Cheltenham Town Under-18s overcame a battling Tuffley Rovers side in the first round of this season's FA Youth Cup.
Despite the scoreline they didn't have it all their own way and only a Zac Guinan goal divided the two sides at the interval.
Rovers had seen off Torquay United in the previous round and posed the young Robins plenty of problems for long periods of the game.
But two goals in three minutes by Felix Miles and an unfortunate late own goal by former academy product Jacob Geddes gave the result a rosey look.
Pete Haynes' side will now travel to Devon in the second round to face either Exeter City or Plymouth Argyle.
"You have to give a lot of credit to Tuffley tonight," said Haynes.
"We knew their threats before they arrived and they imposed themselves. We struggled to start with any intensity.
"When you walk into our dressing room the players are disappointed, which is strange when you've won 4-0 but ultimately we're through to the second round with a good result and that's what counts in the end."
Eight of the Tuffley side were Hartpury College students and they gave Haynes' side a tough examination in the opening 45 minutes, calling goalkeeper Jake Parsisson into a sharp save after Alex Roder produced his side's best chance on the night.
But Guinan gave his side the lead eight minutes before the break, meeting Harvey Skurek's corner with a firm header to give his side the lead.
Felix Miles fired over and Guinan should have added his second in the opening exchanges of the second period, but the Robins extended their advantage with two goals by Miles in three minutes.
The first came about after some brilliant play by substitute Will Ramsey down the right, who beat his man and delivered an inch perfect ball into the centre for the the young striker to finish from close-range.
Moments later the 17-year-old took advantage of some sloppy defensive play to bag his second.
An unfortunate own goal any Jacob Geddes completed the scoring, turning Charlie Dashfield's cross from the left into his own net eight minutes from time.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-5-1): Parsisson; Hunt, Clark (Ramsey 46), Lawrence (c), Skurek; Atwell (Dennis-Barrett 65), Woodall, Miles, Jakeways, Dashfield; Guinan. Subs not used: Stevens, Armitage, Taylor, Jenner, Troke (Gk).
TUFFLEY ROVERS (4-4-2): Copland; McNally, Watkins (c), Geddes, Kent (Wiltshire 88); Roder, Nicholls, Sunley, Onokoya; Ajibola (Bird 60), Onokoya. Subs not used: Fulford, Stalley, Bryan, Wilson.
REFEREE: M Perry