Halesowen 0 Rugby Town 4

But Halesowen's embarrassment was partly self-inflicted, after starting with only two substitutes and their bench was left empty when both were deployed within 20 minutes.

Rugby raced into a fifth minute lead when Stephen Morley whipped in an excellent free-kick from the right and leading marksman David Kolodynski volleyed home at the far post.

With the visitors running the show, Neil King blazed an open goal over the bar after 23 minutes.

Captain Delroy Gordon converted from close range to make it 2-0 on 26 minutes, when excellent work saw David Stone skip past several defenders.

Busy Yeltz goalkeeper Nick Bussey made several fine saves as Rugby threatened to run riot in the second half, against Halesowen's last standing ten men.

Michael Briscoe cleared off the line from Matt Gearing and King crashed the loose ball over the bar in the 56th minute. Bussey made an acrobatic save from David Staff a minute later and Koldynski misfired in front of goal on 63 minutes.

Darren Caskey finally saw Halesowen go close by striking the post with a 64th minute free-kick, before two further Rugby goals gave a true reflection of play.

Kolodynski collected a long ball to blast home off Bussey after 74 minutes and Staff sealed the rout in the 79th minute after Liam Nicell's shot rebounded off the post.

In the final minute, Rugby goalkeeper Andy Stevens saved with his legs from debut home striker Reuben Max-Grant.

Halesowen Town: Bussey; Cowley, Allward (Canoville 21), Briscoe, Pearce, Denny, Hummel, Caskey, Rowe (Max-Grant 8), Danks, Gouveia.

Rugby Town: Stevens; Nicell, Morley, Musgrove, Gordon, Breward, Gearing, King (Fitzharris 81), Stone, Kolodynski (Taylor 77), Staff (Purton 85). .

Referee: A. Sheffield (Walsall)

Attendance: 426