The southerners, to their credit, battled well and it required all the experience of the Sure Mobile Premier League side to see them through to the quarter-finals.

There was in fact little to choose between the teams early on, until Hurt sent a cushioned header into the box for Mike Hammond to finish in style.

The visitors then looked to have increased their lead, minutes later, only to see a Jamie Moffatt header rebound off an upright. The lively Darryl Yardley and Louie Jennings, however, ensured it was not all one-way traffic as they kept the Michael defence firmly on their toes.

Then 10 minutes from the interval Hurt showed his class by providing a superb through ball to give Moffatt the opportunity to add goal number two.

Although the home side stuck to their task it took just seven minutes after the restart for Michael to net a third. The Malew defence failed to deal with a corner and the busy Kevin Pulman was on hand to score from close range.

With the benefit of the slope, the home side made a number of efforts but even the best, from Adam Drewett, failed to trouble experienced keeper Gary Burgess.

Michael sub Dean Wales wrapped up the scoring five minutes from time, but it had certainly been a plucky effort from the Second Division side.

Malew: Danny Cowin, Andy Wenam, Steve Proudlove, Sean Pacey, Aaron Collister (Adrian Bentley 64m), Daniel Thirlwell, Adam Drewett, John Kelly (Juan Kinvig 75m), Paul Whitley, Darryl Yardley, Louie Jennings.

Michael Utd: Gary Burgess, David Reynolds (Dean Wales 71m), Kieran Quinn, Stuart Woodward, Andrew Berry, Kevin Pulman, Richard Crowe (Michael Quine 63m), Nick Hurt, Johnny Holland, Michael Hammond, Jamie Moffatt (Michael Perks 77m).

Referee: David Cain.
Assistants: Willie Cowley, Alan Cowin.
Man of the match: Hurt (Michael).
Match rating 3*
Attendance: 42.