Hibs eventually secured a valuable three points this afternoon after a nine goal thriller which included a hat trick from striker Dominique Malonga against Ian Murray’s Dumbarton at the Bet Butler Stadium.
Head Coach Alan Stubbs was able to select an experienced side compare to last week thanks to the return of injured duo Mark Oxley and Scott Robertson as well as the new Conga internationalist Malonga.
Jordon Forster and Dylan McGeough remain on the injured list.
There was little indication of the goal fest to come in the first quarter which, although Hibs dominated, they were unable to pierce the ‘Sons defence.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 22nd minute after some great interplay which ended with Scott Allan firing home from just inside the box.
Five minutes later Liam Craig did well to find Malonga and the on-form striker finished from a tight angle to double the advantage.
On the half hour mark, Paul Hanlon (pictured) added a third after Allan turned provider with an excellent low cross to the back post.
At that point the points seemed to be in the bag however the Easter road side started the second half badly and Chris Kane pulled one back five minutes after the break.
That goal should have been a warning, but Andy Graham made it 2-3 on the hour mark and the large travelling support began to fear the worst.
Malonga then restored Hibs’ two goal advantage with a sensational 25 yard strike which flew into the corner of the net.
The Hibs’ fans relief was short lived however when Gary Fleming made the score 3-4 with 20 minutes remaining.
Two minutes later Sam Stanton replaced Danny Handling before Lee Mair passed up a golden opportunity to equalise but his shot went wide of the post.
Stubbs’ substitution proved to be inspired when Stanton made it 3-5 after a fine flowing move then Malonga wrapped things up with five minutes remaining to secure the three points and the match ball.
The result sees Hibs overtake Queen of the South into third place at least temporarily as Queens play Raith Rovers later tonight at Palmerston.
Hibs: Oxley, Gray, Stevenson, Hanlon, Fontaine, Craig, Robertson, Allan, Handling, Malonga, Cummings. Subs: Perntreou, Harris, Stanton, Heffernan, Sinclair, Booth, Kennedy
Photograph by John Preece
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
