Hibs 3-2 Falkirk

Colin Nish grabbed a glory double, his first one of the quickest ever goals in the SPL, as Hibs edged out Falkirk in a five goal thriller at Easter Road this afternoon.

Mixu Paatelainen's side twice led by two goals only for Bairns striker Michael Higdon to score two of his own. But it was Paul Hanlon's first goal for Hibs early in the second half which earned the Edinburgh club their first win of the season although the woodwork came to the home side's rescue in the final minute as substitute Mark Stewart crashed a tremendous shot off goalkeeper Andy McNeil's left hand post.

Hibs got off to the perfect start with the opening goal coming in only 23 seconds as Nish, guilty of a bad miss at Kilmarnock on the opening day of the season, dug a pass from Dean Shiels out from under his feet before skipping past Lee Bullen and prodding the ball between Falkirk goalkeeper Robert Olejnik and his near post.

It was just what the home fans, anxious following a miserable run of pre-season results and that setback at Rugby Park needed, and you could almost see the confidence pour through Mixu Paaatelainen's under-fire players.

Steven Fletcher should have done better after robbing Bairns defender Darren Barr of possession but, with Nish and Dean Shiels in support, the Scotland striker opted to go for goal himself although his weak shot was never going to trouble Olejnik who then dived on a low cross from Shiels to prevent Hibs doubling their lead.

A clever backheel from Nish, who was leading the line superbly, gave Alan O'Brien the opportunity to display his blistering pace but a heavy first touch allowed Jackie McNamara to retrieve the situation before Olejnik pulled off a point-blank stop to deny Fletcher.

O'Brien slammed a shot into the sidenetting before Nish clamed his second goal of the game in the 24th minute, dropping to his knees to nod home a Paul Hanlon cross which had eluded everyone in a packed Falkirk penalty areas.

The Bairns had posed little threat but they shocked Hibs by pulling a goal back in the 29th minute as Higdon was left all alone to head home Gerard Aafjes cross.

John Rankin should have restored Hibs two goal lead a couple of minutes later when O'Brien left him with only Olejnik to beat but somehow the midfielder drilled his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Falkirk should have punished Hibs for that miss when Russell Latapy picked out Kevin McBride only a few yards out but he was unable to connect with the ball as the Bairns suddenly burst into life, taking the game to the Easster Road side which had begun to display a distinctly nervous disposition as had the home support.

Those nerves were soothed, however, as Hanlon claimed his first goal for Hibs, the 18-year-old stooping to head home from close-range after Nish had nodded a Shiels free-kick back across goals just two minutes after the interval and only a terrific save from Olejnik as he again denied Fletcher kept the Bairns' interest in this game alive.

But again Hibs were made to pay in the 53rd minute as Jackie McNamara threaded a superb pass through to Higdon who found room between Rob Jones and Chris Hogg to rifle the ball into the roof of the net for his second goal of the game.

Olejnik pulled off a superb one-handed save high to his left as his personal battle with Fletcher continued, the Hibs striker left shaking his head in disbelief as the Falkirk goalkeeper prevented him from scoring for the third time.

Fletcher had yet another chance when Nish, far beyond the back post, headed O'Brien's cross into his path but on this occasion the 21-year-old fired wide and only the woodwork prevented him claiming his first goal of the season as his left-foot shot for once beat Olejnik only to clip the top of the bar.

McNeil was forced to push a low shot from substitute Mark Stewart round the post as the Bairns pressed for an equaliser, Higdon just squeezed out at the near post as he went in search of his hat-trick.

Hibs: McNeil, Van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Hanlon, Shiels (Chisholm 90), Keenan (Murray 74), Rankin, O'Brien (Campbell 86), Nish, Fletcher. Subs not used: Grof, Yantorno, Morais, Canning.

Falkirk: Olejnuik, McNamara, Barr, Bullen, Aafjes, Arfield, Cregg, McBride, J Stewart (M Stewart 72), Higdon, Latapy (Robertson 71). Subs not used: Fliners, McCaffrey, Gibb, Staunton, Mitchell.

Referee: Willie Collum.