Match report: East Fife 2, Hearts 3

Hearts have now booked a seeded place in the Betfred Cup’s second round with a perfect record in their group.

East Fife made life difficult for their Championship opponents, though, and could easily have forced the Edinburgh side to settle for a share of the points.

Hearts took control early on courtesy of an Olly Lee double, but Jack Hamilton halved that deficit for East Fife. A 30-yarder by Andy Irving put the Tynecastle side 3-1 ahead after half-time, though.

Ryan Wallace responded by putting away East Fife’s second, but substitute Liam Watt passed up a glaring opportunity to equalise for the hosts near the end.

Christophe Berra’s first appearance in maroon for 11 months was one of eight changes for Hearts from Saturday’s league win against Inverness. He also wore the skipper’s armband for the evening as usual club captain Steven Naismith was among the substitutes.

East Fife, though, decided against ringing the changes, the return of Danny Denholm being their only alteration on a mild night in Methil.

Just 20 seconds had passed on the clock when Lee collected Euan Henderson’s left-sided cross and stroked it low beyond home goalkeeper Jordan Hart, and the Englishman doubled that advantage from a tight angle a minute later following a short corner.

Hearts had begun at lightning pace, initially overwhelming their part-time opponents, but East Fife competed better as the first half progressed and deservedly reduced the deficit six minutes from the interval.

Wallace’s shot forced visiting goalkeeper Ross Stewart into a fine reaction save low to his right, but Hamilton converted the rebound. Stewart, deputising for Craig Gordon, produced a vital save moments later to stop Scott Agnew equalising.

That drew a roar from a pocket of locals perched on the wall at the coastal end of Bayview, no doubt enjoying seeing a game live despite the ongoing public lockout due to covid-19 restrictions.

An injury forced Lee’s withdrawal early in the second period as Naismith entered the fray. Irving then scored Hearts’ third in spectacular fashion. He gathered the ball 30 yards from goal and dispatched a vicious left-footed effort into the East Fife net.

That should have killed the hosts off, but their appetite remained undiminished. When right-back Aaron Dunsmore launched a long ball forward, Wallace fastened on to it and scored in behind the maroon defence.

At 3-2, this tie looked far from over. East Fife appealed vehemently for a penalty on 84 minutes when the ball struck Hearts substitute Stephen Kingsley’s arm in an aerial challenge inside the area, but referee Euan Anderson did not agree.

Watt should have earned Darren Young’s side a point in the dying moments but dragged his shot wide when through on goal.

East Fife (4-4-2): Hart; Dunsmore (Watt 82), Murdoch, Dunlop, Higgins; Slattery, Davidson, Agnew, Denholm (Collins 76); Hamilton (Smith 76), Wallace.

Hearts (4-3-3): Stewart; Brandon, Popescu, Berra (Kingsley 72), White; Lee (Naismith 49), Irving, McGill; Frear, Wighton, Henderson.

Referee: Euan Anderson.