Premier League United eased past Alloa and ensured their name was not added to the growing list of Scottish Cup shocks this season.

A blistering double blast as the interval approached settled Paul Sturrock's favourites and they never looked back against a brave but eventually overrun Alloa.

The Second Division men, dejected at throwing away a two-goal lead in the original tie at Recreation Park last weekend, had looked to be anything but second favourites in the tie during the early stages.

In fact had it not been for a quite superb Alan Combe save to deny Dave Beaton's thundering 30-yard free kick then the visitors may have been first on the score sheet.

However once Frenchman Antoine Preget had found the net for the first time in tangerine, the signs were ominous for the Second Division outfit.

Jim Hamilton, the scorer of both of United's goals in the original 2-2 draw, got his name on the scoresheet yet again with a second for United just 60 seconds after their breakthrough.

And that was sufficient to see the hosts ease their way in the direction of a comfortable advance into their quarter final tie at home to either Aberdeen or Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Indeed, had United taken advantage of their superior leading up work during the second period, then the tie would have been well and truly over before Steven Thompson's timely introduction off the substitute's bench with just 22 minutes remaining.

It was his superb volleyed strike seven minutes from the end which clinched matters - and the Under-21 cap completed the perfect night with a penalty conversion two minutes later after Willie Irvine brought the striker crashing down in the penalty box.

The night had started promisingly for in-form Hamilton and inside the first minute he was testing Alloa's stand-in goalkeeper Martin Parkyn, the youngster doing well to grab the maximum 25-yard drive.

Then Stephen McConalogue, recalled into the side to partner Hamilton, came mighty close to breaking the deadlock with a glancing header which edged just over the top.

Hamilton was a constant threat to the visitors and he lined one up for McConalogue to fire a 22-yarder which again tested the handling qualities of young Parkyn.

But the 17th minute of the tie all but created a turn up, Combe having to throw himself to his left to deflect Beaton's powerful 25-yard free-kick to safety. Beaton had netted Alloa's opener last weekend from an identical range, but found Combe in command this time.

The visitors were nevertheless encouraged and keeper Combe had to look lively to hold Irvine's vicious 25-yard effort before holding Andy Walker's on-target header under the crossbar.

But seven minutes from the break it was United who struck gold, Frenchman Preget timing his run to perfection to run on to a defence-splitting Jim Hamilton pass to net past the advancing Parkyn with a well-placed prod.

Alloa had scarcely recovered from that when United were 2-0 ahead. McConalogue saw his shot from 18-yards deflected into the path of his fellow striker Hamilton, and the ex-Aberdeen man composed himself before firing his side's second goal in off the far post.

United continued to be the main force after the break although there was a major opportunity for Alloa to push themselves back into contention in the tie just nine minutes after the restart.

Jamie Boyle fired a diagonal ball into a packed danger area and, when it eluded everyone in the home rearguard, Willie Irvine was left with a golden opportunity to fire on target when left on his own 12-yards from goal.

The vastly experienced Irvine uncharacteristically hurried his effort and the chance was lost with an ill-directed strike.

Match referee Bobby Orr became a cup casualty 20 minutes from the end when he was forced to limp off with a muscle injury, to be replaced by senior assistant Robbie Cobb.

And the newcomer pointed to the centre circle seven minutes from the end when home substitute Steven Thompson netted the goal of the game to clinch matters, firing in an unstoppable volley from Dave Hannah's weighted pass.

And two minutes later the jubilant Thompson was at it again, rattling in a spot kick after he himself had been downed in the area by Thompson.

Teams

Dundee Utd: Combe, Jenkins, Pascual, Malpas, Partridge, Davidson, Easton, Hannah, Preget (Smith 78), McConalogue (Thompson 69), Hamilton (Ferraz 83).

Goals: Preget 38, Hamilton 39, Thompson 83, 86 pen.

Alloa: Parkyn, Boyle (McKechnie 76), Conway, Beaton, D. Clark, Valentine, Little, Walker (Donaghy 69), G. Clark, Cameron, Irvine. Subs Not Used: McAneny.

Booked: Conway, Beaton.

Att: 4,913

Ref: R Orr (Kilbarchan).