Motherwell 1 Hearts 4

Their breathtaking start stunned a Motherwell side which had until this match been performing well.

A sixth minute goal from Colin Cameron, who netted from 12 yards, set the tone for the Edinburgh side.

Then after 13 minutes Jim Hamilton sent Stephane Adam racing from the half way line and the French man finished in style with a shot which beat Stevie Woods from the edge of the box to make it 2_0.

Then on the 20th minute Davie Weir's long through ball found the head of Hamilton who set up Neil McCann to strike home from 10 yards to make it 3_0 and effectively finished the game.

Motherwell were given a lifeline just on the strike of half-time when Namimbian striker Eli Shivute was tripped inside the box allowing Tommy Coyne to rattle home his eight goal of the season from the penalty spot.

This injected some life into the home side and Coyne almost snatched a second a minute after the restart but his snap shot from six yards was blocked by the Hearts keeper.

Any thoughts of Motherwell staging a comeback were killed off with 19 minutes remaining when Cameron set up Hamilton who kept his cool before slamming the ball home from the tightest of angles to make it 4_1 and finish the scoring.

Motherwell continued to fight until the final whistle but their cause had been hindered early in the match.

Experienced defender Brian Martin limped off to be replaced by young defender Stevie Craigan.

Although Motherwell trailed 2_0 at that stage there was little hope of staging a revival with such a young defence exposed to the goal hungry Hearts attack.

But, having gone three ahead, Hearts gave the home side some room and some confidence in the latter stages of the first half.

An inswinging cross, assisted by the swirling wind gave Giles Rousset all kinds of problems until the keeper panned the ball over the cross bar.

Then Eddie May came close with a 20 yard drive before a Coyne shot deflected inside the six yard box gave the visitors defence all kinds of problems.

Hearts always looked likely to score another and Cameron came close before Motherwell pulled one back.

Then after Hamilton's fourth, Motherwell were again given some time on the ball and they should have made more of it.

Twice inside a minute Willie Falconer had chances but on both occasions he gave Rousset comfortable saves.

Teams

Motherwell: Woods, May, McMillan, Valikarri, Martin (Craigan 16), Denham, Weir, Shivute, Coyne, Falconer, Coyle.

Subs Not Used: Christie, McCulloch.

Goals: Coyne 44 pen.

Hearts: Rousset, McManus, Pointon (Locke 69), Weir, Salvatori (Frail 83), Ritchie, McCann, Fulton, Hamilton, Cameron, Adam (Robertson 83).

Goals: Adam 13, Cameron 6, Hamilton 71, McCann 20.

Att: 8,886

Ref: J McCluskey (Stewarton).

Taken from sportinglife.com