THAT WAS REAL-LEE SPECIAL

Feb 17 2005

By Neil Cameron

TEENAGER Lee Wallace last night admitted his wonder goal that helped fire Hearts into the last eight of the Scottish Cup was 'better than a dream come true'.

The Jambos thumped Kilmarnock 3-1 at Rugby Park with one of their best performances of the season.

And 17-year-old left-back Wallace led the way with a stunning solo effort after only five minutes when he raced almost the length of the pitch before knocking his shot into the roof of the net.

His superb opener was quickly followed by a Lee Miller header, then Lithuanian Deividas Cesnauskis settled it after half-time with a debut goal.

Beaming Wallace revealed it was his first goal for the club.

He said: 'I have never even scored for the youth team and I've been at Hearts for two years.It was better than a dream come true.

'When I got the ball I just saw the space and was only about 10 yards out before a Kilmarnock player came to me.

'I played a pass, continued my run and then the next thing I know I had side-netted the ball into the net. We played really well and the gaffer was on at us at half-time to get a third and kill off the game.

'Now I hope we can go on and win the Cup.'

Delighted Jambos manager John Robertson raved about Wallace's glory goal.

He said: 'It was terrific. Lee ran maybe 70 yards, played a great one-two with Dennis Wyness and then dinked it over the keeper.

'If you watch it on TV you will see what a brilliant goal it was.

'But all the players were good. We started well and could have scored a couple before Lee got his.

'The Lithuanians played well but so did everyone else.From the first to last minute we were flying.'

Robertson insisted he had no idea whether Anatoly Byshovets was to leave Hearts as was suggested before the game.

It now seems he won't be part of the Lithuanian revolution - but the manager said: 'If he is coming as chief scout of director of football then fine because he can find good players.If not we will have to find someone else.'

Killie were short of players through injury and it showed, especially in the first half when they hardly got a kick as they failed to give Ian Durrant the farewell they wanted.

Kris Boyd converted a penalty with the last kick of the game but even that was ill-deserved.

Robertson's side are favourites to beat SPL bottom dogs Livingston at Tynecastle in the next tie and book a place in their second semi-final of the season.

The one blot on the night was a booking for inspirational captain Steven Pressley, who will miss the game against Livi.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies admitted he was disappointed but had no complaints.

He said: 'We allowed their youngster to run 60 yards for the first goal.Then it was always going to bea struggle after their second.

'We had some injury problems but I couldn't fault any of them for effort. We missed so many that would have normally played and that came at abad time.

'The flair came from the two Lithuanians who gave Hearts that wee bit of quality.'

Taken from the Daily Record