Maroon memories: Jam Tarts end home campaign in style

HEARTS brought down the curtain on their home campaign in style as they destroyed Dundee United 4-1 in a one- sided contest at Tynecastle.

The Jambos dominated from the first whistle and if it wasn't for Alan Combe in goal it could have easily have been three or four by the interval.

The United keeper had already kept out efforts from Gary Naysmith, Gary Locke, Scott Severin and Darren Jackson but could do nothing to prevent Hearts from finally taking the lead shortly before half-time from a corner after Stephane Adam's cross from the right was met perfectly by Paul Ritchie and the Scotland new-boy powered a header into the corner for his first goal of the season.

Seconds after the restart, Adam linked well with Locke on the right before sending a teasing cross into the box. Naysmith got up well to meet it, sending in a downward header which went just wide, Gary McSwegan narrowly failed to connect as he slid in from the edge of the six-yard box before Hearts went 2-0 up in the 50th minute.

Jackson sent a pass that sliced through the United defence to Adam who beat the offside trap and found himself clean through on goal with just the keeper to beat. But, after advancing into the United box, the Frenchman unselfishly squared the ball to McSwegan, giving the former Tannadice striker the easiest of tasks as he slotted the ball into an empty net.

Tynecastle erupted with joy once again in the 67th minute as Adam was rewarded for his earlier act of unselfishness. Naysmith's ball forward was flicked on by McSwegan to the Frenchman, who steadied himself before drilling a right foot shot past the helpless Combe.

With the game won, Hearts made a triple substitution with 20 minutes to go - Jackson, Locke, and McSwegan being replaced by Vincent Guerin, Thomas Flogel and Juanjo.

With 13 minutes remaining, Hearts struck again as Cameron made it five goals in seven games. The little midfielder found himself in acres of space inside the visitors box and calmly slotted past Combe.

Then, in injury time, United grabbed a late consolation goal when on-loan midfielder John Eustace headed home a Kjell Olofsson corner.

The win moved Jim Jefferies' side into sixth place in the table.