinn (Martin 70), Stevenson; Swanson (F Murray 64); Boyle, S Murray. Subs not used: Marciano, Bartley, Crane, Stirling.
Arbroath: Gomes; Gold (Skelly 68), Little, O’Brien, Hamilton; Denholm, Yule, Whatley, Linn (Kader 68); McCord (Swankie 74); Doris. Hutton, Prunty, Hester, Henry.