Maroon memories: Stirling cop a beating at Annfield as strong Jam Tarts show their class

With a fine display of attacking football, snapped-up chances and studied, artistic build-up play, Hearts wiped out the memory of the unhappy start they made to their league programme with a clear-cut, well- executed victory at Annfield in which the margin did less than justice to their undoubted superiority.

Barry at centre-half showed that he could cope with the 6ft 3in Rogerson, switched from pivot to lead the Stirling attack, and Anderson, at right half, played the role as if he had been born to it.

Such strength in defence gave the link men and strikers renewed confidence. Wallace and Don Kerrigan roamed at speed into the open spaces created by Hamilton and Gordon, and showed their appreciation for the opportunities and service thus offered by each scoring a fine goal. But the best - and the most spectacular - goal was Kerrigan's.

Wallace and Traynor drew the defence to leave Kerrigan in midfield entirely unmarked. Wallace sent him a long pass into the middle and the inside right dribbled round McGuinness, beat the advancing goalkeeper, before walking the ball into the tenant-less goal.

A great solo effort by Stirling's Kerray, which almost matched Kerrigan's, deserved a goal which might have given them added impetus but his shot hit the crossbar and Hearts went on to make it 3-0 with a Wallace goal four minutes from the end.