Raith Rovers boss Grant Murray was relieved to get through a potentially tricky tie against League Two leaders East Stirling to reach the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Gordon Smith’s third goal in three games early in the second half set Rovers on their way before a late own goal killed off a spirited effort from the hosts.
Murray said: “I didn’t feel there were many shocks in the cup yesterday and I told players we didn’t want be involved in one today.
“This was a potential banana skin for us but we produced a professional performance and deserved to go through.”
Raith had plenty chances in the first half but just couldn’t take them.
Gordon Smith got the visitors’ first glimpse of goal after just 60 seconds but he hooked a shot wide from six yards after bustling Shire defender Chris Townley off the ball.
The League Two leaders had goalkeeper Grant Hay to thank for keeping the scores level after 15 minutes as he stretched out a hand to tip Grant Anderson’s looping header onto the post, just 30 seconds after he’d felt the full force of a 30-yard piledriver from McCann.
Hay was on top form again five minutes later to deny Callum Booth, bravely blocking the winger’s volley at the back post.
The Shire keeper was eventually beaten in the 24th minute as Paul Watson climbed above his marker to power Booth’s corner towards the goal but the defender on the post, David Greenhill, headed off the line.
After surviving the opening half-hour, the home side showed Rovers they wouldn’t have it all their own way as Michael Herd stole the ball from Moon on the edge of the box then tested Ross Laidlaw with a powerful low strike.
Rovers had an even bigger scare in the 38th minute as Shire forward Kevin Turner smashed a shot past against the underside of the bar from 18 yards and Herd put the rebound into the net, only for the flag to be raised for offside.
At the other end, Smith was given the freedom of the six-yard box as Shire’s defence stopped to claim for offside from a high ball, but the striker’s finishing let him down as he sent his header into the side net.
Smith made amends three minutes into the second half as he showed superb technique to wrap his foot around the ball to turn Booth’s cross past Hay for the Rovers opener.
The home side showed a spirited response to going behind and had Rovers on the back foot for a spell, although Laidlaw’s only real save of note was a comfortable stop from a long-range Iain Thomson effort.
Rovers needed a second goal to kill off the tie and they were given a helping hand with 10 minutes remaining as Booth’s cross was turned into his own net by the boot of defender Michael McGowan.
Elliot struck the post a few minutes later with a deflected 18-yard strike and Booth put the rebound over the bar from just a few yards out as Rovers finished the match looking for a third.