Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston scored a superb free-kick to give the hosts all three points in a 3-2 victory over St Mirren.

The Ghana international found the net 10 minutes from time to seal the win.

Ryan McCay gave the visitors the lead in the 20th minute before Eggert Jonsson and Gary Glen ensured Hearts went in at the interval ahead.

Gary Mason levelled for St Mirren with a long-range dipping volley but Kingston got in on the act to secure the victory.

Hearts made a lively start to the match with Glen, in his first start for the club, involved in the early action.

Glen won the hosts a corner after just two minutes when his left-footed shot cannoned off the outstretched John Potter.

St Mirren survived that scare and could have gone one up themselves in the fifth minute.

Andy Dorman collected a pass 25 yards from goal and his stinging shot was parried by Steve Banks before the danger was eventually cleared.

After a bright opening, the match slumped into a disappointing battle in the middle of the park which saw countless passes going astray.

However, McCay made the most of a rare sight of goal to give the visitors the lead.

After latching on to Garry Brady's lay-off, McCay was allowed to run at the Hearts defence before unleashing a powerful shot from 20 yards that beat Banks.

Hearts were level within seven minutes through Jonsson with the aid of a massive deflection.

Glen forced his way down the line before the ball made its way to the Iceland international on the edge of the box and his left-footed strike hit Will Haining on its way to the net, wrong-footing Mark Howard.

Hearts then stormed into the lead four minutes before the break through Glen.

Jonsson did well to get away from Brady in the middle of the park and found Saulius Mikoliunas who put Glen through on goal.

Howard blocked his first shot but Glen followed up the rebound to find the net.

St Mirren had a chance to restore parity six minutes into the second period when they were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal.

However, goalscorer McCay failed to find the target this time as his left-footed strike sailed over the cross bar.

There was a brief pause in the play when Hearts striker Christian Nade received treatment for a knock to the head.

Although the injury did not appear that serious, Hearts interim head coach Stevie Frail substituted the Frenchman for Juho Makela.

The Finn came close to adding a third in the 65th minute. The ball broke to Makela following a collision between St Mirren pair Howard and Ian Maxwell but Haining cleared the shot off the line.

Hearts were well in control in the second period as they dominated possession. St Mirren were limited to shots from outside the area and Banks got down well to a powerful Dorman effort in the 70th minute.

However, Mason's dipping volley from 25 yards was out of reach for Banks as the ball crashed into the top corner of the net.

Mason pounced after Kingston lost possession to bring the Paisley side level in the 77th minute.

In another twist to the game, Kingston made amends by putting Hearts back into the lead three minutes later.

The home outfit were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Mikoliunas and Kingston found the net from 25 yards with a well-executed set-piece.

Teams:

Hearts Banks, Thomson, Berra, Karipidis, Goncalves (Wallace 79), Palazuelos, Jonsson, Kingston, Mikoliunas, Nade (Makela 61), Glen (Stewart 88).

Subs Not Used: Basso, Zaliukas, Screpis, Ivaskevicius.

Goals: Jonsson 28, Glen 42, Kingston 81.

St Mirren Howard, Barron, Haining, Potter, Maxwell,McCay (Hamilton 78), Dorman, Mason (Corcoran 87), Brady (McGinn 67), Dargo, Mehmet.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Kean, Brittain, O'Donnell.

Goals: McCay 20, Mason 78.

Att: 15,259

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).