David Melvin reporting from Ibrox

Rangers cruised into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup thanks to a 6-0 win over East Stirling at Ibrox that saw Kris Boyd notch a hat trick, Lee McCulloch bag a brace and the 16 year old John Fleck get his first taste of competitive top team action.

Ten days after the original match was called off because of a waterlogged pitch, Walter Smith's men showed no signs of making heavy weather of this encounter on the freshly laid Ibrox turf.

Smith had included a number of fringe players in his starting eleven, with Alan Gow, Kirk Broadfoot and Graeme Smith all featuring in the opening line up.

But with progress to the next round and an away trip to Hibs in mind, there were also a strong group of regulars out to face the Third Division side.

Jean Claude Darcheville continued his rehabilitation from injury with a starting berth alongside Kris Boyd and Alan Hutton and Lee McCulloch made appearances after injury and suspension enforced absences.

East Stirling resisted the pressure for 24 minutes, but once they buckled, the goals finally flowed for Smith's side.

The quality included in Smith's starting line up shone through as Adam's floated through ball was brought down by McCulloch on his right foot, and quickly slotted home with his left to ease the tension amongst the Ibrox crowd.

With the relief almost tangible, it took just three minutes for Gers to add a second. Hutton's pace was causing East Stirling problems on the right and when he burst clear there was no catching him.

A neat one two with Gow inside the area left the right back with time to beat Michael Brown in the Shire goal and put Gers two up after 27 minutes.

Gow was again involved two minutes later when he latched on to Darcheville's perfectly weighted pass and squared for Boyd to make it 3-0 with just 29 minutes gone.

It seemed the floodgates were set to open, but on a number of occasions, Smith's midfield couldn't quite find the killer pass.

Shire boss Gordon Wylde was then forced into a substitution, with Gary Kelly's Ibrox experience brought to a premature end when he was replaced by Craig Donaldson after 36 minutes.

The game had settled down, with Shire still trying to impose themselves, but facing a Gers side in no mood to let up.

With Darcheville looking to get his name on the score sheet, he launched himself into a powerful run down the left.

When he was closed out by a group of Shire defenders drawn to him, he picked out Boyd in the box and the number nine slotted home on the stroke of half time for his second and Gers' fourth.

Despite the tie looking secure, there were no signs that Smith had any intentions of easing up as the second half kicked off.

He made no changes to his starting line up and that was repaid when McCulloch added another just five minutes into the second period.

The returning midfielder picked the ball up on the edge of the Shire box and fired an unstoppable effort into the top right hand corner of Brown's net.

Not to be outdone, Boyd went on to notch his hat trick when Thomas Buffel was felled in the box a minute after replacing Darcheville and Boyd waved away McCulloch's plea for a hat trick chance and fired the penalty home on the hour mark.

With the game safe, Smith withdrew Brahim Hemdani and introduced the 16 year old Fleck for his first competitive appearance in the first team with 23 minutes left on the clock.

The youngster was obviously keen to make an impact and his 77th minute run and shot from the edge of the box earned Gers a corner and had the Ibrox fans out of their seats.

Fellow sub Buffel almost made it seven when he picked up the scraps of McCulloch's battling on the edge of the box and shot just wide of Brown's upright.

It would have added extra gloss to an already professional performance, but Smith will no doubt be delighted with his side's efforts and a place in the fifth round.

Rangers: Smith; Hutton, Papac, Broadfoot, Whittaker; Gow, Adam, Hemdani (Fleck, 67), McCulloch; Boyd (Naismith, 80), Darcheville (Buffel, 59).
Subs: McGregor, Cuellar.

East Stirling: Brown; Gibb, McBride, Oates, Thywissen, Kelly (Donaldson 36), McKenzie (Simpson, 67), Brand, Savage (King, 83), Brownlie, Ure.
Subs: Mitchell, Doyle.