All the hope and optimism that had grown with recent displays seemed to evaporate as the injury-hit Reds failed to deal with attack after attack from Walsham.

Even with the talismanic Neil Cogger back in the side, the midfield was overrun, the inexperienced defence failed to cope and Martin Westcott cut an isolated figure up front at times.

A couple of early Cogger runs made this game look as if it would be an exciting end-to-end contest but from the moment James Attwood’s tenth-minute shot looped into the net, Rovers were in trouble.

An unlucky deflection allowed Gary Ross to set up Richard Partridge for the second and the rout was completed by the 32nd minute with three goals in four minutes. Ryan Foster shot into the top corner, James Tatham looped a header over Campbell and Partridge headed in Attwood’s cross.

That four-minute spell could have yielded more goals but Walsham were denied three times – once by Campbell, twice by defenders on the line. Rovers improved after the break and Westcott was denied by the bar two minutes into the second half.

But Rovers were only spared further embarrassment by Walsham’s wayward shooting with Wayne Proctor the main culprit. Proctor missed four chances to score, although he was unlucky when he hit the outside of the post. Paul Musgrove also hit a post but all Rovers could muster in reply was a shot from 16-year-old Jack Jones, one of two full debutants, that shaved the post and Stuart Kingham’s late volley at goalkeeper Kevin Bugg.

ECHO MAN OF THE MATCH: Neil Cogger. Dangerous when he got the ball.

ROVERS (4-2-3-1): Campbell; Holder (Halls 50), Kingham (c), Holmes, Kirk; Robertson, Challis; Jones, Cogger, Kent; Westcott. SUBS NOT USED: Jenkin, Thomas.

STATS: Shots on target WAL 14 ROV 2, shots off target WAL 11 ROV 5, woodwork WAL 2 ROV 1, corners WAL 5 ROV 4, bookings WAL 0 ROV 0, red cards WAL 0 ROV 0. Attendance 39.