West Bromwich Town vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers' magnificent seven - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley answered manager Frank Northwood's call for a repeat of the previous Saturday's cup form by running riot at Noose Lane on Saturday.
They ran in seven and could have had twice as many goals in an almost totally one-sided affair.
The result made total nonsense of the two sides' respective placings in the West Midlands League - the home side having started the day two places higher than Rovers - and prompted Northwood to observe afterwards: "A lot of people were writing us off. Well, let them do that if they want, it could suit us."
Paul Acklam recovered from a groin strain to lead the way as Town were destroyed in the opening quarter.
First he got on the end of a flowing move involving Richard Denby's short corner, John Barry's cross and Carl Rathbone's flick on to bury an emphatic header from eight yards, then allowed the ball's unpredictable bounce to beat a defender past keeper Mark Williams.
The in-form striker then produced an inspirational through ball from deep on the left to release Rathbone and was deprived of a first half hat trick when a close range header hit a defender on the line.
Acklam's through ball put Craig Weston through for number four just after the break before the No.9 completed his hat trick with a header from Denby's free kick - his 10th goal in nine outings this term.
Barry Cullum shot past Bob Aston from close range to give Town temporary respite but even the withdrawal of Acklam failed to stem the flow of goals at the opposite end, substitute Brian Beresford first converting Barry's cross from close range then heading a Denby corner high into the net to put Rovers in seventh heaven.
West Bromwich Town (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (3) 7
Scorers: Cullum 70 (West Bromwich Town), Acklam 9, 26, 66, Rathbone 23, Weston 53, Beresford 82, 87 (Gresley Rovers).
West Bromwich Town: Williams, Fox, Perrins, Johnson, Wood, Meeson, Raybould (Owen 73), Foster, Bradbury, Cullum, Scott. Subs not used: Jones.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Denby, Land, Page, Weston, Smith, Acklam (Beresford 75), Rathbone, Venning (Lovell 75).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Paul Acklam.
Referee: A L Martin (Penkridge).
Attendance: 80