Ian Maxwell scored twice as St Mirren made it three home wins in as many weekends with a commanding 3-1 success against Motherwell.

The Buddies, who won just twice at Love Street in the whole of 2007, maintained this year's 100% record thanks to an eighth minute goal from Mark Corcoran and a double from defender Maxwell.

Motherwell striker David Clarkson also scored early in the first half to cancel out the opening strike, but St Mirren never looked back after restoring their lead just before the interval and collected three valuable points as they seek to climb the table.

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson made two changes to his starting line-up.

Midfielder Gary Mason began a two game suspension and Alex Burke dropped to the bench, the pair being replaced by Hugh Murray and new signing Andy Dorman, who had appeared as a substitute in the Paisley side's Scottish Cup defeat of Dumbarton seven days earlier.

Mark McGhee was forced to make one change to the Motherwell team which earned a draw in their cup tie at Hearts, with Marc Fitzpatrick coming in at left-back in place of the suspended Jim Paterson.

Martin Greehan, a January signing from junior side Dundonald Bluebell, was on the bench for the first time.

The hosts made a bright start as Dorman forced Graeme Smith into and early stop and striker Craig Dargo sent a difficult bicycle kick just wide of the left hand post after being played in by Maxwell.

St Mirren's opening goal was only briefly delayed though, as Dargo started a sweeping crossfield move which saw Dorman touch an inviting pass out to Corcoran, and he sprinted down the left wing and confidently drilled the ball low past Smith and into the net.

It was a deserved lead but proved shortlived as Clarkson hit back for Motherwell on 11 minutes.

With St Mirren appealing in vain for a handball decision in the box, the ball was played back from the byline to the Fir Park striker just inside the area, and he left goalkeeper Chris Smith helpless with a powerful strike which sailed into the top corner.

Graeme Smith got down smartly on the half hour to safely smother a shot from Dargo, blocking the striker's first-time effort after Dorman had threaded the ball through to him on the left side of the box.

Clarkson then played a one-two with Ross McCormack but dragged his effort wide of the right hand post and just as it seemed the sides were destined to go into the half-time interval on level terms St Mirren went back in front.

Corcoran swung in a corner from the right through a packed six-yard box and the ball reached Maxwell at the far post who had no hesitation in heading home from close range.

Corcoran's 20-yard free kick ran diagonally through the box and went just past after Dargo was unable to stretch to reach it.

The Paisley side made an even smarter start to the second half than they had to the first, scoring their third goal just four minutes after the restart.

Dargo pounced on a wayward header by Steven McGarry and quickly whipped the ball across to the opposite side of the box where Corcoran reacted to send it back into the centre and Maxwell powered in his second of the game.

Stephen Hughes tried to respond with a close-range header which ended up behind the goal, and the midfielder then tumbled inside the right corner of the box on 55 minutes under a challenge from Hugh Murray, but referee Dougie McDonald waved play on.

Dorman came close to a fourth on the hour when his shot was six yard was turned just round the left hand post, the subsequent corner being cleared.

Chris Porter earned a corner for Motherwell as the game entered its final quarter when his header from a Clarkson cross was turned onto the roof of the net, but home goalkeeper Chris Smith easily caught McCormack's inswinger.

Clarkson had a chance to reduce the deficit 20 minutes from time after some good build-up play in the visitors' box, but Chris Smith clutched his diagonal shot at the base of the right post.

Maxwell hooked the ball over the bar late on and Graeme Smith again had to get down well to prevent Murray's long-range drive sneaking in.

Clarkson had a header clutched under the bar, but the visitors never looked likely to stage a comeback.

St Mirren could have added a last-minute fourth when Dargo was left one-on-one with Graeme Smith, only to have his shot saved.

Teams:

St Mirren Smith, Barron, Haining, Potter, Maxwell, van Zanten,Murray, Dorman, Corcoran, Mehmet, Dargo (Kean 90).

Subs Not Used: Howard, Burke, Brady, Miranda, McCay, McGinn.

Booked: van Zanten, Murray, Dorman.

Goals: Corcoran 9, Maxwell 38, 49.

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds,Fitzpatrick, Lasley, McGarry (Murphy 63), Hughes,McCormack (Brian McLean 75), Porter (Grehan 85), Clarkson.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Darren Smith, Maguire, Archdeacon.

Booked: Craigan.

Goals: Clarkson 11.

Att: 4,291

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).