HEARTS supporter and athlete Eilidh Child proved herself adept at clearing hurdles after winning gold at the European Championships during the summer.

And the club's guest of honour watched her team break down Cowdenbeath's barricade to run out 5-1 winners, with Robbie Neilson's side restoring their three-point lead over Rangers at the Championship summit.

After Hearts playmaker Billy King and Callum Gallagher traded goals in the first 45 minutes, an improved second half from the hosts yielded a Jamie Walker header, Osman Sow penalty and Dale Carrick brace.

"The second half was a lot better," said Hearts head coach Neilson, whose side head to Celtic for Wednesday's League Cup tie. "We spoke to them at half-time about the things we're trying to do and they did it in the second half and we got the goals.

"I felt we were a wee bit slow in moving the ball around. They played five at the back and it's difficult to break down the five. It's three points and we go on and get ready for Celtic."

Cowdenbeath set out their stall to frustrate their opponents but those tactics worked for all of 15 minutes after King gave Hearts the lead. Captain Danny Wilson drove forward from a short free-kick, his pass picked out the winger and King lifted a left-footed effort into the net.

Cowdenbeath gave Hibernian a mighty fright last weekend and the part-timers again came out fighting, levelling through Gallagher in the 21st minute.

Kudus Oyenuga found himself in space 12 yards from goal and, after the on-loan Dundee United midfielder's shot was pushed out by goalkeeper Neil Alexander, Gallagher reacted the quickest to bundle the rebound into the net.

Cowdenbeath finished the half the stronger but Hearts came flying out of the blocks in the second half and Walker restored their lead in the 48th minute.

King's short free-kick was picked up by Adam Ecklersley on the left flank and his delivery found Walker, who looped a header over Robbie Thomson at the near post. Sow then added a third goal from the penalty spot in the 55th minute after Darren Brownlie was adjudged to have upended Walker.

Carrick climbed off the bench to add the fourth in the 79th minute with a clinical strike from 18 yards after meeting Sow's pass. And the fit-again striker rifled an unstoppable drive past the goalkeeper from just outside the area three minutes from time.

"There is an old football saying that it's a game of two halves, but I wish it was only a game of one half," lamented Cowdenbeath manager Jimmy Nicholl. "Their concentration levels are horrific, they nod off at set-pieces and they don't concentrate for 90 minutes."