Motherwell put on a professional show to emerge with a 5-0 win at Formartine United in the Scottish Cup third round.
A double from Jordan Roberts, followed by strikes from Christopher Long, Devante Cole and Allan Campbell, secured the Steelmen’s passage to Sunday’s draw.
Declan Gallagher was restored to the starting team for Graham Alexander’s men, with Nathan McGinley, Steven Lawless and Christopher Long also coming in.
The Highland League opposition were seeking a scalp and after a high energy start, could have been ahead within five minutes.
A cross to the back post found Anderson in space but his header was well read and well taken by a diving Liam Kelly.
Motherwell had plenty of the ball against a Formartine side sitting deep but the resistance was finally worn down 33 minutes in.
A direct ball over the top saw the goalkeeper rush out and misjudge the ball, allowing Long to nick in behind. Under pressure from defenders, he fired into the net from just outside the area.
Seven minutes later, it was 2-0. McGinley’s ball to the back post was knocked down well by Cole, and Roberts turned and bulleted his shot into the far right side of the net.
‘Well started the second period with the same intensity and found themselves three to the good eight minutes in.
Cole again was at the heart of things, firing across goal for Roberts to slide in at the back post and score.
Just after the hour mark, Cole got his rewards. A pinpoint Stephen O’Donnell cross was stood up to the back stick and Cole rose highest to head into the net.
There was time for another with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Great interchange play between substitute Jake Hastie, Long and Campbell saw the latter played into the box on the right side.
Composing himself, he fired low across the face and into the bottom-left corner to send Motherwell home with five goals, a clean sheet and progression in the competition.