Hamilton Academical 0 Hibernian 2 match report: Jason Cummings steers Hibs towards survival

Striker hits his first two goals for Edinburgh side in vital tie

Jason Cummings gives Hibernian the lead (Getty Images)

Jason Cummings scored his first two goals for Hibernian in their win over Hamilton to take the Edinburgh side a giant step towards retaining their Scottish Premiership status.

The 18-year-old striker, who was playing boys' club football last year before he signed for Hibs, hit a 25-yard drive past Kevin Cuthbert in the 39th minute to give the visitors the interval lead in the first leg of the play-off final.

Accies were rocked again 10 minutes into the second half when former Hearts youth player Cummings grabbed a second from much closer range. Only a remarkable turnaround in the return at Easter Road on Sunday would cost Hibs the final.

Terry Butcher's side, despite having won only one of their previous 19 games, looked confident on the artificial pitch and were unlucky in the 12th minute when midfielder Scott Robinson's drive from 20 yards struck the outside of the post.

Louis Longridge went close for the home side but Cummings made the breakthrough when he unleashed a ferocious drive from 25 yards which had Cuthbert grasping at air.

Mickaël Antoine-Curier had a shot blocked by the visitors' keeper Ben Williams and Hibs were fully in control when Cummings scored his second from Paul Heffernan's driven cross despite defender Ziggy Gordon's attempted clearance.

Hamilton Academical Cuthbert; Gillespie, Canning, Garcia Tena, Gordon; Andreu, Routledge (Crawford, 84), Mackinnon, Keatings (Ryan, 52); Longridge (Scotland, 73), Antoine-Curier. Substitutes not used Devlin, Neil, Currie, Kilday.

Hibernian Williams; Maybury, Nelson, McGivern, Stevenson; Robertson (Tudur Jones, 89), Craig, Harris, Stanton; Heffernan, Cummings (Cairney, 85). Substitutes not used Collins, Murdoch, Forster, Haynes, Thomson.

Referee B Madden (Scotland).

PA