Ricci Butler got the response he demanded as Gorleston bounced back from their weekend nightmare.

The Greens were thumped 5-0 at Whitton a week ago, prompting boss Butler to promise wholesale changes.

He was true to his word – and watched with some satisfaction as a much-changed line-up beat Walsham-le-Willows 4-2 to progress in the League Cup where they will now face Kirkley & Pakefield in the first round.

Rested were Liam Brown, Mitch McKay, Aaron Taylor, Kyle Ingram, Luke Goreham, Chris Sandford and Keegan Middleton as Butler handed debuts to Jason Thompson and Nathan Welton. John Bell made his first appearance for 10 months while Nathan Russell, Joel Watts, Ashley King and Damon Wise all returned.

Somewhat against the run of play, Gorleston struck twice in a minute to give themselves a strong foothold in the game. The impressive Thompson fed Watts on the left. His cross come shot was parried by goalkeeper Lee Pacey straight to Russell who made no mistake on 16 minutes. A minute later Thompson ran on to a Watts flick and curled an excellent pass between defenders into Russell’s path and, once again, he fired home.

Russell turned provider on 37 minutes, with Thompson blasted the ball past the stranded keeper to make it 3-0.

Four minutes later Walsham kept themselves in the game when Ryan Foster finished well from 20 yards to make it 3-1 at half-time.

With eight minutes left Keegan Middleton’s free-kick drifted over everybody and while the keeper seemed to leave it, the ball went into the net off the inside of the far post.

To their credit Walsham kept going and scored again in the last minute after Gorleston got a little sloppy at the back allowing Tom Driscoll to pounce and drill the ball in.

There was still time before the final whistle for Russell to hit the inside of the post but the Greens were well pleased with the result and can now look forward to a trip to Walmer Road on October 13.

It’s back to league action tomorrow when the Greens travel to high-flying Newmarket.

The Jockeys are unbeaten in three and are the only side to have taken points off unbeaten Norwich Utd.

The Greens will be without Middleton who is suspended following his two yellows against Clacton.

On Tuesday Gorleston get a chance to double Fakenham when the Ghosts visit Emerald Park (7.45pm).