Maroon Memories: Hearts' Cup luck holds up

HEARTS put their ordinary form in the league behind them to glide past Stirling and set up a Scottish Cup quarter-final trip to Montrose.

The victory saw the Jambos installed as third favourites for the Cup behind Rangers and Motherwell.

Against the Binos they showed plenty improvement in the important areas of chance taking and the midfield. It also made a difference having the influential Donald Ford back in action following a lengthy lay-off through injury.

After having some difficulty in getting into the game Ford delivered a second-half performance of some merit, showing occasional electrifying bursts of pace, drawing defenders with the merest half-turn and linking well with the hard edge of Drew Busby's more robust style.

He almost scored in the dying minutes when a beautifully flighted Prentice cross came to him at the near post. Ford timed his jump perfectly and, with Young beaten, only the bar denied him an emotional goal.

Youngster Ralph Callachan, who was still finding his feet in the side, showed his potential with a fine goal in 18 minutes.

After collecting a very poor clearance from Stirling goalkeeper George Young, Callachan elegantly worked his way towards the penalty area.

Instead of thumping the ball he made a neat switch, turned on to his right foot and chipped the ball out of Young's reach off a post.

Drew Busby picked up Hearts' other goals.

One was right on half-time when a Prentice cross was unselfishly flicked on by Ford and then blasted in from close range.

The other was a penalty in 74 minutes which was taken with his usual ferocity (Young got a hand to it but to no avail) after Aird had been brought down by Carr. Stirling gave a good account of themselves and never stopped running, chasing and harrying. Manager John Hagart was impressed by the way midfield man Rab Duffin found space and Stirling manager Alex Smith's claim that he is the most skilful player in the Second Division was not without substance. Smith felt Hearts were quicker and more determined in the box but it could all have been so different if, after Hearts' first goal, Graham Armstrong's header from five yards had found the net.