Dumbarton 1 Hearts 5

Hearts maintained their 13-point lead at the top of the Scottish Championship

with a thumping 5-1 win at Dumbarton.

After a good spell of early pressure, they took the lead when Sam Nicholson

tried his luck from 30 yards and the ball nestled in the bottom corner.

Andrew Graham should have done better with a header and Chris Turner crashed a headed effort off the woodwork as Dumbarton looked to hit back.

But it was the leaders who extended their lead when Genero Zeefuik released

Jamie Walker down the right and he cut in before firing home.

Hearts put the game to bed early in the second half as Walker turned provider

for debutant Zeefuik to tap home a third and Nicholson added his second as he

slammed in after Callum Paterson's drilled cross deflected into his path.

Zeefuik, signed on loan from FC Groningen this week, tapped in a fifth after more good work from Walker before Dumbarton got on the scoresheet through Chris Kane's well-placed effort.