BIG BEN STRIKES ONE

Wonder goal from teenage ace seals Killie fightback as Brannan levels to grab point for Kettlewell's side

- DARREN JOHNSTONE AT EASTER RD

BEN BRANNAN scored a goal-of-the-season contender as Kilmarnock fought back to grab a point.

Stuart Kettlewell's side looked down and out in the first half after Rocky Bushiri and Elie Youan found the net for Hibs inside half an hour.

But Killie took advantage of sloppy defending to pull one back just before the break through Liam Polworth.

And 18-year-old youth graduate Brannan then showed unbelievable technique to fire a dipping volley into the top corner from outside the box.

Hibs showed no signs of fatigue early on from their European exploits and went in front after just 20 minutes.

Jamie McGrath whipped a menacing free-kick across the six-yard-box and Bushiri headed in at the back post.

It got even better for David Gray's side in the 27th minute when Junior Hoilett slipped in Youan and the Frenchman buried a shot beyond Max Stryjek.

But sloppy defence on the stroke of halftime allowed Liam Polworth to get the away team back into the game — before Brannan stole the show with a goal he'll struggle to better in the rest of his career.

The winger hit a superb first-time dipping volley from 25 yards after Hibs failed to deal with Polworth's corner.

Kilmarnock might have even nicked it as Hibs keeper Jordan Smith's sliced clearances and more woefuldefending led to openings but they could not make them count.