Young Hibees miss chances and pay the price
Greg Taylor scored the only goal of the game 20 minutes from time for the hosts who secured all three points in what was a very even contest.
Hibs had the stronger start and were desperately unlucky not to take the lead when Jordan Sinclair’s well-struck free-kick had the keeper beaten but not the crossbar.
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Hide AdKilmarnock’s first real chance came on 20 minutes when former Hearts player Dale Carrick picked up the ball on the edge of the box but the striker’s curling effort drifted over the bar.
After chances for both Jack Breen and Oli Shaw landed just wide for Hibs, the best opportunity of the half fell to the visitors’ Ali Smith, who found himself unmarked with just the goalkeeper to beat. But he failed to turn his effort goalwards.
The home side broke the deadlock on 70 minutes when Jack Whittaker’s through ball found Taylor free inside the box. The striker steadied himself before confidently slotting the ball home past Sean Brennan.
Carrick clipped the post in the closing stages as the hosts tried to put the game beyond doubt.
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Hide AdHibs Development Coach, Joe McBride, expressed his frustration at the result. “I don’t think there was anything between the sides, we probably had the best chances in the first half,” he said.
“When you don’t take these opportunities, you’re liable to lose one.
“We’ve got to be more ruthless in all aspects of the game.”
Hibs: Brennan; Smith, Dunsmore, Waugh, Campbell; Watson, Breen (Murray 62), Stirling (Scott 55), Sinclair (O’Connor 65); Shaw, Peters.