Motherwell eased through to the semi-finals of the Tennent's Scottish Cup for the first time in 12 years with a comfortable victory over Stranraer at Stair Park.

Not since 1991 - when they eventually won the trophy - have the Lanarkshire men battled through to the last four of the competition but in the early stages of this game it was no foregone conclusion.

The home side started well but an own goal by defender Fraser Wright handed Motherwell a narrow half-time advantage.

James McFadden capitalised on some slack defending shortly into the second half to make it 2-0, and there was no way back for the Second Division side.

Derek Adams and Dirk Lehmann added two more goals to rub salt into the wounds and in the end Well were on easy street.

The visitors were no strangers to a heavily-sanded pitch and despite the poor playing surface they piled forward in the early stages looking for a quick goal.

Midfielder Adams fired in a powerful 25-yard free-kick in the third minute but Stranraer goalkeeper John Hillcoat gathered comfortably.

The home side looked a bit nervy but moments later midfielder Derek Wingate's whipped-in cross from the right was headed wastefully wide by striker Michael Moore from close range.

At the other end, Lehmann headed wide from 10 yards out before Stranraer's Kevin Gaughan tested Motherwell goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau with a fine shot.

Terry Butcher's side were showing little in attack and defender Steven Hammell's left-wing cross which ran comfortably through to Hillcoat was indicative of the visitors' impotence in front of goal.

But on the half-hour mark and out of the blue, the visitors took the lead with the help of a fortuitous own goal.

Adams swung in a free-kick from wide on the left and the ball sailed over to the unfortunate Stranraer defender Wright at the back post who watched in horror as the ball bounced off his knee and past Hillcoat into the corner of the net.

It was a blow for the gallant home side but they rallied again and in the 36th minute Wingate came close with a 25-yard free-kick which went inches wide of Dubourdeau's right-hand post.

The home side were determined to get back on equal terms after the break but after only 30 seconds of the restart it was the visitors who almost doubled their lead.

The tireless Corrigan crossed from the right and midfielder Stephen Pearson turned well before sloppily blasting over the crossbar from 10 yards out.

At the other end Stranraer created their best chance of the game when Michael Moore was sent through by Kevin Finlayson but the Stranraer striker hesitated was foiled by Dubourdeau at the edge of the Well penalty area.

The game was flowing from end to end and Motherwell striker McFadden - who was involved a lot in the first half without really producing anything - then scored the visitors' second in 54 minutes.

The Stranraer defence hesitated following an innocuous through-pass and the ball broke to the grateful McFadden who poked the ball in from close range.

And in the 58th minute the tie was over when Adams made it 3-0, hammering in an angled shot past Hillcoat from 12 yards.

As the second half wore on the home side continued to fight but only pride was at stake.

In the 86th minute, Lehmann made it 4-0 when he headed home substitute David Cowan's cross from close range.

Teams

Stranraer Hillcoat, Gaughan, Wingate, Farrell, Wright, Aitken (Curran 80), Jenkins, Moore (Kerr 78), Hodge (Kane 58), Finlayson, Harty.

Subs Not Used: Fallon, McCulloch.

Motherwell Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Partridge (Cowan 67), Vaughan, Adams, Leitch (Fagan 80), Lasley, Pearson, Hammell, McFadden (Clarkson 84), Lehmann.

Subs Not Used: Craig, Woods.

Goals: Wright 31 og, McFadden 54, Adams 59, Lehmann 87.

Att: 4,500

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).