Paulton Rovers 0 Norwich City 7: It is hard to comprehend using anything other than the word 'nightmare' to describe being on the end of a seven-goal drubbing – but the margin of defeat was not enough to take the gloss of the day that Paulton Rovers 'lived the dream'.

So the lowest-ranked side left in the competition ended their remarkable FA Cup adventure in front of a national TV audience by nursing a seven-goal deficit. So what? This day was about living the dream.

Live the dream. They were the words on the lips of everybody associated with this sleepy and little-known Somerset village.

They were the words emblazoned on the specially produced T-shirts to mark the most memorable achievement in this club's 128-year history.

And they were the words that rolled off the tongue of Paulton manager Andy Jones – even after watching his side terrorised for 90 minutes and eventually breached seven times.

"It is not nice," said Jones, when asked what it was like to watch his side ship so many goals. "We've absolutely enjoyed every single minute of it, though.

"The words on the T-shirts say 'Live the dream' and that is what everybody at this club has been doing since ball 33 came out of the hat two weeks ago.

"We have had a great time. When are our players ever going to get the chance to do the crossbar challenge on Soccer AM again?"

That was just one of the memorable moments that the management, directors, players and supporters of this part-time club will take away with them from what has been an unbelievable fortnight.

Could anyone have ever envisaged seeing celebrity chef and major Norwich shareholder Delia Smith taking up a seat in the grandstand? Did anyone ever think they would spot FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking sauntering around the side of the club house? Both happened at Winterfield Road on Saturday.

"The day was about so much more than that the result," Paulton defender Alex Ball explained. "These types of day are the sort that will probably never happen to some of us again, so we have all just tried to make the most of it."

There always has to be one killjoy, however, an absolutely dogged and determined party-pooper. That came in the shape of Norwich boss Paul Lambert, who, judging by an early glance at the teamsheet, had no intention of being on the end of what would have been the most remarkable FA Cup upset of all time.

"We took the fact that Norwich fielded their strongest side possible as a massive compliment," said Jones. "Paul Lambert came to shake hands with me before the game and said we had earned that respect."

Still, Paulton showed little respect for their opponents during the first quarter of an hour or so. They started the match brightly – defender James Tyrrell forcing Canaries goalkeeper Declan Rudd into an early save before striker Rob Claridge had a header cleared off the line – but Norwich eased any nerves they may have had by claiming three goals before the interval.

Prolific marksman Grant Holt added to his already impressive seasonal tally by finding space between two defenders to nod home at the far post and that one-goal lead soon became two when promising England youth striker Chris Martin produced a clinical finish from close-range to score the first of a four-goal haul.

Remember the name. Paulton fans, perhaps, will look back in 10 years time and talk about the day that Martin graced the turf at Winterfield Road if he goes on to realise his undoubted potential.

Holt added a third and Paulton's immediate aims quickly went from that of possible giant-killing to one of damage limitation and a consolation goal.

It almost happened; only an instinctive save by Rudd denied defender Ollie Price a goal off his head at the far post shortly after the restart.

It just wasn't meant to be. Paulton continued to contain the League One side for the best part of half an hour after that – thanks mainly to the heroics of young goalkeeper Kyle Phillips.

Phillips, 20, returns to work today at the flower business owned by part-time football manager Jones, who admitted: "I'll probably lose him as an employee one day. I am certain that he is eventually going to go on and make a living in the professional game."

Phillips could do little about the four-goal salvo in the final 15 minutes, which produced a scoreline that was, perhaps, harsh.

Wes Hoolahan began that spree with a curled effort on 75 minutes before Martin converted a tap-in to increase the deficit to five.

He claimed his hat-trick by despatching a delicious free-kick soon after, and headed home in the dying stages to complete the rout.

Still, the outcome of the game was pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Paulton had lived the dream.

Dreams, however, always have to come to an end. "We've had fun but we can't get carried away," Ball said.

"We now need to get our heads back on and concentrate on our promotion campaign." Next stop? Away at Bishop's Cleeve on Wednesday night.