Hearts strike late as Berwick wilt

From the archive

21 Jul 1997

Berwick Rangers...............0 Hearts................................3
Hearts maintained their unbeaten run in the pre-season build-up with this comfortable win at Shielfield Park.

The Tyneside squad capitalised as Berwick wilted towards the end with John Robertson scoring from the penalty spot and substitute Jim Hamilton scoring twice.

Manager Jim Jefferies said later: ''There were some things I was pleased with and others I wasn't, but overall I can't grumble.

I told the players at half time they needed to raise the tempo and that's what they did.'' Jefferies, an ex-Berwick manager, added: ''Rangers were a better looking side than they were at this time last season.

They looked fresher and more organised.'' Berwick manager Jimmy Thomson said: ''We played well for 70 minutes, then our lack of match practice began to show and we crumbled.

Generally, however, I was well satisfied.'' Berwick front man Kevin Walton blasted a 22 yard free high over in the opening minutes but it was Dave McPherson who almost broke the deadlock, heading wide a Steve Fulton free kick just after Neil McCann had been impeded.

Rangers were under pressure from the pace of McCann and Stefano Salvatori and as Hearts turned up the pressure only a brilliant, one-handed save by Darren Collier denied McCann, then he held a rasping shot from Fulton.

After the interval, Hearts continued where they left off and the breakthrough came in 65 minutes when Collier brought down McCann.

Robertson scored from the spot.

Rangers were unlucky not to equalise when Kevin Walton had a header kicked off the line by Steve Frail, but then, in the closing minutes, Hamilton got his double strike.

Taken from the Herald