Motherwell crashed out of the Scottish Cup fifth round as Championship side Raith Rovers ran out comfortable winners at Stark's Park, heaping more pressure on under-fire boss Steven Hammell.
A Jamie Gullan penalty after 17 minutes and a strike by Sam Stanton in 38 minutes had Rovers looking like they were home and dry by the interval, and although Kevin van Veen pulled a goal back for the Premiership side five minutes into the second half, it was too little, too late.
And sub Esmael Goncalves added a late third to provide some poliish.
It was a much improved second half performance from the Steelmen, with van Veen nearly forcing an equaliser in 65 minutes when his driven cross was headed off his own bar by Raith defender Ryan Nolan, but they were unable to force extra-time, with the damage already done.
Raith Rovers boss Ian Murray made five changes to the side that beat Dundee in the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final on Wednesday night. Goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald came in for Robbie Thomson, and Aidan Connolly, Jamie Gullan, Dylan Easton and Tom Lang replaced Kieran Ngwenya, Adam Masson, Connor McBride and William Akio.
New Livingston loan signing Esmael Goncalves started on the bench.
Motherwell boss Steven Hammell made six changes to the side that lost 3-1 at Aberdeen last weekend. Debuts were handed to Dan Casey and Calum Butcher, while Callum Slattery, Ross Tierney, Riku Danzaki and Kevin van Veen started.
Riki Lamie, Max Johnston, Dean Cornelius, Sean Goss, James Furlong and Jack Aitchison dropped out.
Rovers had the first meaningful shot on goal in 12 minutes, but Easton's effort was diverted wide.
Gullan then saw a shot deflected over the bar from just inside the box, but Raith claimed a handball and were awarded a penalty as a result, with Callum Slattery booked.
Gullan stepped up to smash the spot-kick into the net.
Van Veen tried to make something happen for Motherwell with a curling shot in 29 minutes but it was comfortably saved by MacDonald.
Moments later, slack defending gave possession to Danzaki and he looked to be tripped inside the box, but referee Nick Walsh wasn't interested.
Danzaki's cross from the right was just too far ahead of Obika and Blair Spittal in 34 minutes, as Motherwell tried to get back into the game.
But Raith doubled their lead in 38 minutes when Gullan's shot was blocked by Kelly and Stanton hooked the rebound into the net from close range.
Motherwell made a triple substitution at the interval, with Olly Crankshaw, Stuart McKinstry and Max Johnston on for Stephen O'Donnell, Danzaki and Obika.
The visitors pulled a goal back in 50 minutes when van Veen scrambled the ball home from close range.
Blair Spittal was high and wide with a ferocious shot in 64 minutes as Motherwell tried to draw level.
Van Veen went on a driving run from the right and his cross was inadvertently headed off his own bar by Ryan Nolan 60 seconds later.
Stanton had a fizzing shot on the turn well saved by Kelly at the right post corner in 74 minutes, just to show that Rovers were still in this.
Sub Goncalves put the seal on the win with six minutes left when he was sent through on goal and blasted into the bottom left corner.
RAITH ROVERS: MacDonald, Millen, Nolan, Dick, Connolly (McBride, 75), Brown, Spencer, Lang, Stanton (Ngwenya, 90), Gullan (Goncalves, 58), Easton.
Subs (not used): Thomson (GK), Young, Masson.
Booked: Lang (54), Easton (60), McBride (90+2)
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, O'Donnell (Johnston, 46), Casey, Butcher, McGinn, Slattery (Goss, 90), Spittal (Aitchison, 82), Tierney, Danzaki (Crankshaw, 46), Obika (McKinstry, 46), van Veen.
Subs (not used): Oxborough (GK), Cornelius, Furlong, Ross.
Booked: Slattery (17)m, Butcher (81)
Referee: Alan Mulvanny.
Attendance: 4436.
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