Motherwell coasted to a comfortable victory in the sunshine at Central Park this afternoon.
Dominic Thomas curled home a wonderful effort on the half-hour mark and Bob McHugh netted from the spot to double the lead just before half-time.
A blistering last 15 minutes saw three further goals for the Fir Parkers, McHugh rocketed home a wonderful free-kick and Keith Lasley’s low drive found the corner of the net.
Craig Moore added the fifth in the final minutes to complete a satisfying afternoon for the visitors.
With Stuart McCall opting to split his squad between games in Morecambe and Cowdenbeath, Kenny Black led a side featuring James McFadden, Lasley, Steven Hammell and Simon Ramsden to face the Blue Brazil.
There was concern on the bench when McFadden hobbled off after 25 minutes, however Black later confirmed he was only taken off as a precaution.
McFadden saw his early effort comfortably gathered by Scott Mathieson, before Thomas flashed a shot just wide of the target.
The Scotland legend was enjoying a bright start to his first appearance since putting pen to paper on a one-year-deal with the club and he again tried his luck from range – this time his shot sailing over courtesy of a deflection.
McHugh was the next to try and break the deadlock as the visitors continued to control proceedings.
McFadden’s afternoon ended after only 24 minutes when he limped off to be replaced by Steven Higgins.
Kenny Black’s men got the goal their play merited on the half-hour mark when Thomas skipped past his man before curling a superb effort beyond the helpless Mathieson.
Lee Erwin narrowly failed to connect with Craig Moore’s low cross on 36 minutes, but the small band of travelling fans did not have to wait long for another goal.
Greg Stewart clumsily brought down Keith Lasley inside the box McHugh coolly slotted home from the spot.
Young left-back Ross Kellock replaced Simon Ramsden at half-time meaning Hammell was moved into the centre of the Well defence.
McHugh sent a shot from distance wide of the post with 16 minutes remaining, but he did add to his tally two minutes later – floating a wonderful free-kick past the helpless Mathieson from 25-yards.
Lasley drilled home a fourth after connecting with a loose ball following Thomas’s free-kick hit the wall and Moore completed the rout, slotting a close-range shot past the goalkeeper via a slight deflection.
The knock to McFadden aside, it will be regarded a very good days work for the squad.
Motherwell: Hollis, Ramsden (Kellock 45), Hammell, Lasley, Murray, Cummins (Leitch 77), McFadden (Higgins 23), Thomas, McHugh, Moore, Erwin
Subs: Currie, Cadden