Town put up a decent showing against potential Premier League starlet opposition, but ultimately the speed of thought and movement matched with the clinical finishing of the young Baggies side was too much for them, as they bowed out of the regional FA cup competition.

The final margin of defeat was a little harsh on a Valley side that had dragged themselves back from an early 3-0 deficit with goals from debutant Robbie Burns and Sam Youngs, but three more Albion strikes followed straight on the back of a particularly bright second half spell from Rugby.

The visitors were ahead after just three minutes when George Cleet applied a low, precise finish to Alex Jones’s lay-off, and they could have extended that lead a number of times before Jones made it two on twelve minutes with a strike from twenty yards which skidded under the body of Richard Morris.

Richard Blythe had tested Alex Palmer with a lofted effort between the two opening goals, but Town were still chasing shadows when West Brom made it three – thanks to Samir Nabi’s header to Bradley Garmston’s cross from the by-line.

Morris then saved well from Jones and Adil Nabi curled a good chance wide, as the Baggies threatened to run away with the game, but Town finally found their feet in the approach to the interval.

Youngs was nearly in on Justin Marsden’s through pass and Burns put one wide of the post, before a half-time lifeline was gained when Palmer could only parry Marsden’s strike – with the ball falling into the path of Burns, who guided it home.

Rugby came out for the second half full of purpose, and more than matched their opponents with some neat passing football of their own.

Craig Kelly flashed a dangerous cross across the face of the goal, and then Youngs reduced the arrears to a single goal when he ran onto another Marsden pass to apply a measured finish past Palmer.

Town’s levels of confidence and performance increased notably after this strike, and just as it looked as they might complete a commendable comeback, the visitors seized on a misplaced pass in the middle of the pitch – with Daniel Barrow breaking at speed to create an opportunity which Adil Nabi eventually finished off at close range.

Barrow put the game beyond doubt when he skipped through a number of Valley defenders before slotting past Morris, and Adil Nabi then rounded off the scoring with an impressive twenty five yard free-kick that Morris could only get only get a hand on.

Valley line-up: Morris; George (Austin), Kelly, Gudger, Rowley; Blythe (Banks), Grocott, McBride, Burns; Youngs, Marsden (Rankin). Subs not used: Summers, Lake-Gaskin. Booked: None.

West Brom line-up: Palmer, Atkinson, Garmston, Birch, Cleet, Hawkins, Wright, S.Nabi, Jones, A.Nabi, Barrow. Subs: Pace, Smart, Wedderburn, Ezewele, Ross .