Hearts have continued their inexorable march towards promotion by going 20 points clear at the top of the Scottish Championship by demolishing hapless Cowdenbeath 10-0.
After a goalless opening quarter of the match, the floodgates were truly opened by striker Genaro Zeefuik, who scored a four-minute hat-trick. From 0-0 after 26 minutes, it was 3-0 after 29, while Cowdenbeath were down to 10 men thanks to the dismissal of Lewis Toshney.
Sam Nicolson and Jamie Walker both netted before the break, making it 5-0 at half time, and although Zeefuik and Walker were removed early in the second period, Hearts continued to seek Cowdenbeath blood.
Five more goals went in over a 15 minute period after Morgaro Gomis scored a 57th-minute penalty, with defenders Alim Ozturk and Danny Wilson on the scoresheet, before a double from sub Osman Sow took Hearts to double figures.
Elsewhere, Hibernian reaffirmed their second place with a 1-0 win at Alloa, Scott Allan providing the only goal in the first half. Livingston remain marooned at the bottom after losing 2-0 at home to Raith Rovers, while Dumbarton and Queen of the South played out a goalless draw.
Results in full: Alloa Athletic 0-1 Hibernian, Dumbarton 0-0 Queen of the South, Hearts 10-0 Cowdenbeath, Livingston 0-2 Raith Rovers
Matthew Smith
