Maroon memories: Young striking star lifts Hearts up again - Dumbarton 0-4 Hearts. 7 May 1983

A RISING star scored two goals as Hearts secured their place back in the Premier League with a convincing win at Boghead.

But, as the large contingent of travelling Jambos hailed their teenage hero, they can hardly have anticipated, despite the prodigious talent he had displayed that season, just what a part John Robertson was to play in the history of the club over the next decade or so.

Hearts had been a yo-yo side after their first-ever relegation in 1977 but failed to gain promotion in 1982. This time they went up as runners-up to St Johnstone thanks to this fine win at Dumbarton.

But they almost went behind after just four minutes when a slip by Walter Kidd allowed the Sons' Pat McCowan through on goal but Henry Smith dived to his left to parry his shot and the ball was scrambled away.

Kidd was again involved at the other end when Hearts took the lead after 13 minutes.

He made ground on the right wing and crossed into the goalmouth.

The Dumbarton defence failed to clear and Robertson turned and fired a low shot into the corner of the net.

Another low shot from the striking sensation after a pass from Gary Mackay had Hearts on easy street six minutes later.

Any early suggestion that a stuffy Dumbarton side might frustrate Hearts were gone and the fans were getting ready to celebrate already.

Dave Bowman and Mackay – described back then as a "Scotland youth internationalist" were running the game in midfield and Mackay came close to adding a third when his drive from the edge of the box was blocked by keeper Tom Carson and his follow-up lob skimmed the bar.

Hearts continued to surge forward in the second half and Mackay tested Carson with another shot. The ball fell to player/manager Alex Macdonald but Carson recovered to save again.

With 65 minutes gone, Hearts' place in the top flight was pretty much secured when Derek O'Connor connected with yet another Kidd cross and bulleted a flying header into the net.

Hearts were coasting and Dumbarton were reduced to ten men with both substitutes on and David McCaig forced off injured after a tussle with Kidd.

The fourth goal almost came when a sparkling run by Willie Johnston set up O'Connor but he shot over.

Mackay, who had been superb throughout, got a deserved goal which really got the party started with a spectacular shot just to minutes before the end.

Cameron calls shots in drop battle

Hearts 2-0 Dunfermline

3 May 1999

COLIN CAMERON was the difference between the sides in this thrilling relegation battle with two quality finishes.

The win gave Hearts a seven-point cushion over the rock-bottom Pars with a far superior goal difference and just three games left. And Hearts continued their revival, going on to finish in a comfortable sixth place, while the Pars were, indeed, doomed.

However, it was the Gorgie side who had earlier looked -destined for the drop in a season when Hibs were winning the First Division title to seal their return to the top flight after a season down.

The Tynecastle side plunged to bottom spot with just nine games of the campaign left.

Dunfermline seemed to be on the up but what they didn't account for was that Hearts would have Cameron in their side for the run-in and, just like Dundee United and Motherwell before them, the Pars found out to their cost just how important the little man was to the Jambos.

The Fifers were in the ascendancy during the opening 45 minutes, when it took the heroics of goalkeeper Gilles Rousset to keep Hearts on level terms. The Pars probably felt a touch dejected that their first-half efforts had gone unrewarded, while Hearts came out for the restart knowing that they could only improve.

And the all-important opening goal came just ten minutes into the second half. A cross-shot from Darren Jackson deflected off a defender and ricocheted to Stephane Adam in the middle. With his back to goal, he laid the ball into the path of Cameron, who volleyed home.

It was his third goal in five games but he wasn't finished and, in wrapping up the points with nine minutes to go, Cameron again showed the qualities which Hearts had missed for most of the season.

Scott Severin dinked the ball over the top of the defence for Cameron to run on to and score, sparking scenes of joy among the 14,500 Hearts fans.

Bathtime cut short as fans hail heroes

Hearts 1-0 Celtic

3 May 1976

THE Hearts players had to take a victory bow after this win over Celtic at Tynecastle as a section of the crowd demanded they return to the pitch to mark the end of the season.

Some had to get out of the bath and make themselves respectable to answer the call of the faithful after Jim Brown's goal gave fifth-placed Hearts a win over the Parkhead side.

The victory, more comprehensive than the scoreline, was some consolation for Scottish Cup heartache as it came just two days after the Jam Tarts had lost out 3-1 to Rangers in the final.

Centre-half John Gallacher, matchwinner Brown and inside forward Ralph Callachan were the stand outs for Hearts against a Celtic side without Danny McGrain and Kenny Dalglish.

Callachan forced Celtic keeper Peter Latchford into a good early save with a diving header but the goalie was helpless when Brown's 20-yard strike was deflected past him off defender Tom Callaghan.

Putting aside their Cup final woe, the game topped a strong end to the season for Hearts, who didn't concede a goal in their last four league games.