Elliot spares Tynecastle blushes

Hearts 4
Nade (34 pen)
Berra (97)
Elliot (100, 102)

Dunfermline 1

HEARTS prevented a drama turning into a crisis last night as a flurry of extra-time goals staved off the prospect of Dunfermline recording another famous result on domestic cup business under Stephen Kenny.

This third-round CIS Cup tie was sent into an additional period when former Hearts player Stephen Simmons scored in the 84th minute to cancel out Christian Nade's first-half penalty for the home side.

Hearts had missed a series of chances to make the tie safe and their deteriorating display made victory for the visitors appear every bit as likely until Christophe Berra restored the Gorgie club's lead six minutes into extra-time, sparking a blistering spell of play, which saw the previously hapless Calum Elliot produce two excellent right-foot finishes to put a convincing gloss on the final scoreline and take his team into tomorrow's quarter-final draw.

Several hundred Hearts fans missed the kick-off, their entrance delayed as they queued for tickets with no cash turnstiles available at the stadium. Those who were able to take their seats in time saw their team make a lively start in which the direct and powerful Nade was prominent along with the technically excellent Laryea Kingston.

Dunfermline did create a minor tremor of alarm among the home supporters when Nicky Phinn's sweetly struck shot from around 25 yards dipped just over Steve Banks' crossbar.

Hearts were forced to make an early change when Michael Stewart limped off and was replaced by Ruben Palazuelos on the half-hour mark, but their general dominance of possession and territory was not disturbed as they duly translated it into a breakthrough goal from the spot just four minutes later. There was little doubt about the award after Calum Woods was sucked into a rash challenge on Elliot as the Hearts striker latched onto a cutback from Kestutis Ivaskevicius on the left. Nade claimed the responsibility from 12 yards and confidently sent Gallacher the wrong way to grab his first goal for Hearts since his transfer deadline day move from Sheffield United.

Dunfermline captain Stevie Crawford pushed forward from midfield to try and provide greater support to Tam McManus, and they combined well at the start of the second half to serve warning to Hearts their job was not done. McManus flicked Scott McBride's through ball into the path of Crawford and it required a terrific tackle by Kancelskis to deny the former Scotland striker a clear opportunity.

But the home supporters were growing frustrated with the increasingly laboured performance of their team and Dunfermline should have equalised when Crawford guided a Stephen Glass free-kick into the path of Sol Bamba, who failed to make a connection from six yards out with the goal at his mercy.

That scare seemed to rouse Hearts from their lethargy and Elliot twice squandered chances to make the lead far more comfortable, first heading a Kingston free-kick wide from close range and then shooting straight at Gallacher from just inside the penalty area after being played in by the impressive Nade. Hearts paid a penance for those misses, Dunfermline equalising six minutes from the end of regulation time. Their cause seemed lost when McManus struck a post with a free-kick but they forced extra time when substitute Owen Morrison's corner was headed home from close range by Simmons with the home defence posted missing.

Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Berra, Kancelskis, Goncalves; Kingston, Stewart (Palazuelos 30), Jonsson, Ivaskevicius (Ksanavicius 65); Nade (Velicka 77), Elliot. Subs not used: Zaliukas, Kurskis.

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Young, Bamba, Woods, Glass; Williamson (Ryan 62), Phinn (O Morrison 79), Crawford, Simmons, McBride (Hamilton 79); McManus. Subs not used: McCulloch, Murdoch.

Taken from the Scotsman