Spartans 1-2 Heart of Midlothian: Late goal spares visitors’ blushes in Scottish Cup

Hearts scored in stoppage-time to squeeze previous Spartans and into the Scottish Cup fifth spherical in a tie marked by gorgeous leveller by the League 2 aspect.

Craigen cushioned in his high quality strike previous Craig Gordon – ending his 13-month damage absence in the visiting goal – simply after the hour to cancel out Kenneth Vargas’ early header.

However Kent’s 93rd-minute goal edged eight-time winners Hearts into Sunday’s draw for the final 16.

Much of the preamble to Hearts’ first aggressive match of the season centred round Lawrence Shankland’s future, with the 28-year-old provided a brand new contract amid reported curiosity from Rangers amongst others.

The ahead sat out Friday’s coaching and remained unavailable for responsibility as Hearts made the quick journey throughout Edinburgh.

Hearts took little time to settle at Ainslie Park and Jorge Grant’s inswinging cross from the left arrange Vargas for a high quality headed end.

Gordon’s long-awaited return wouldn’t be a quiet one. The 41-year-old was compelled to tip over a fierce long-range drive from former Hibernian left-back Callum Booth earlier than coping with Ayrton Sonkur’s close-range header.

Jamie Dishington couldn’t maintain his effort down after setting himself outdoors the Hearts field and Vargas drew a high quality close-range save from keeper Blair Carswell moments later.

The spectacular Carswell foiled Vargas once more early in the second interval, the attacker’s effort from large on the left bringing out the very best in the house favorite.

On-loan Wolves full-back Dexter Lembikisa, 20, and 16-year-old ahead James Wilson made their Hearts debuts as replacements for Yutaro Oda and Kyosuke Tagawa.

But simply as Hearts have been seeking to put the sport to mattress, Spartans sprung a shock in model.

Booth’s nook from the fitting was headed again to him and his maybe fortuitous supply with the surface of the boot arrange Craigen fantastically for a candy end.

With no VAR in use, a possible offside in opposition to Booth couldn’t be checked. Not that Spartans cared.

At this stage, Hearts may need panicked. Grant nearly put them again in entrance when his free-kick dipped large earlier than the midfielder was blocked at point-blank vary by Carswell.

And the keeper’s heroics continued in added time with a near-post save to disclaim Lembikisa.

But, from the nook, Alex Cochrane’s supply was transformed by Kent to spare Hearts’ blushes.