MINNOWS Emley stole the Examiner's back-page headlines as Town's campaign of misery continued.
Up at the Welfare Ground, a crowd of 2,630 cheered Gerry Quinn's Northern Counties East League team all the way to Wembley.
Down at Leeds Road, just 4,503 watched West Brom all but condemn Malcom Macdonald's Town to relegation from Division II (now the Championship) - with eight games still to go.
John Francis scored the 47th-minute goal which earned Emley a 1-0 win, and 2-1 aggregate success, in their FA Vase semi-final against Bashley.
Francis later admitted he had been out of position when Paul Gartland's corner was only partially cleared.
"There was a bit of jostling, and I couldn't get to where I should have been before the kick was taken," he explained. "But it all worked out okay because the ball fell perfectly for me. I just took it down and shot and it was great to see it go in."
Playing with the advantage of a strong wind, the Wessex League champions had the better of the first half, but Emley defended well, with right-back Steve Hirst outstanding.
And goalkeeper Ray Dennis pulled off a superb save in the 43rd minute, diving to push away Joey Robinson's right-foot curler one-handed.
The start of the second half was all Emley - Tim Devine came close to doubling the lead soon after Francis struck - but Bashley made a game of it with a late burst of pressure.
"It's amazing to think of us playing at Wembley, and it means so much to everyone connected with the club," said Quinn.
Town chief Macdonald put his own worries to one side to congratulate Quinn.
"It's a fantastic achievement," said the former Newcastle, Arsenal and England striker.
"It's a great boost for the area in general and I can promise Emley they will have a lovely surface to play on. I think I'll ring Gerry for some tips!"
On his own side's 3-1 loss at Leeds Road, which left Town eight points adrift of second-bottom Reading, Macdonald commented: "We didn't play properly into the wind in the second half and a silly spell has cost us dear once again."
David Cork had clipped Town ahead after 16 minutes, but Ron Atkinson's Albion scored three times in six second-half minutes, through Andy Gray (2) and Kenny Swain.
To make matters even worse, Town then lost left-back Ian Bray, whose left leg was broken in two places in a 67th-minute clash with Robert Hopkins, who was sent off.
"The episode shows what bad luck we are having, but I don't want to comment on the tackle," said Macdonald, "Only the individual knows what was in his own mind."
