Dunfermline cruised into the fourth round of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable 3-1 win over a struggling Motherwell side looking every inch relegation candidates.

The confident Fifers never looked in trouble at any time and a double from Stevie Crawford and a free-kick from Scott Thomson disposed of their lacklustre SPL opponents. Substitute Stuart Elliot pulled one back for the visitors.

The Fifers will take great confidence from the result and performance but Motherwell manager Eric Black can only hope that his team's weak cup effort does not impact on the Lanarkshire side's already poor league campaign.

Dense fog inside East End Park lifted just before kick-off but there was little vision from either side in the early stages as the game took time to warm up.

The home side had the first effort on goal in the sixth minute when Stevie Crawford set up Lee Bullen at the edge of the Motherwell box but the big striker snatched at his shot and the ball went high over the crossbar.

The Pars began to take control of the game and Bullen was causing problems for the Fir Park defence who, to their credit, held firm under pressure.

The home side still looked the more dangerous and Stevie Crawford came close with a volley from a Stewart Petrie cross, the ex-Hibs player's effort going only inches wide of Well keeper Stevie Woods' goal.

However, they took an inevitable lead in the 21st minute with a well-crafted goal. Barry Nicholson sent Bullen away down the right with a lovely weighted pass and when the striker's cross came into the six yard box the unmarked Crawford was on hand to bundle the ball past the helpless Woods.

Five minutes later, as the home side pressed for the second, Woods dived to his left to pull of a great save from Bullen's 20-yard shot.

The visitors looked to have little in their locker by way of reply although Andy Dow's chip from the edge of the box which went just over.

Pars doubled their lead in the 37th minute with a free-kick after Corrigan had clumsily fouled Bullen 25 yards from goal. Petrie ran over the ball to divert attention and Scott Thomson came in to curve his shot round the wall and into the corner of the net past the flailing Woods.

Motherwell introduced Eddie Forrest at the break in an attempt to solidify their rearguard but it was to no avail as Dunfermline increased their lead only two minutes after the restart.

Thomson's long free-kick was flicked on by Bullen and Crawford turned Well defender Eric Doloumeaux eight yards out and slotted into the corner.

The Fir Park men tried valiantly to battle their way back into the game and in the 56th minute substitute Stephen Pearson, introduced to the match two minutes earlier for the disappointing Andy Dow, made a good run to the byline but his cross was cut out by Ruitenbeek and then cleared by defender Gus McPherson.

The ball just would not fall to the Fir Park men and their fans impatience increased.

This inspired a flurry of activity from the visitors but the Dunfermline defence held firm, knowing that only a total collapse would impede their progress through to the next round.

The home side looked content to simply play out time and the frustrations of the visitors boiled over in the 64th minute when Stephen Pearson was booked for a rash challenge on Ruitenbeeek.

Motherwell continued to plug away, more in hope than expectation, and in the 72nd minute managed to get an effort on target but David Kelly's shot from the edge of the box, after a neat turn, was easily saved by Ruitenbeeek.

In the 80th minute the Lanarkshire men got some reward when Stuart Elliot, on for Martyn Corrigan, latched onto a Derek Adams corner to score a consolation from close range.

Teams:

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Skinner, Skerla, Scott Thomson, MacPherson (Dair 81), Nicholson, Ferguson (Kilgannon 75), Mason, Bullen, Crawford, Petrie (McGroarty 60).

Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Hampshire.

Goals: Crawford 22, Scott Thomson 38, Crawford 46.

Motherwell: Woods, Corrigan (Elliott 77), Strong, Deloumeaux, Hammell, McFadden, Soloy (Forrest 45), Lasley, Dow (Pearson 54), Kelly, Adams.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Martinez.

Booked: Pearson, Adams.

Goals: Elliott 80.

Att: 5,131

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).