LIVINGSTONE, Scotland (AFP) - A Derek Riordan double has helped Celtic coast to a 4-1 win away to Livingston in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

Despite the comfortable scoreline the First Division side did not allow the Scottish Premier League leaders to get it all their own way and even took a surprise lead through David MacKay.

Celtic, though, were in front by the break through goals from Darren O´Dea and Derek Riordan, and with Paul Hartley making his debut, overpowered Livy in the second half with Riordan´s second and a Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink taking Gordon Strachan´s side into the quarter-finals.

Livingston had been hoping to follow the lead of First Division side Clyde last season by knocking Celtic out of the competition and made a solid start to the match ensuring their visitors were not allowed to settle.

Though there were few efforts on goal from either side in the early stages the home side were steadily growing in confidence and in the 18th minute they took a sensational lead Sunday.

O´Dea needlessly conceded a foul about 40-yards from goal, holding Neil Teggart down when going for a high ball, and referee Charlie Richmond awarded the free-kick.

Lee Makel took the kick, chipping a flighted ball into the heart of Celtic´s penalty area, and MacKay leapt to send a glancing header into the corner of the net beyond Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

The goal gave the Livy side belief they could cause an upset and for the next five minutes pushed Celtic on to the back foot.

However, the Parkhead team have consistently shown their resilience this season in their relentless march to a second consecutive Scottish Premier League title and in the 30th minute they drew level.

Paul Telfer´s deep cross was met by Vennegoor of Hesselink who used his height and strength to head down into the path of O´Dea and the young defender made amends for his earlier rashness by clinically volleying the ball home from six-yards.

Celtic were now controlling the match and in first half injury time they made their advantage count with a second goal.

O´Dea floated the ball towards Riordan, who was standing at the corner of the Livy penalty area and the former Hibernian player took a touch before rifling a spectacular left-foot shot beyond goalkeeper Colin Stewart into the top corner of the net.

At the start of the second half the match flowed end-to-end as Livy looked to fight their way back into the match.

In the 53rd minute Riordan almost scored another spectacular goal when he took Telfer´s deep cross first time to send a powerful right-foot volley just over from 20-yards.

Former Hibs´ star Riordan was not to be denied a second for long, however, and in the 59th minute Shinsuke Nakamura´s clever flick put him through on goal and he dispatched a powerful drive past Stewart.

Two minutes later any hope Livingston had of making a contest of the match was ended when Nakamura again displayed first class vision to find Vennegoor of Hesselink.

The former PSV Eindhoven striker showed his finishing abilities by firing low past Stewart into the corner of the net to complete the scoring.