East Fife 0 Hearts 2

Hearts won through to the fourth round of the CIS Insurance Cup with a 2-0 win against East Fife at Raith's Stark's Park - but credit must go to the Fifers who battled right to the end.

Only a last-minute goal from substitute Derek Holmes, adding to a Colin Cameron strike, made this tie safe for the Edinburgh team.

Up until that point there was the prospect of real embarrassment for a Hearts side who struggled to get out of first gear.

Only 3,337 fans could be bothered to turn up after the game was switched to Stark's Park and the first half was littered with inaccurate passing and poor control.

The first opportunity came after 11 minutes when Gary McSwegan found himself in a good position on the East Fife byline. However, his cutback was easily cleared by John Cusick.

Seven minutes later Cameron had a weak shot easily saved by William McCulloch, as Hearts began to apply some pressure on their Third Division opponents.

Moments later Cameron again had a shot on goal but was wide of the target.

After 27 minutes Rob McKinnon found himself clear in the East Fife box but he blazed his shot over the bar. McSwegan then had a good chance but poor control allowed the East Fife defence to clear.

East Fife should have scored in the 37th minute. A mix-up in the Hearts defence was pounced on by Graham Robertson but his shot was stopped by Gilles Rousset's legs.

A few minutes later the home side were made to pay when the Premier League team took the lead. McKinnon was fouled in the box by Rab Shannon and referee Stuart Dougal had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Cameron sent McCulloch the wrong way to put the Edinburgh men in front.

The second half was similar to the first as East Fife refused to let Hearts settle.

McSwegan had an opportunity after 58 minutes when he rounded the keeper.

However, his shot from an acute angle was turned away on the line by Damiano Agostini.

After 73 minutes East Fife nearly equalised. Shannon played one-two with Steven Ramsey and his shot just went past the post with Rousset rooted to the spot.

Five minutes later McSwegan could have made it 2-0. He rounded the keeper but the shot was cleared of the line again by Agostini.

Throughout all this the Fifers battled hard but could not get that elusive goal.

Right on the whistle Cameron picked up the lose ball and passed it to McSwegan on the right.

The international star's cross was headed past McCulloch by substitute Holmes.

East Fife (0) 0 Hearts (1) 2

East Fife: McCulloch, Shannon, Love, Cusack (Ramsay 71), Agostini, Herd, Logan (Honeyman 84), Forrest, Robertson, Moffat (Kirk 75), MacKay.

Booked: Love.

Hearts: Rousset, Pressley, McKinnon, Severin, Leclercq, Ritchie, Flogel, Fulton (Holmes 75), McSwegan (Wales 89),Cameron, Jackson.

Subs Not Used: Makel.

Booked: Pressley, Leclercq.

Goals: Cameron 41 pen, Holmes 89.

Att: 3,337

Ref: Kenny Clark (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com