Maidstone United lost out on a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after they were soundly beaten 5-0 by Coventry City in the fifth round.
The Stones were 2-0 down inside the first 15 minutes of the match and this became 3-0 down before half time.
Ellis Simms completed his hat-trick for the Championship side and the match ended with a comfortable 5-0 victory to the home side.
The Stones, backed by around 5000 travelling fans, were up against Coventry City side who are 94 places higher than them in the football pyramid.
The Kent team have still made history as the lowest-ranked team to reach the last 16 since 1978.
With nine minutes on the clock, Palmer drifted into space in front of the Coventry back four and his pass cut through the defence to free Simms to prod in the opening goal.
Five minutes later, the elusive Palmer provided another telling pass, which Simms thumped into the far corner of the net.
Palmer has a special relationship with the competition for Coventry – his two killer passes mean he now has three goals and four assists in five FA Cup games for the club.
Maidstone tried to hit back, as Liam Sole’s dangerous cross was taken off Manny Duku’s head by Joel Latibeaudiere, and Sole himself sliced wide after getting a sight of goal.
The game was over as a contest on 35 minutes, however, as Palmer crashed in a 25-yard shot that goalkeeper Lucas Covolan could only parry for Simms to complete his treble and take his tally to nine goals for the season.
The Stones were bold and gave it a go, but were outclassed from start to finish, failing to have a single attempt on target.
Coventry brought on Callum O’Hare in the second half but took their foot off the gas to see the game out.
The only threat Maidstone posed was a sharp passing move that ended with Lamar Reynolds shooting into the side netting.
Coventry finished with a flourish as substitute Matty Godden touched the ball through for Tavares to score, with Godden then having a shot beaten out by Covolan straight to the feet of the Portuguese forward, who tucked away the fifth.
Maidstone midfielder Sam Bone said after the game:
“There are so many emotions. Right now I am so proud of myself and proud of the boys, everyone associated with the club – it’s such a special moment.
“I don’t think I have ever been this happy after a 5-0 loss but it’s just incredible, something I’ll look back on at the end of my career with a real smile on my face.
“You’re trying to soak it in but the whistle goes and it’s game mode. We play in front of 1,500-2,000 week-in, week-out so to get this experience is so special and something I’ll cherish.
“The gaffer told us (afterwards) we have got a job to do in the league, We’re out of the play-offs so that’s an incentive for the boys.
“It’s important we take lessons from this game, and Ipswich and Stevenage, and try to go on a run until the end of the season.”
Coventry City: Ben Wilson, Joel Latibeaudiere, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jake Bidwell (Jay Dasilva), Victor Torp (Josh Eccles 67), Liam Kelly, Fabio Tavares, Kasey Palmer (Milan van Ewijkat 67), Haji Wright (Callum O’Hare 45), Ellis Simms (Matty Godden 66).
Subs not used: Luke Bell, Luis Binks, Dermi Lusala, Kai Andrews.
Goals: Ellis Simms 9,14, 35, Fabio Tavares 88, 90.
Maidstone United: Lucas Covolan, Harry Kyprianou (Chi Ezennolim 69), Reece Greenidge, George Fowler, Raphe Brown (Gavin Hoyte 69), Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (Perri Iandolo 87), Sam Corne, Sam Bone, Lamar Reynolds, Liam Sole (Bivesh Gurung 69), Manny Duku (Riley Court 79).
Subs not used: Harley Earle, Sam Smith.
Referee: Mr Michael Salisbury
Attendance: 26,857