Clay Pigeon Shoot For Hat-Trick Hero

Sep 30 2007 Rob Fairburn At Easter Road

HIBS 4

KILMARNOCK 1

HIBS hero Clayton Donaldson won the the mind games to land his first hat-trick for the Easter Road club.

Killie keeper Alan Combe had earlier foiled the English hitman's attempt for a treble by saving a spot-kick.

But when the summer signing from York City was hauled down with 12 minutes to go he had no hesitation in grabbing the ball again and - despite taunts from Combe - he sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

The 23-year-old striker said: "Combe was saying you're going to miss but I've learned to always ignore the keeper and also the players behind you trying to put you off.

"I was a bit slack with the one I missed but I made sure when the chance came up again that I would stick it away properly.

"I have scored hat-tricks for Hull, York and now Hibs and obviously I'm delighted.

"The match ball will be going in a cabinet in my house alongside my strip which will be a great memory for me.

"I feel I'm getting better each game now and the players are getting used to me so things are going well."

Donaldson took his haul to five goals in the last three games but Hibs were also happy with the SPL debut of Darren McCormack, on his 19th birthday, while Ross Chisholm also gave an outstanding 90-minute show.

The home side took the lead in 11 minutes when Killie failed to deal with a corner. David Lilley could only head into the path of Donaldson who smashed home from close range.

Hibs thought they'd extended their lead in the 27th minute when Rob Jones' sent a header sailing towards the top corner but Combe pulled off a marvellous save.

The game's most controversial moment came two minutes later when Brian Kerr sent Donaldson scurrying into the box but Frazer Wright foiled him with a well-timed sliding tackle.

Referee Stuart Dougal ruled Wright had taken the man before the ball and pointed to the spot.

Donaldson sent Combe the wrong way to leave Killie with a strong sense of injustice.

But the Ayrshire side had no complaints with the second penalty with Donaldson clearly flattened by Lilley as he tried to head home a Filipe Morais cross.

This time the penaltywent down the middle but the diving Combe stuck out a leg and the ball cannoned to safety.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies made a triple substitution in the 54th minute in a bid to reverse the flow of the game But 10 minutes later Hibs netted a third when Killie again failed to clear their lines and the ball struck the back of midfielder Kevin McCann before falling at the feet of Donaldson.

The striker's shot seemed to be drifting wide of the far post but sub Mickael Antoine-Curier was on hand to stab home from close range.

Killie threw themselves a lifeline in the 76th minute when substitutes Willie Gibson and Colin Nish combined for a tap in at the far post for the big striker.

But Hibs made sure there was to be no dramatic comeback by going straight up the park and restoring their three-goal lead.

Donaldson was tripped in full flight by Ryan O'Leary with the full-back sent packing for his challenge.

The wait could have unnerved the Hibs striker but he kept his cool to send Combe the wrong way.

REF WATCH

STUART DOUGAL dropped a clanger at the first penalty. Got little wrong after that but that won't make Killie fans feel any better. Rating: 6/10

WATCH STARS

SHOTS ON 10

SHOTS OFF 4

OFFSIDE 2

FOULS 8

CORNERS 8

BOOKINGS 0

SHOTS ON 7

SHOTS OFF 3

OFFSIDE 2

FOULS 13

CORNERS 7

BOOKINGS 3