Saturday 10 January 2015 19:58, UK
Hearts' headlong charge back to the top flight shows no sign of slowing as they swept aside Dumbarton 5-1 in imperious fashion at the Bet Butler stadium.
Blustery weather has battered much of Scotland over the last 48 hours but Robbie Neilson's men showed no signs of being blown off course as a pair of braces from Sam Nicholson and debutant Genero Zeefuik underscored their success.
Indeed, Zeefuik - a graduate from the Ajax Academy who signed on loan this week from Groningen - would have had a hat-trick but for a missed a second-half penalty as the runaway leaders kept their 13 point advantage over Rangers, their next opponents.
With the wind swirling in off the Clyde, a long ball dropped kindly for midfielder Nicholson (8) who had time and space before beating Danny Rogers from 25 yards.
Jamie Walker (26) extended the advantage after he was teed up by Zeefuik and the former was to go close again before the interval.
The pattern remained the same after the break as the men in maroon - with the elements at their backs - swarmed around Rogers' goal; James Keatings hit the crossbar before Zeefuik stabbed in his first (52) having been teed up by Walker.
Callum Paterson's cross fell kindly for Nicholson (57) to fire in his second of the game before Zeefuik got in on the act again to make it 5-0 (62), Walker again the provider.
Chris Kane claimed a consolation for the battling home side before Zeefuik was presented with a golden chance to claim the match ball - but Rogers kept out his penalty and the follow-up.
The Dutch U21 international departed to standing ovation from the away end shortly after, and the same supporters were singularly unconcerned as their on-song side spurned several presentable chances to improve their goal difference before the final whistle.
