Stenhousemuir put out Motherwelll in a previous round, but they could not do the same to Hearts who earned a semi-final slot in the Premier Sports Cup with a 3-0 victory over the William Hill Championship leaders at Ochilview.
Goals from J J Williams, Rogers Mato and substitute Yan Dhanda made the difference as Hearts dominated play and it was Mato who starred with an eye-catching, first-half performance, showing great pace and technical ability.
Earlier, American striker, J J Williams, was given his first start for Hearts against the William Hill Championship side and midfielder Sabri Guendouz was introduced along with Mato. Harry Milne wore the captain’s armband in a game which marked defender Stuart Findlay’s 50th appearance for he Jambos.
Ochilview housed 1,400 Jambos who had made their way to Larbert for the fixture, including members of the London Hearts Supporters Club, and it was Williams who won the ball on the left in the first minute. He fed Magnusson and his cross across the six-yard line was met by Guendouz but his header flew wide.
Stenhousemuir were not out of this contest and a throw-in down the left saw Kinlay Bilham have a sight of goal, but he fired over from a good position.
However, Wiliams nodded the ball on to Sabah Kerjota and he drove towards the home penalty area before his path to goal was blocked and the danger cleared.
Lewis Hodgkiss then fouled Guendouz on the left and the free-kick was pinged into the box by Christian Borchgrevink but the Stenny defence stayed firm.
They were, however, under pressure when Mato checked back and sent an inviting ball towards Williams who was lurking on the six-yard box, but he headed straight at the Stenhousemuir goalkeeper.
Hearts were finding it tough to break through the resolute home defence although the pace of Mato was causing real problems down the left and Williams counted from close-in after another raid and a knock-down from Magnusson who held off a defender after Stuart Findlay had nodded the ball into the danger area. Time 35 minutes.
Four minutes later and the Jambos added a second. Mato was fed by Guendouz and he sped towards goal before slotting low with his left foot. It was a cool, clinical finish and Mato’s first goal for the Men in Maroon underlined their superiority against a young but spirited and highly-competitive side.
Then Guendouz showed great balance and skill to spin a defender and then evade the defence before sending a ball across the box towards Wiliams and it took a superb stop from home goalkeeper Darren Jamieson, who spread himself to block the American’s prod, to deny the visitors.
Overall, Hearts impressed in the first 45 minutes with 22-year-old Ugandan, Mato, a star on the left hand side, but the game changed after that opening goal.
The Frenchman’s pace forced Stenny head coach, Marvin Bartley, to make a change but Mato continued to cause concern early in the second half when Sam Young chopped him down and he was booked. Mato landed heavily and needed treatment.
Minutes later Findlay was on the deck in the box after being taken out by Bilham, but referee Calum Scott waved away Hearts’ protests for a penalty.
Mato then rose so head towards goal following a cross from the left and he was denied by Jamieson who stuck out his left boot to clear, another quality stop from the 35-year-old.
Bartley then made three other changes in a bid to gain a foothold in the game, and Magnusson departed for Hearts with Yan Dhanda running on for a rare appearance.
Hearts continued to put pressure on The Warriors and Kerjota switched wings to the left. The Albanian flashed in a great ball towards the far post but J J Williams was inches away from converting, another scare for the home side.
Vrancken took Mato and Milne off and replaced them with Stephen Kingsey and Calvin Miler and the third arrived after 73 minutes. Substitute Dhanda latched on to a knock back from Williams to fire the ball home from close range. Williams had been feed by a deep cross from Borchgrevink.
Hearts made more changes and brought on Jordi Altena and Pierre Landre Kabore for Borchgrevink and Wiliams and Hearts march on in the League Cup and await their opponents.
ON TARGET: J J Williams netted his first goal for Hearts in their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Stenhousemuir. Picture Nigel Duncan
