Motherwell striker James McFadden made a sensational return from suspension with two well taken goals which eased the Fir Park side past Clyde and into the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.

The Scotland international, back in the Fir Park side after a four-game ban, opened the scoring just before the break with a cool finish and a virtuoso goal in the second half killed off the spirited First Division side who fought hard but ran out of steam.

It was a tremendous display of finishing by the exciting youngster who, with two moments of magic, added to his growing reputation in the game.

The First Division side in fact made most of the early running but it was Motherwell who had the first real chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute.

McFadden nutmegged Clyde defender Simon Mensing on the left and was fouled for his troubles. From Stevie Hammell's free-kick, midfielder Stephen Pearson should have done better with his free header from close range than put the ball high over the bar.

Motherwell keeper Francois Dubourdeau was being kept on his toes but in the 16th minute he watched as Clyde striker Willie Falconer's tame 30 yards effort slipped past his left hand post.

The First Division side kept up their impressive work rate but were dealt a blow in 24 minutes when keeper Bryn Halliwell, who picked up a knock earlier in a clash with Pearson, was replaced by 20-year-old former Carlisle keeper Allan Morrison.

And Clyde's troubles were compounded in 41 minutes when the visitors stole into the lead against the run of play. A lovely long ball from Hammell found McFadden and the Scotland striker confidently took touch and then slipped the ball under the keeper and into the corner of the net.

The deflated home side came out after the break determined to strike back as quickly as possible and soon picked up the pace of the game, forcing Motherwell back into their own half.

Two minutes after the restart Well defender Martyn Corrigan moved unnoticed into a advanced position but his wild shot from 25 yards flew well wide of the goal.

The Fir Park men seemed happy to contain Clyde at a certain distance from goal and hit on the break.

Clyde striker Stephen McConalogue's shot from 30 yards, hit more in exasperation than anything else, went straight to Dubourdeau and seemed to vindicate the Fir Park men's tactics.

In the 55th minute, in a rare Motherwell attack, skipper Derek Adams swung a right footed cross in from the left which Pearson flicked just past the far post.

Clyde swung quickly into attack and Corrigan was the hero when he blocked a goal bound shot from David Hagen as the visitors looked under threat for the first time in the game.

On the hour mark, Bully Wee's Kernaghan brought down Fir Park striker Steven Craig at the edge of the Clyde box but McFadden's free-kick was blasted against the wall.

Then Well midfielder Dougie Ramsay worked a one-two with McFadden but fired his shot inches wide of Morrison's right hand post.

Clyde never gave up the fight but were stunned when McFadden made it 2-0 in 74 minutes with a tremendous second goal.

He picked up a Hammell pass, ran away from John Potter, nutmegged Mensing and curled a lovely shot past the helpless Morrison, for a classic strike.

A minute later Clyde missed a great chance to get back into the game but substitute Paul Shields, on earlier for Stephen McConalogue, missed a sitter shooting past from 8 yards out with only Dubourdeau to beat.

Then Pearson had a header cleared off the line by Clyde midfielder Stephen Cosgrove as the visitors took control of the game before ending up comfortable winners.

Teams

Clyde Halliwell (Morrison 24), Potter, Kernaghan, Ross, Mensing, Hagen, Kane, Millen, Cosgrove, Falconer (Convery 64), McConalogue (Shields 53).

Subs Not Used: McLaughlin, Fraser.

Motherwell Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Partridge, Vaughan, Adams, Ramsey, Fagan (Lasley 86), Pearson, Hammell, McFadden (Lehmann 87), Craig (Clarkson 74).

Subs Not Used: Cowan, Woods.

Booked: Vaughan, Partridge.

Goals: McFadden 41, 77.

Att: 5,032

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).