WHEN it comes to cup success, Motherwell have in recent years become the architects of their own downfall.

The Fir Park side are more than familiar the foundations coming crashing down in knockout competitions.

So much so, that in their last 16 ties domestically and in Europe, they have only triumphed once - and that was two years ago in a League Cup tie at Livingston.

Sticking to the form book, Motherwell made extremely hard work of this second-round meeting against Ladbrokes League Two opposition and laboured to a 3-1 win that will surely have added more concern ahead of Saturday’s pivotal Premiership visit of Kilmarnock.

Nathan Austin was tormentor-in-chief for the hosts as he caused havoc early on before he deservedly put his team ahead on the hour with a cool finish.

Only a late rally and a Louis Moult pearler saved the Steelmen from a defeat in 90 minutes, before Scott McDonald and Lionel Ainsworth papered over the cracks in extra-time.

Going forward, Motherwell struggled to fire against an East Fife defence that continuously pressed high up the park to squeeze the Well midfield.

Indeed, their first real chance didn’t arrive until the half-hour mark when a David Clarkson ball played Lionel Ainsworth through one-on-one with goalkeeper Ryan Goodfellow.

The Motherwell man steadied himself and tried to slot under the shotstopper, whose body did well to take the pace off the ball for Declan O’Kane to swipe off the line.

It was clear a change was needed for Well as they were jeered off at half-time by the large travelling support, and it arrived in the form of Dom Thomas who replaced Marvin Johnson.

It appeared to give Well an initial lift, however they were left flattened after an hour.

Defender Louis Laing and Kyle Wilkie contested a 50/50 near the halfway line with the East Fife man coming out on top.

He squared to Austin who then charged at goal, jinked into space between the two Well centre-halves and slotted low beyond Connor Ripley on the edge of the box.

The goal was met with a mixture of boos and sarcastic applause from the Motherwell support, who were clearly starting to lose faith their team had the wherewithal to turn things around, especially when Austin had the ball in the net seconds later only for an offside flag to deny him.

It seemed to jolt Motherwell into action as the reality of the situation began to set in.

Substitute McDonald saw an ambitious claim for a tug in the box from O’Kane waved away before the defender almost turned a Thomas cutback into his own net.

But with 10 minutes to go, the Lanarkshire side would be thrown a lifeline.

Moult went close after a shot from 15 yards brought a great low save from Goodfellow, but just seconds later the striker would make no mistake as he picked his spot high to the keeper’s left.

In extra-time Ripley pulled off a great save to deny Wilkie, while an unmarked McDonald blazed over from under 10 yards at the other end.

But 13 minutes into time added on, the Aussie would make amends. A driving run and shot saw the ball canon back to him 20 yards out off an East Fife body, and with Goodfellow already reacting to his first effort, McDonald placed a shot low beyond the keeper and into the net.

Two minutes after the turnaround and the win was sealed through Ainsworth’s darting run and neat finish under the keeper after McDonald played him in.

It was job done for Motherwell, but surely more work is needed if it’s going to be three wins from 18.