THERE was no doubt this one crossed the line.

Oli Shaw, the Hibernian striker, has unwittingly found himself at the heart of a debate encompassing goal-line technology, Video Assisted Referees (VAR) and the standard of officiating in the SPFL after his ‘ghost goal’ against Hearts.

Yesterday, he was able to celebrate a cathartic effort against Kilmarnock after latching onto a Jamie MacDonald error to turn home a close-range finish.

His fourth senior goal for Hibs cancelled out Kris Boyd’s opener to rescue a richly merited point for the capital club and Shaw was finally able to raise a rueful smile after a tumultuous week in his young career.

“It was good to get the goal. I was a wee bit fortunate but they all count,” said the 19-year-old. “I got told before the game to hang on their keeper and if he spilled anything to be sharp. Thankfully I was there to tap it in – and I made sure it went over the line this time!”

While Shaw’s latest goal will serve to enhance his burgeoning reputation, it was a striker enjoying an Indian summer who broke the deadlock after just 62 seconds as Boyd latched onto a Chris Burke pass and curled a sumptuous finish beyond Ofir Marciano via the left-hand post.

Remarkably, that was the 34-year-old’s 211th goal in Scotland’s top-flight and sees him overtake Hearts icon Jimmy Wardhaugh for fourth spot in the all-time list of post-war marksmen. Only Joe McBride (221), Willie Wallace (223) and Ally McCoist (260) have found the net more often at the elite level in this country.

“It’s yet another good finish, Kris is a goal scorer and you know if he gets the ball in and about the penalty box, he is capable of scoring,” said Killie boss Steve Clarke. "And that’s what he did. It gets us off to a really good start.”

However, Hibs under Neil Lennon are nothing if not resolute, and responded admirably to restore parity after 23 minutes courtesy of a horrendous error by Killie keeper MacDonald, who somehow conspired to drop a simple John McGinn corner-kick at the feet of Shaw. Two yards from goal and barely able to believe his luck, he caressed the ball into an empty net.

Despite a Jordan Jones shot which was ably tipped over the bar by Marciano, Hibs soon wrestled control of the contest in the second half. Stokes forced MacDonald to shovel a free-kick wide of the post before Martin Boyle volleyed narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box.

Boyd, proving adept at both ends of the pitch, then cleared a Shaw header off the line.

McGinn, superb in the second half, took matters into his own hands with 15 minutes left to play, unleashing a left-footed drive from 30 yards – but it struck the bar as the Ayrshire outfit held on for a point which sees them ascend into the top six.

Hibs assistant head coach Garry Parker was left to rue his side’s profligacy, but was able to confirm that they are on the cusp of signing Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain from Dundee.

“He has been in talks so hopefully that will go ahead, because we have only one fit goalkeeper just now,” added Parker. “So it will be competition for Ofir [Marciano].”