Sons were looking to build on last week’s crucial win over Livingston and Ian Murray made two changes. Danny Rogers, returning from international duty, replaced Jamie Ewings in goals while veteran defender Mark McLaughlin took the place of Steven McDougall.

Hibs came to the Rock on the back of a 0-0 draw with Queen of the South. Manager Alan Stubbs made three changes to the team with Malonga, Robertson and goalkeeper Mark Oxley coming in for Harris, Kennedy and Perntreau.

Murray has tinkered with Sons system several times in recent weeks. On Saturday he started with a back three of Lee Mair, Mark McLaughlin and Andy Graham. Wing backs of Mark Gilhaney and Scott Taggart, a central midfield of Scott Agnew, Chris Turner and Mitch Megginson. While Colin Nish and Garry Fleming played as a front two.

Just two minutes in and Sons had a good chance to go in front. Gilhaney did well on the right pulling a ball back but it was just behind Garry Fleming. The ball came back to Gilhaney but his shot was blocked by Scott Allan.

Hibs earned a free-kick in a dangerous area after 10 minutes when Mair was penalised for a robust challenge, perhaps unfairly as it appeared he got plenty of the ball. Scott Allan whipped in a dipping effort but it was straight at Rogers who gathered well.

Hibs were growing into the game though and were close to going in front moments later. An Allan corner was met brilliantly by Liam Fontaine, his header was goal-bound but Agnew was in the right place at the right time to header the ball off the line.

As the half was progressing Sons were falling under increased pressure, another Allan corner once again found Fontaine. His header had to be tipped over by Rogers.

After 23 minutes Sons’ resistance was broken. Some neat passing from Hibs in the midfield area created an opening and the run of Allan was found with a lovely pass by Danny Handling. Allan showed tremendous composure to finish, giving Rogers no chance.

Just three minutes later Hibs doubled their lead. Liam Craig found Dominique Malonga with a through ball, Malonga chipped over Rogers and a despairing lunge from Graham could not prevent the ball hitting the net for 2-0.

On the half-hour mark Sons were left with a mountain to climb. From a short corner Allan once again caused havoc getting past his man and cutting the ball the back for Hanlon who put the Hibees three up.

Hibs’ movement from middle to front was causing Sons all sorts of problems. Dumbarton simply couldn’t live with their pace and energy. So much so that Hibs looked like they could score any time they went forward. Scott Allan was the away side’s stand out player, pulling the strings in the first-half.

There would be no change to the score as half-time sounded.

The three at the back deployed by Murray had failed in the first period. Hibs’ quick passing and movement pulled the defence out of position and they were incisive enough to exploit the spaces, particularly down the flanks.

Murray reacted to his side’s first half display by making two changes at the break. Taggart and McLaughlin were brought off and replaced by Chris Kane and Kieran MacDonald. There was a change of shape as well as Dumbarton looked to salvage something from the game, reverting to a 4-4-2 with Kane and Nish up top, Fleming playing from the right, Megginson from the left, while MacDonald and Gilhaney filled the full-back positions.

The changes paid dividends almost immediately. Five minutes into the second-half a long free-kick from Agnew was met by Nish whose knock-down was finished by Kane. A sweet moment for the on-loan St Johnstone striker, who has spent a long time out through injury.

Dumbarton were coping far better with the Hibs threat in the second half and the comeback was well and truly on after the hour-mark. After some good pressure from Sons following a set-piece, Gilhaney crossed to the back post and captain Andy Graham directed a wonderful header into the net to make it 3-2.

The positive mood around the home support wouldn’t last long though. Shortly after Graham’s strike the home support was stunned by a piece of magic.

Malonga struck the ball from fully 35 yards and it flew past Rogers into the top left-hand corner. It was a terrific strike in what was turning out to be a wonderful spectacle for the neutral. But Sons were again facing a two goal deficit.

Dumbarton were not finished yet by any means. On 72 minutes Garry Fleming received the ball on the edge of the box. He took a touch and fired a left footed shot into the net, making it 4-3.

Dumbarton could have been level with 15 minutes to go. A free-kick was again not dealt with by Hibs. The ball fell to Nish but his volley went wide.

At 4-3 the next goal was going to be pivotal and while both teams had chances Hibs looked the more likely to get it. With seven minutes to go they did.

Craig played through Sammy Stanton who was clean through on Rogers. The Dumbarton keeper thought about coming out, which looked the best option. He chose to stay and Stanton was able to finish left footed into the corner.

That would put the game out of reach for Sons. There was still time for Malonga to complete his hat-trick, finishing past Rogers from 10 yards out making the score-line an incredible 6-3 to Hibs.