Three goal-laden matches produced tremendous entertainment on Fifth Round Sunday in the William Hill Scottish Cup.

The first match of the day was at Celtic Park, where the holders Celtic took on St Johnstone – two sides that are very familiar with each other in recent weeks.

The Hoops were quick off the mark, with Scott Sinclair opening the scoring within the first three minutes of the match. The hosts doubled their lead on nine minutes with a quite spectacular hit from captain Scott Brown.


Having gone in two up at the break, a quick-fire double from James Forrest and Sinclair put the game beyond St Johnstone. Scott Sinclair grabbed his hat-trick shortly before the end to make it five goals in two matches this Scottish Cup season.

Tynecastle Park was the venue for the second Fifth Round match of the afternoon, as junior side Auchinleck Talbot faced Hearts – a rematch of 2012’s Fourth Round.

Buoyed by a tremendous travelling support, Talbot were in a mood to create a second upset in a row, but it wasn’t to be. Christophe Berra nodded home the opener after an in-swinging free kick from Olly Lee after ten minutes. The Jambos' lead was doubled after half an hour as Demetri Mitchell’s shot hit the back of the net – perhaps with the aid of a deflection.


Minutes later Steven MacLean made it three to the hosts, tapping in from Mitchell’s cross. The visitors were able to shut-up-shop for the majority of the second half, before a maiden strike for young substitute Aidan Keena made it 4-0 to Hearts.

The final match of the afternoon saw Queen of the South make the trip north to take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie. A goalless first half spurred Derek McInnes to bring on Niall McGinn at the break; this proved to be a masterstroke from the Dons boss as the winger scored two minutes after his introduction.

Stephen Dobbie, top scorer in this season’s competition, produced a masterful strike from distance to equalise on 50 minutes, much to the delight of the travelling support.


McGinn’s impact continued following the Doonhamer’s equaliser as he delivered assists for Andrew Considine and Sam Cosgrove to convert. Cosgrove went on to slot home a penalty for the Dons on 73 minutes to seal victory.

The draw for the Sixth Round of the William Hill Scottish Cup will take place tomorrow evening after the conclusion of Ross County v Inverness Caledonian Thistle. You can watch the match – and the draw – live on BBC Scotland.

Fifth Round Results
East Fife 0-1 Partick Thistle
Hibernian 3-1 Raith Rovers
St Mirren 1-2 Dundee United
Kilmarnock 0-0 Rangers
Celtic 5-0 St Johnstone
Heart of Midlothian 4-0 Auchinleck Talbot
Aberdeen 4-1 Queen of the South

Monday 11 February
Ross County v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (kick-off 7.15pm, live on BBC Scotland)