Dunfermline 1 Hearts 0

Dunfermline dumped holders Hearts out of the Tennent's Scottish Cup as Scott Wilson headed home an injury-time winner.

The big centre-back popped up at the back post to head man-of-the-match Adam Hammill's free-kick into the net from close range and put his team's name in the hat for the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Pars, bottom of the Bank of Scotland Premier League, were hanging on at one stage in the second half as Roman Bednar, Michal Pospisil and Andy Driver all went close for the visitors, but they go into Sunday's draw.

Hearts, who left Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon on the bench, preferring Steve Banks, won three corners inside the first two minutes to put the Pars on the back foot.

The hosts managed to clear the danger each time but there was no let-up in the Hearts pressure.

Following neat build-up in the midfield, Lithuanian Saulius Mikoliunas cleverly created room on the edge of the box but lost possession under a challenge from Scott Wilson inside the area.

Referee Mike McCurry waved play on and the Dunfermline defenders made their feelings known to the grounded Mikoliunas.

Dunfermline's first chance of the match came after nine minutes when Hammill found Phil McGuire unmarked in the box from a set-piece, but the defender failed to get enough contact on the ball from close range.

Following a high-octane start to the game, the quality on show deteriorated as both sides battled it out in the middle of the park.

However, just like they did from the first whistle, Hearts immediately mounted an attack following the restart.

The high-tempo start to the second period was a welcome sight following a mundane first half as Pospisil then made Dorus De Vries work in the 52nd minute.

Calum Elliot whipped over a first-time cross and the Czech marksman controlled the ball well 16 yards from goal before unleashing a shot which De Vries got down well to.

Hearts had found another gear as Dunfermline somehow survived the next attack.

Mikoliunas firstly found Driver at the back post and his shot was headed off the line by the alert McGuire in the 56th minute.

The danger was only partially clear and, following patient build-up play, Mikoliunas raced diagonally clear on goal but his venomous effort was parried clear by De Vries.

Then, in the 59th minute, Elliot's cross was headed goalwards by Pospisil but his effort was saved on the line by the Dutchman.

Hearts enjoyed territorial advantage with time running out but the Pars still looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

Hammill had a chance to become a Pars hero with nine minutes left but he dragged a loose ball wide.

With five minutes remaining Hearts striker Bednar then clipped the crossbar with an ambitious chip over De Vries from a tight angle.

However, Dunfermline defender Wilson notched a dramatic injury-time winner, heading home Hammill's cross at the back post.

Teams:

Dunfermline De Vries, Ross, McGuire, Wilson, Scott Morrison,O'Brien (Owen Morrison 86), Mason, Simmons, Hammill,Crawford (McIntyre 79), Burchill (Hamilton 68).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Bamba.

Booked: McGuire.

Goals: Wilson 90.

Hearts Banks, Zaliukas, Karipidis (John Armstrong 61), Tall,Wallace, Mikoliunas (Jankauskas 75), Kingston, McCann, Driver,Pospisil (Bednar 67), Elliot.

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Brellier.

Booked: Driver, Karipidis.

Att: 9,597

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com