Five separate scorers for Hearts in win over East Fife

New signings impress in 5-0 friendly win
Hearts' Jamie Walker makes it 3-0 during the pre-season friendly against East Fife at Tynecastle. Picture: Craig Foy/SNSHearts' Jamie Walker makes it 3-0 during the pre-season friendly against East Fife at Tynecastle. Picture: Craig Foy/SNS
Hearts' Jamie Walker makes it 3-0 during the pre-season friendly against East Fife at Tynecastle. Picture: Craig Foy/SNS

It was a pity that the Hearts fans who spent most of the past two years being tortured by what they were seeing on the pitch were not present for this one.

Yes, it was against an East Fife side operating a tier below them in the leagues. Yes, it was a pre-season friendly and tougher is to come but the Gorgie side look more equipped and attuned to the challenge, winning 5-0 at Tynecastle.

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Setting a higher tempo and playing with more intent and drive in friendly action than they were able to muster when everything was on the line last term, the set up and shape allowed them to sweep forward on the flanks, using the width of the pitch and with plenty of fluidity, as new signings complemented players who have been rejuvenated in the months since the last competitive action.

In control throughout the first half as Elliot Frear and Jordan Roberts showed they could be valuable additions, there was a slight down turn in the performance levels in the second as East Fife swapped out their side after the break and the home side chose to chop and change personnel as manager Robbie Neilson strives to get his squad up to match speed ahead of their season kicking off in earnest.

A solid defensive display, allied by a spread of goal-scorers will have pleased the Tynecastle boss as he looks to repeat the success of his first spell at the helm and guide the club straight back up to the Premiership this season.

In the tenth minute, Jamie Walker swung in a corner and when it dropped at the back post Craig Halkett stabbed home.

Liam Boyce was also busy and the East Fife keeper had to palm away an effort but he couldn’t keep out the Championship side when they swept forward again with pace and power and Frear drilled home after a lovely one-two with Jordan Roberts.

Olly Lee then had a strike that stung the keeper’s hands.

In the 30th minute Walker got on the scoresheet sending his unstoppable effort into the top corner after Halkett had laid it back to him.

It was an encouraging sign, with so many players looking alert and ready to pounce.

Fast, fluid, punchy and compared to the doubt-ridden despondency of last term, there was real intent.

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Boyce increased the lead in the 46th minute, heading home a Michael Smith cross as Hearts turned the screw.

In the 78th minute they wrapped things up when Chris Hamilton stabbed home from close range after a Frear corner had been knocked down by Halkett.

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