TOWN fans were singing in the rain after watching their side skate through the mud to a 4-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup at Belle Vue.

After the League debacle at York City, where Town lost 3-0, this was just the sort of performance the Town supporters wanted to see.

Neil Warnock’s side rocked Doncaster with early goals from Darren Bullock and Andy Booth, and they never looked back.

They were well in command by the time Doncaster had midfielder David Roche sent off for the second successive week, and the only surprise was that it took until 14 minutes from time before Ronnie Jepson increased their lead.

That ended the contest, although substitutes Graeme Jones and Iain Dunn exchanged goals in a frantic last few minutes played in skid-pan conditions.

Doncaster manager Sammy Chung felt the scoreline flattered Town, but few in a crowd of 6,626 agreed with his judgement.

For all their effort, chances were few and far between for a Doncaster side challenging strongly for promotion from Division III.

Town, on the other hand, carved out enough chances to have steamrollered home, thanks to the inspiration of the irrepressible Chris Billy. Raiding down the right, and superbly supported by full-back Simon Trevitt, Billy was involved in three of Town’s goals and gave Doncaster jitters every time he launched an attack.

In physically demanding conditions, Billy’s wiry frame seemed to skate across the surface and his awareness and execution around the box was impeccable.

It was Billy at the root of goal No1, laying off for Booth to shoot, and although it was beaten down, Bullock followed up for his third of the season.

Then striker Booth soared to head home Paul Reid’s well-flighted free-kick for his 15th goal of the season four minutes later.

After Jepson nodded home the third goal, Billy romped onto a superb long ball out of defence and squared it for Dunn to round things off with a crisp left-footer past the keeper.

Town’s performance was in character with those which had carried them to the top of the Second Division, and apart from the free-kick which Jones curled in five minutes from time for Doncaster, the defence were very alert with goalkeeper Steve Francis handling well in the conditions and being rarely troubled.