Auchinleck challenge swept aside by Jambos

Auchinleck’s heady Scottish Cup adventure came to a shuddering halt at Tynecastle as Hearts claimed a comfortable win over the junior outfit.

Tommy Sloan’s class of 2019 are already assured their place in Beechwood Park folklore after defeating local rivals Ayr in the fourth round, but the challenge of the Jambos proved insurmountable for the underdogs.

Hearts boss Craig Levein showed Auchinleck the utmost respect by naming a strong starting XI and the hosts never looked like succumbing to an upset, with Christophe Berra giving them a lead with just 10 minutes on the clock.

Strikes from Demi Mitchell and Steven MacLean effectively secured the Jambos’ place in the quarter-finals prior to the interval, before Aidan Keena emerged from the bench to bag his first senior goal for Hearts.

Auchinleck famously came within a whisker of securing a draw when they last visited Gorgie, succumbing to a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat courtesy of an 84th-minute Gordon Smith effort in 2012.

The Bot were roared on by around 1,800 fans as they returned to Tynecastle aiming to spring one of the biggest shocks in Scottish Cup history – but they saw those slim hopes ended during a professional firsthalf display from the hosts.