Berwick Rangers 2 Hibs Dev Squad 3
The Hibernian Development Squad continue their strong start to pre-season with a 3-2 victory over Berwick Rangers.
Jamie McMurdo, Luke Davidson and Jackson Thomson each scored as the youthful squad earned victory at Shielfield Park.
It was the hosts who started brighter, with Oliver Waldman and a Trialist both making crucial blocks inside the opening five minutes.
The Lowland League side nearly snatched the opener through veteran forward Liam Buchanan, whose low strike was well kept out by Hibs keeper Ryan Mallon.
Mallon was quickly called into action once more on 17 minutes, with his fantastic reaction stop denying a Berwick trialist’s powerful diving header.
Hibs would threaten for the first time through Davidson on 26 minutes, as his volley-on-the-turn bounced wide of the goal.
That first chance sparked something within Hibs, as the lads grabbed the opener less than 60 seconds later.
Josh McDonald sent McMurdo through on goal, with the young attacker letting fly from 25 yards and finding the top corner with a terrific first-time effort.
Davidson would hit the bar on the half-hour mark, before Adam Buckley whizzed one just over the bar from range.
The home team, after taking control early on, soon found themselves two goals behind.
On the stroke of half-time, McMurdo unselfishly squared the ball into the path of Davidson, who, despite the best efforts of Berwick defender Alfie Robinson, squirmed the ball over the line and into the empty net.
Berwick came out fighting in the second half, with Buchanan heading wide before a trialist pulled one back on 57 minutes with a thumping header from a corner.
The overcast skies broke open on the hour mark, with the game noticeably more turgid as the rain poured down onto the Shielfield Park pitch.
After a smattering of chances for the hosts, it would be Hibs who struck next.
Excellent passing play from Darren McGregor’s youngster culminates in 15-year-old Jackson Thomson coolly slotting in our third of the afternoon.
Moments later, a substitute trialist was brought down in the Hibs box and the hosts had a chance to convert from 12 yards. Skipper Buchanan made no mistake to firing home into the roof of the net on 75 minutes.
Berwick thought they had the ball over the line with, literally, the last kick of the match but the brave stop of keeper Fraser Brown on the line was convincing enough to secure the win for the Hibees.