Maroon Memories: Jam Tarts almost chucked it all away

More than 15,000 fans saw Hearts maintain their 100 per cent record against Ayr United in Scottish Cup matches at Tynecastle.

They were two up in nine minutes, allowed Ayr to come back into the game but wiped out the challenge from the First Division side with a positive second-half performance. On a cool afternoon, Ayr had brought a reasonable support but there was little for them to cheer in the early minutes.

After Watson had used his feet to keep a shot from Bannon out, Ayr fell behind in only four minutes to an own goal. A Colquhoun cross from the right was misjudged by McIntyre and the First Division men were in trouble right away.

A swirling effort from Colquhoun was pushed over the bar by Watson and this corner led to a second goal for Hearts in only nine minutes.

The ball was switched to Colquhoun and his far-flung cross from the left was caught by Galloway who stretched out his right leg to guide the ball past Watson from an angle.

There seemed no way back for Ayr after such a disastrous start and their defence looked woeful under any sort of pressure. McLaren and Cowell were warned for a clash on the stand touchline before Evans tested Smith with a right wing cross and Cowell bothered Hearts with a 50-yard run.

Ayr had not given up though and both Levein and Galloway had treatment for knocks as United became more competitive. Watson did well to cut out a low cross from Galloway and good work by Bannon on the right saw a diving header from Robertson flash wide of the left-hand post.

Ayr pushed back into the game in 33 minutes with a goal that left Hearts red-faced.

Cowell sent the ball to Templeton in the inside right position and his hard-hit shot struck Smith on the body and rebounded into the net for the softest of goals.

Levein required treatment for a knock sustained in the Ayr penalty area and then left-back Hughes was booked for a tackle on Colquhoun.

Hearts suddenly realised they might have to play after all and a header from Bannon flashed past the post with the United back division caught flat-footed.

In the second half, Hearts decided to keep Levein inside after his two ankle knocks and Sandison took his place in defence. Following a near-miss from Galloway, Ayr went to the other end to force two corners and Hearts were uneasy leaders at that point.

However, a Robertson solo run perked up the home side and Evans was booked for a foul on the home forward.

But Hearts were relieved with a third goal from Colquhoun in 63 minutes. He gathered a pass from Robertson while Ayr wrongly awaited an offside decision and went straight through to side-step the goalkeeper and slip the ball into the net.

You could safely say the tie was finished now and Watson had a smart save from Mackay's 25-yarder as Hearts pushed the ball around more confidently.

Kennedy became the third Ayr player to have his name taken for a foul on McKinlay and a fourth goal followed in 80 minutes.

McPherson started and finished a sparkling move. He beat two men, pushed the ball to Berry on the right and moved in to head home the cross.

Hearts: Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, McPherson, Berry, Levein, Galloway, Mackay, Colquhoun, Robertson, Bannon. Subs: Ferguson, Sandison.

Ayr United: Watson, McIntyre, Hughes, Furphy, Kennedy, Evans, Templeton, Wilson, Scott, Slubbin, Cowell. Subs: Walker, McCann.