Don Goodman and Lee McCulloch ensured there were no red faces at Fir Park as Motherwell negotiated a tricky third round Scottish Cup replay against Arbroath.

A goal in each half eventually booked Motherwell a place in the fourth round, where they will face against Ayr United.

A 1-1 draw against Arbroath at the first attempt had cast doubt over the Premier League side's presence in the next round. But goals from Goodman and McCulloch in the replay ensured a longer run in the Cup.

Motherwell dominated in the opening stages of the game and took only three minutes to threaten the Arbroath goal.

A Stephen McMillan cross found John Spencer in the box but his header fell wide.

Two minutes later the visitors fought back with a superb effort from Tommy Bryce which flew just inches over the crossbar.

Motherwell came close after 10 minutes when McCulloch met Michele Doesburg's free-kick but sent the ball sailing past the post.

Goodman made no mistake, however, when he found himself clear in front of goal after 13 minutes and he slid the ball past Arbroath keeper Craig Wright.

Undeterred, Arbroath continued to push for an equaliser and John Mercer almost found the net four minutes later when he picked up on Barry Sellars' cross but the striker nodded wide.

Motherwell should have added to their lead when Spencer sent McCulloch clear with only the keeper to beat, however he fired wide.

Desperate to make amends McCulloch was causing the visitors problems again seconds later, forcing Wright into a superb save.

On the half-hour mark John Davies squandered a great opportunity to double the home advantage when he blasted Greig Denham's cross wide.

Valakari almost gifted Arbroath the leveller minutes when a bad backpass was intercepted by Colin McGlashan who fed the ball to Craig Cooper but by then the home defence were in a position to clear the danger.

Five minutes before the break, Sellars' shot looked destined to find the back of the net but a deflection off keeper Andy Goram flicked the ball over.

Arbroath's frustration started to show as McAulay, Webster and Cooper were all cautioned before the interval.

Ged Brannan had the first real opportunity of the second half for Motherwell when he met Spencer's pass but the midfielder thundered the effort high and wide.

Brannan turned provider in 59 minutes when he set up McCulloch whose long range effort was just held by the keeper.

McCulloch had been threatening throughout the game and was quick to pounce when the Arbroath defence lost possession in the 62nd minute to blast the ball off the post into the net.

The player was searching for his second of the day and this almost came from a Derek Townsley cross but he was denied by the woodwork.

By now McCulloch was on a roll, sending the ball into the side-netting after an impressive solo run five minutes from time.

Teams

Motherwell: Goram, Doesburg, Denham, McGowan, McMillan, Valakari, Brannan, Davies (Townsley 73), Spencer (Nicholas 81), Goodman (Twaddle 63), McCulloch.

Goals: Goodman 13, McCulloch 61.

Arbroath: Wight, Peters, Gallagher, McAulay, Thomson, Cooper (Brownlee 71), Bryce (Devine 78), Sellars, Mercer,McGlashan, Webster.

Subs Not Used: Crawford.

Booked: Cooper, McAulay, Webster.

Att: 5,311

Ref: Michael McCurry (Scotland).