The Cheltenham Town U18s thrash VCD Athletic 7-1 to progress in the FA Youth Cup.
The youth team safely negotiated round one of this season's FA Youth Cup at the Abbey Business Stadium with a comfortable win over Kent-based team VCD Athletic.
Bobbie Dale and Zack Kotwica both claimed hat-tricks with Harry Williams, the third of the youth team players to have appeared in the Football League this season, getting the other.
The Under-18s now face Bury Town at home in the second round with Birmingham City awaiting the winners in round three.
It was a comfortable victory for Russell Milton's team, who took control from the first minute when Kotwica made a storming run down the left hand side and crossed low for Dale to touch in from close range.
The scoreline could have been even higher but visiting goalkeeper Taylor Humm had a memorable afternoon, making a number of good saves throughout the match.
VCD were almost handed an equaliser on 15 minutes when a mix-up between Harvey Rivers and Spencer Hamilton let them in. Jamie Swetman pounced on the chance and set-up Mitchell Miller but his shot drifted wide of goal.
Cheltenham were awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute when Dale robbed defender Daniel Ackland on the edge of the box. Ackland tried to recover but only succeded on hauling Dale to the ground and referee Greg Taylor pointed to the penalty spot. Dale took the kick himself but it lacked any conviction and Humm got down to save comfortably.
The second goal took a while to arrive but when it finally do so in the 28th minute, the visitors' resistance was broken. Adam Powell found Kotwica on the edge of the box and he spotted Dale ahead of him, pushing a first time pass in his direction and this time the striker beat Humm with a low shot.
Williams began the move for the third goal on 33 minutes with a firm tackle in midfield allowing Kieran Whitehead to split the defence with a through pass and Kotwica ran through to score.
Two minutes after the break Kotwica got up well to head in a Powell free-kick and ten minutes after that, Dale pounced for his third goal after Humm had parried a header from Kotwica at close range.
VCD had a good chance to pull one back on the hour mark when their captain and left-back Charlie Gray forced his way into the box and rode a tackle before shooting into the side netting but Williams pounced with 16 minutes to go, touching in from five yards after a Whitehead corner kick had fallen to him off the head of a defender.
Kotwica completed his treble 10 minutes from the end when a Williams cross was flicked on by substitute Jamie Goodwin and VCD claimed a consolation goal a minute from time when substitute Sam McHattie ran onto a pass from Mitchell Miller to drive in a low shot.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-2-3-1): Rivers; Craddock (Sheppard 61), Hamilton, Keightley, Bowen; Whitehead (Daly 75), Powell; Kirkpatrick-Jones, Williams, Kotwica; Dale (Goodwin 75).Â
Other subs: H.Reynolds (Gk), D.Reynolds
VCD ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Humm; Cheeseman (Simms 61), Ackland, North, Gray; Mann (McHattie 68), Burgess, Scott, Swetman (McDonagh 39); Britton, Miller.Â
Other subs: Thorn, Raggett
REFEREE: G.Taylor
ATTENDANCE: 130