Hibs lift CIS crown

[sportbilly]

Hibernian won the CIS Insurance Cup final with a convincing 5-1 win against Kilmarnock at Hampden Park.

The Edinburgh club dominated the match from start to finish and out-classed Kilmarnock in all departments.

Hibs had the best of the early play with players like Ivan Sproule, Stephen Fletcher and man of the match Lewis Stevenson causing Kilmarnock constant problems at the back.

Steven Naismith was the pick of the Kilmarnock players and had a good chance to open the scoring after James Fowler had cleared a good chance straight to the striker, who brought the ball down exquisitely, but his shot was high and wide.

Hibs then made their pressure pay from a corner which was powerfully converted by the captain Rob Jones on 28 minutes.

Jones was unmarked at the far post and jumped high to head home from five yards.

Kilmarnock's best chance of the half was from a free-kick, taken by Peter Leven, who fired his shot into the wall but followed up the rebound and forced Andrew McNeil to make a good reaction save.

Hibs then had a great chance to make it two just before the break but striker Abdessalam Benjelloun's shot hit his own player, Sproule, and rebounded wide of the post.

Hibs started the second-half just where they left off in the first and made it 2-0 on 59 after Benji was put through and curled his shot into the far corner.

Fletcher then effectively wrapped the match up for Hibs with a superb finish on 67 minutes.

Brown played a perfectly weighted through ball to Fletcher, who took the ball at pace and expertly finished with his left foot across Combe into the far corner.


Gordon Greer scored a consolation goal for Kilmarnock on 77 minutes after a well worked corner was swung in by substitute Gary Locke, and headed back across goal for the waiting Greer who headed home from five yards.

Benji then made sure the cup was going to Edinburgh with his second of the match after good work from Fletcher on the wing had given the Moroccan the opportunity to slide the ball under Combe.

The match ended in slightly comical fashion when goalkeeper Combe sliced a clearance straight into the path of Fletcher who gratefully passed the ball in to an open goal.

[Jibbers]

Good!! Jim Jeffries is a disgrace to football and if he had lifted a trophy it would have been a travisty!!