Hearts ran out deserved winners in front of a large crowd at Recreation Park, St Andrews.

On a perfect pitch, Hearts played up the slope in the first half and got off to the best possible start by opening the scoring after only four minutes.

Paterson in the Kennoway goal tried to clear the ball outside the penalty area, but collided with a team-mate.

Cameron collected the ball and squared to Scott Pryde who slotted home.

Kennoway tried to hit back immediately, and within 60 seconds a Little volley forced Dod Sharp to tip the ball over the bar.

Back at the other end, Lindsay Sharp curled a free kick around the defensive wall from 25 yards, but Paterson saved well.

Then an excellent cross by Pryde on 13 minutes was met by Sibanda, but his header was easily saved.

Both teams had reached the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup and were playing some good football, with the match swinging from end to end.

Johnstone of Kennoway was a threat with his overlapping runs down the left, while in one attack, Davis was unable to direct his header on target.

Hearts came close after 24 minutes when they struck the bar from a free kick, and Hutcheon played the ball back into the danger area before Kennoway eventually cleared.

Three minutes before the interval, Hearts doubled their lead following another miscued attempted clearance by Paterson outside the box.

Cameron's effort crashed off the crossbar, but Sibanda was on hand to fire the ball home to the delight of the Cupar support.

Into the second half, and Sibanda met a cutback by Cameron but his shot hit the side-netting.

However, Kennoway pulled a goal back from a corner kick when a perfect cross and a bullet header by Brown gave Sharp in the Cupar goal no chance.

Soon after Halley had the ball in the back of the net for Cupar, but was judged to be offside.

Kennoway were pushing a lot of men forward in search of the equaliser, and Hearts took advantage to catch them on the break after 70 minutes.

Hutcheon lobbed the ball to Pryde and his first time volley smashed into the back of the net for a spectacular finish.

Davidson of Kennoway blasted a shot over with five minutes to go, and that proved the last chance of the match as Hearts kept possession and frustrated the opposition.

An excellent victory for Hearts, with Lindsay Sharp being awarded man of the match.

Cupar Hearts: G. Sharp, Anderson (c), L. Sharp, Halley, McLean, Gilfillan, Hutcheon, McGuire, Cameron, Sibanda, Pryde, N. Fraser, S. Fraser, Oliphant, Rann, Donald, Kirk, Reilly, Kinhart and Milne.