Hibernian's four-game overseas tour ended with a 2-0 defeat at Union Berlin, but the scoreline didn't properly reflect the whole match and the team in green's brilliant defensive performance.

Heading into the match, Hibernian had previously played practice matches in both Belgium and Holland before embarking on the final leg of an eventful European trip.

On a warm evening and in front of a boisterous 4,800 Stadion An der Alte Försterei crowd, manager Pat Fenlon chose to continue with the 4-2-3-1 formation he has implemented over the course of pre-season.

With Jorge Claros and Lewis Stevenson patrolling in front of the defence, which looks both hungry and organised, Leigh Griffiths was, once again, the striker ploughing a lone furrow in attack, but constantly asking questions of the Union defence.

Union came out of the starting blocks with real purpose and cranked up the early pressure; forcing Hibernian back deep into their own half and trying to connect some passes together.

But after Hibernian had weathered that storm, suddenly the game changed and it was Union Berlin ducking and weaving on the ropes as the visitors moved the ball around with panache and precision.

Photo credit: www.union-foto.de

Young Scot David Wotherspoon, who has enjoyed a thoroughly productive tour, underlined his growing confidence with a neat turn and shot on the 14-minute mark, which was saved by Union keeper Jan Glinker.

Then further momentum led to probably Hibernian's best chance of the match when Stevenson picked out the darting run of Griffiths and the instinctive Leither carved open the Union defence with ease.

But with the goal in his sights, Griffiths finish lacked punch and Glinker comfortably stopped his right-footed shot.

Moments later, Glinker was called into action again and he produced a top-class save to deny Griffiths' swerving drive which had deflected off the back of defender Christian Stuff.

Glinker had originally been both unsighted and wrong-footed, but somehow managed to palm away the attempt.

Union responded with a header from Stuff, but Williams was largely untroubled in a first half that Hibernian shaped to suit themselves.

It was probably the best 45-minute display of the tour and another positive was the familiar sound of The Proclaimers ringing out around the ground.

After the break and, as the sun went down, Union raised their game and, five minutes into the half, scored with a well-worked free-kick from their right wing.

Paul Hanlon was penalised for committing a foul on the periphery of the box and the resultant free-kick, chorographed on the training pitch, was delivered by Patrick Kohlmann into the danger zone and Michael Parensen flicked his header into the net.

Williams was powerless to prevent the high-speed attempt from crashing into the net, but perhaps a momentary lapse in concentration had proved very expensive. In all truthfulness, the goal was avoidable and will undoubtedly be addressed in training.

The goal knocked the wind out of Hibernian's sails and, although they kept plugging away honestly, Union Berlin - with the backing of their vocal crowd - were hungry for more.

Photo credit: www.union-foto.de

Williams denied Union's Simon Terodde on 61 minutes and then six minutes later David Stephens, who performed ably alongside McPake, made an impressive saving tackle.

The manager reshuffled the pack in the closing stages with a raft of substitutions and Williams made another sound save to deny Berlin.

But the biggest disappointment of the night was the way the defence went to sleep for Union's second goal - the final kick of the friendly fixture.

Silvio was on the left touchline and his low cross was knocked into the net by Christopher Quiring from close range. There was a suspicion of offside, but irrespective of that it was a soft goal to lose, especially at the end of an eight-day tour.

Overall though the tour proved to be immeasurably beneficial in terms of getting the new-look to evolve into a team which is difficult to break down - building blocks towards where the team needs to eventually end up.

Hibernian: Williams, Clancy, McPake, Stephens, Hanlon, Claros, Stevenson, Sproule, Wotherspoon, Doyle, Griffiths

Subs: Antell, Caldwell (for Griffiths), O'Hanlon, Booth (for Wotherspoon), Kujabi (for Hanlon), Cairney (for Doyle), Handling (for Sproule), Stanton, Maybury (for Claros).