Whitehill Welfare 2 Hibs Dev Squad 5
The Hibernian Development Squad wrapped up their pre-season preparations with a 5-2 victory over Whitehill Welfare.
Luke Davidson, Callum Macdonald and Logan Jimenez were on the scoresheet as the Hibees left Ferguson Park with the win.
The East of Scotland First Division side went behind inside four minutes following an own goal from a Hibs corner.
Davidson, under heavy contest from keeper Ross Jardine, knocked the ball off the back of a Welfare defender and into the back of the net.
On 21 minutes, Darren McGregor’s side were two goals to the good following a lovely team move.
Joseph McGrath carried the ball through the centre of the pitch, before offloading possession to Davidson, who then found Macdonald.
The attacker then took on two defenders with ease before firing low into the bottom corner from 18 yards out.
Another Hibs goal followed on the stroke of half-time, as a trailing Welfare defender played Davidson onside. The forward latched onto a neat through ball and excellently lashed home our third of the afternoon into the roof of the net.
Ten minutes following the restart, the home team clawed one back. Jake Robb picked out Jonathan Grotlin in the air, with the Welfare skipper turning in a fine glancing header past Ryan Mallon.
On the hour mark, Hibs restored their three-goal advantage. Rory Whittaker dazzled his marker with some nice footwork, before finding Macdonald in the mixer, who volleyed in his second goal of the match.
The hosts gave away possession inside their own half while under heavy pressure from the Hibees frontline, allowing Davidson to send through Jimenez, who thrashed in a Hibs fifth beyond Jardine.
The final goal came on 74 minutes as the heavens opened above Ferguson Park. Grotlin raced through on goal following a long pass over the top and lobbed an onrushing Mallon from 30 yards.
A strong performance in harsh conditions brings the Dev Squad's pre-season to an end ahead of an exciting 2025/26 campaign ahead.