Joe Hamill's first goal for Hearts helped Craig Levein's side see of Berwick and move into the fourth round of the Tennent's Scottish Cup at Tynecastle.

Hamill fired home from close range to ensure the Bank of Scotland Premier League's third-placed team progressed without alarm against Second Division promotion chasers Berwick.

Substitute Hammil's 65th-minute goal was set up by Alan Maybury, whose wicked first-half cross was turned into his own net by Berwick defender Mark Cowan after 28 minutes.

Berwick never threatened to pull off a shock, as they did in a third-round replay at Tynecastle in 2001 when they took an early lead before losing 2-1.

But the visitors did start brighter with Paul Hampshire calling Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon into action in the first minute.

Sadly for the vocal visiting support that was as close as Berwick came to scoring.

Hearts were missing a clutch of first-team regulars but man-of-the-match Scott Severin soon stamped his class on the midfield.

On 10 minutes Paul Hartley's cross down the right looked set to be headed in by Andy Kirk at the back post but Berwick right-back David Murie's superb interception saved a certain goal. Hamill's

Two minutes later Robert Sloan's low shot was scuffed and Berwick captain Alan Neill was there to clear.

Kirk's hat-trick of chances came from the resulting corner but he failed to make contact with a Hartley in-swinger.

After 18 minutes another Hartley cross again found Kirk and his volley on the turn clashed narrowly wide.

The home side were getting all their joy down the right and this time it was Maybury who crossed well only for Cowan to head clear from virtually under the crossbar.

Kirk's best chance of the half came on the 25th minute from Sloan's inviting free-kick but once again he failed to hit the target.

Veteran defender Cowan then turned from hero to villain when he inadvertently headed home Maybury's cross.

After the interval Berwick started brightly and produced three decent crosses but still the visitors could not score.

Dennis Wyness and Hamill were then introduced by Levein in place of the injured Kirk and the pedestrian Neil McFarlane. That had an immediate effect as Hamill turned in former Leeds full-back Maybury's cross on 66 minutes.

Berwick boss Paul Smith, a Hearts fan and former player, made a triple substitution on 77 minutes in a bid to grab at least consolation.

But Hearts remained in control for the remaining 13 minutes and secured their passage to the fourth round.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Maybury, Pressley (Neilson 75), Webster, Kisnorbo, Hartley, Severin, MacFarlane (Hamill 62), Sloan, de Vries, Kirk (Wyness 53).

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Weir.

Goals: Cowan 28 og, Hamill 66.

Berwick Inglis, Murie, Hampshire (Hilland 79), McNicoll, Cowan, Neill (Bennett 79), Connelly (Connell 79), Neil, Hutchison, McCutcheon, Forrest.

Subs Not Used: Godfrey, Bracks.

Booked: Connelly.

Att: 8,428

Ref: W Young (Scotland).