Trialist on the mark as Hibs cruise at Shielfield
HIBS coasted to 4-0 away win over Berwick.
A goal from a trialist after 17 minutes separated the sides at the break, Hibs going on to wrap up the victory with a second-half penalty from Liam Craig and later strikes from subs Tom Gardner and Lewis Allan.
Berwick were boosted just hours before kick-off when last year’s captain, and leading scorer, Lee Currie signed a new oneyear contract.
Hibs made the brighter start and created the first real chance when Paul Hanlon got in behind the Berwick defence and cut the ball back for Lewis Stevenson, whose effort was blocked by Stephen Tulloch.
The visitors opened the scoring after 17 minutes when their trialist rightback found the net with a 25- yard strike past Billy Bald.
Berwick’s Andy Russell shot over after an effort by fellow- striker Dean Carse was blocked by Kleton Permitreou.
Moments later, exHibee David Gold had a shot inadvertently blocked on the line by one of his own players, Carse.
In the second half, Berwick replaced Bald with Michael Andrews, and after 59 minutes he was lucky to stay on the park when he felled Max Todd in the box and Craig slotted home from the spot.
The visitors made the game safe when they added a third after 82 minutes, substitute Gardner sidefooting the ball home at the back post after Todd crossed left-footed from the right.
And after 86 minutes it was 4-0 when Lewis Allan found the net from close in following a mix-up at the back, just seconds after Aaron Dunsmore had the ball in the net but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Allan then dragged a shot wide late on.