All the pain worth it as Paul kicks off the party

THREE beach balls, two rubber rings, and one almighty party. It could mean only one thing: Hearts are heading for Europe and the cutting edge of continental competition in the Champions League next season.

On a night when the entire community of Gorgie was enveloped by some of the most intense and dramatic scenes ever witnessed there, Valdas Ivanauskas and his players walked the walk after talking the talk since last July.

Supporters brought with them the seaside accessories in anticipation of their side defeating Aberdeen and securing the SPL's coveted second place that would permit them a seat at the top table in Europe for season 2006/07.

Ultimately, Hearts delivered, but frankly there are fugitives on death row right now who haven't encountered even a fraction of the angst and trepidation which filled the 17,000 folk crammed inside the ground last night. Even the Real Radio Renegade, on the loose outside Tynecastle before the match, has it easy compared to this.

Upon the full-time whistle, all the pent-up emotion was collectively released, producing the unique sight of Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, fists clenched with delight, leaping onto the wall between the upper and lower tier of Tynecastle's main stand and jumping unreservedly for joy.

Beside Romanov in the front row of the directors' box, his son and Hearts' chairman Roman hugged and shook hands with everyone in the vicinity. In the row behind was interim head coach Valdas Ivanauskas, his eyes bulging from their sockets, fists pumping in front of him for what seemed like an eternity as he struggled to contain himself. Maybe he was even toiling to take in the magnitude of what he had helped achieve.

Ivanauskas was prohibited from watching the match in the dugout because of an SFA ban, however his absence was ineffectual in the end. Alex McLeish, the Rangers manager, was conspicuous by his hasty exit from the ground at full-time, for Hearts' victory ensures they cannot be overtaken at Ibrox on Sunday.

Rangers will finish third and assume a UEFA Cup place, Gretna will join them in the same tournament, however Hibs' European hopes have been extinguished by their city rivals' success. "The Old Firm haven't been split for 12 years, so that shows the size of the task," said captain Steven Pressley. "Mr Romanov made a few statements when he came into the club and many people were sceptical, but the proof is here now.

"We are taking it in and it was a fantastic night, although a very nervy one."

As usual, the skipper had captured the mood perfectly. Hearts attempted to execute their trademark bulldozing start on this match but when goals didn't transpire the tension rose to the surface both on the pitch and in the stands.

There was little fluidity from either team throughout the evening, but the opening spell was especially rough on the eye with high balls the order of the day. Deividas Cesnauskis spurned a decent early opening from Roman Bednar's cross, but Hearts' threat was being notably nullified by Kevin McNaughton's man-marking efforts on Paul Hartley.

Hearts did manage to fashion a chance nine minutes from half-time when Hartley and Robbie Neilson combined to feed Bednar. His deep cross from the right dropped over the flapping Jamie Langfield but Rudi Skacel could only roll his finish across the face of goal and wide of Langfield's left-hand post.

The worry amongst the home support was readily detectable at the interval despite Aberdeen having offered only a weak Barry Nicholson shot as their only attempt at goal in the first half. But shredded nerves began to ease early in the second half with the award of a penalty to Hearts.

A shot from Bednar resulted in a goal-line scramble involving the Czech, Cesnauskis, and several visiting defenders. When the ball was eventually cleared for a throw, Neilson launched it into the penalty area and Bednar's flick was blatantly handled by Russell Anderson on the goal line.

Referee Charlie Richmond chose perplexingly only to book Anderson for his misdemeanour. Placing the ball on the spot was Hartley, preparing for possibly the most important single kick of his life. He ran forward and crashed the ball to Langfield's right. The party was underway.

The lapses in positional awareness of Portuguese midfielder Bruno Aguiar were still causing Hearts concern, however, as Aberdeen strove for an equaliser, and it was easy to form the impression that the introduction of Julien Brellier's calming influence would allow the home side much more balance to their team.

Former Jambo Scott Severin was dismissed for Aberdeen as the match entered its closing stages for a two-footed lunge on Aguiar, and at that point the Hearts fans began to sense that they destiny was about to be realised. Ivanauskas issued instructions via mobile phone to coach Stevie Frail in the dugout, an act for which he may again incur the wrath of the SFA.

The scarves were twirling, whistles blowing, stewards lining the track to prevent a mass pitch invasion with full-time only seconds away.

Hearts were almost there. When the whistle eventually went, the only thing that could have raised the decibel level would have been the presentation of the European Cup itself to Steven Pressley.

Against their club's wishes, around a hundred fans made it on to the pitch.

Ecstatic, yes, but very good-natured. They were soon joined by the entire Hearts first-team squad and coaching staff, as well as Romanov himself, who had climbed down from his main stand podium to take a much more civilised bow on the turf.

The little Russian-born banker then went round each and every one of his staff with a congratulatory hug, although the embrace between him and Brellier must qualify as the coldest cuddle ever administered. There was still time for a lap of honour, a team photo and a sing-a-long with Takis Fyssas.

Wonderful thing, this Champions League business. For as well as the unparalleled joy of qualifying, there is also the potential for Hearts to earn a £10million bounty should they prove sufficiently astute at competing at the top level.

Although, on this occasion, it could be argued that it is not the money that is motivating Romanov. It's the status.

Taken from the Scotsman