Gillie On 'Great' Feeling To Score U19s Derby Winner

A delighted Lewis Gillie scored a crucial late winner to see off city rivals Hearts in a crunch CAS Elite Youth League meeting at HTC.

Just days after losing out to the Jambos at Oriam, a threadbare Hibs squad made a perfect start on home turf - with Logan Jimenez opening the scoring inside the first minute.

The visitors would soon build up a two-goal lead despite Hibs' strong start, though goals from Reiss Downie and Josh McDonald brought the tense derby encounter back level once more by the 65-minute mark.

With time running out and a win necessary to keep the pressure on fellow title chasers, Rangers, Gillie would rise highest to head in what would be the all-important goal. 

"I thought in the first half we were very, very poor," Gillie admitted to Hibs TV after the match.

"But obviously going out in the second half, going 3-1 down, and then coming back the way we did was really, really good. 

"I think at half-time we had quite a good chat, and I think that's just helped us raise our levels even more.

"Then just all the boys just found it in themselves to go out and beat them, because we knew what was on the line."

Putting aside the spectacle of emerging victorious from an Edinburgh Derby clash, Darren McGregor's side were also seeking three points to keep up their title charge. 

Rangers' will now face Dundee United on Monday night in their penultimate league fixture, before both Hibs' and the Light Blues' final matches of the season take place later next week. 

Knowing a win was necessary to keep their title ambitions intact, Gillie was frustrated to hit the crossbar with 10 minutes remaining - though that close call only made his eventual winner even sweeter.

"The first one I missed, I was raging because it was right there. I think it was harder to miss than score!

"But then obviously to go to the next corner and score from it, it was just a massive release off the shoulders - and now we go back top of the league again. So it's really good."