Hearts showed their ruthless edge in their latest pre-season match by putting League Two side East Fife to the sword in a 7-0 thrashing.
In a testimonial match honouring East Fife hero Kevin Smith, left-back Stephen Kingsley scored a hat-trick with Alex Cochrane, Finlay Pollock, Alan Forrest and a trialist also on target during a fine evening at Methil. More importantly for manager Robbie Neilson, it was more minutes under their belts ahead of the new Premiership season that begins on July 30th against Ross County.
It took 14 minutes for Hearts to open the scoring through Cochrane after some good play between Gary Mackay-Steven and Liam Boyce. Six minutes later and Pollock had doubled the lead with a third netted before half-time via the trialist - believed to be former Doncaster Rovers defender Joe Wright - putting a diving header into the net. As a contest, the game was done.
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Neilson's men were relentless though and more to the point, their left-back was leading it. First Kingsley netted a strike from range, then a header from Jorge Grant's corner.
His three-goal haul was completed with a penalty and Forrest capped off scoring.
READ MORE: Ellis Simms Hearts transfer latest as Rangers join Jambos in Everton striker hunt
A Jambos XI takes on Spartans tonight before matches with Bonnyrigg Rose, Tranmere Rovers, Preston North End and Stoke City finish off their pre-season preparations.
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