Hearts 4 Raith Rovers 2

Substitute Rob McKinnon's 106th minute shot appeared to be carried over the line by Rovers keeper Guido Van de Kamp and referee Willie Young awarded the goal - outraging the visitors.

Steve Fulton sealed it in the final minute, but it was tough luck on Jimmy Nicholl's side.

Goals from Rovers duo Paul Shields (41) and Paul Hartley (86) had cancelled out strikes from Jim Hamilton (four) and Stephan Adam (22) to take the match to extra-time.

Premier Division Hearts quickly took a grip on the game in the early stages and went in front after just four minutes thanks to a sweeping move.

Full-back Gary Locke was released from defence and he raced down the right flank to sweep over the perfect cross for Hamilton.

The lanky striker towered above the Rovers defence and sent an unstoppable header beyond van de Kamp and into the corner of the net.

Raith tried to hit back immediately through Hartley and Hearts ace Fulton was booked for halting the winger's direct run.

Then Steven Tosh found space to cross to Paul Browne, but his weak header was easily held by keeper Gilles Rousset.

However, Hearts claimed their second in the 22nd minute after some sloppy defending from Raith.

Van de Kamp failed to cut out Fulton's free kick from the right and it arrived at the back post for Adam to place a header into the net.

Four minutes before the interval Rovers pulled one back with a brilliant goal from 17-year-old debutant Shields.

Veteran midfielfder Ian Cameron worked his way into the box and picked out the youngster who showed great control before firing home beyond Rousset from six yards.

Raith went all out to grab an equaliser at the start of the second period and Rousset did well to cut out Jason Dair's dangerous cross after the full-back surged forward .

Neil McCann then past up two great chances to seal it for the home side before Rovers grabbed an equaliser with just four minutes of normal time remaining.

A long ball from defence skidded off the head of Steven Pressley and landed for Hartley who showed great composure to angle a shot beyond Rousset and into the net.

But one minute into the second period of extra time, Hearts were back in front in controversial circumstances.

Substitute McKinnon fired in a cross-come-shot from 25 yards and van de Kamp staggered backwards as he caught it.

After consulting his linesman, ref Young ruled the keeper had crossed the line and gave the goal despite furious protests from the Raith players.

Fulton rubbed salt in their wounds in the final minute when he met McCann's low cross to finish from close range.

Teams

Hearts: Rousset, Locke (Flogel 45), Naysmith, Weir, Salvatori (McKinnon 103), Pressley, McCann, Fulton, Adam (Quitongo 78), Makel, Hamilton.

Booked: Fulton.

Goals: Hamilton 4, Adam 22, Van De Kamp 106 og, Fulton 120.

Raith: Van De Kamp, McEwan (McCulloch 85), Dair, Bowman, Browne, Fotheringham, Hartley, Sheilds (Robertson 60), Wright, Tosh, Cameron.

Subs Not Used: Venables.

Booked: Browne, Fotheringham.

Goals: Sheilds 41, Hartley 86.

After Extra Time

Att: 12,238

Ref: W Young (Clarkston).




Taken from sportinglife.com