Having made progress in the Emirates F.A Cup against two teams from their own level this was a step up in standard for Corby Town. But the Steelmen took it in their stride and gained an impressive victory over opponents who had previously lost only once all season.
It took the Steelmen just six minutes to seize the initiative in this Second Qualifying Round tie. There appeared to be little danger when defender Kyle Morrison played the ball back to Paul Evans but the goalkeeper's attempted clearance was blocked by Elliot Sandy and the loose ball fell invitingly to Joel Carta who stroked it into the net.
The home side responded positively to this early set back and Dan George was forced to make a good save before Alvechurch netted their 24th minute equaliser. A cross from the left by Josh March took a deflection off of Sam Warburton and Kieron Cook rifled the ball past George into the bottom corner.
At this point the game could have gone either way but a goal either side of half time swung it in Corby's favour. Four minutes before the interval Jordan Francis won the ball in midfield and played it to Carta whose low effort from the edge of the box gave Evans no chance.
The Steelmen almost added another in the final minutes of the opening period but Warburton found no takers for a centre which flew across the face of the goal.
Four minutes after the break 2-1 did become 3-1 when Ben Bradshaw floated in a corner to the edge of the penalty area and there was that man Carta to volley in his hat trick goal via the finger tips of Evans.
In Corby's next attack three minutes later they were awarded a free kick out wide on the left and another accurate Bradshaw set piece found Jamie Anton whose late run beat the offside trap to give him a close range opportunity which he was never going to miss.
Alvechurch were struggling to contain the speedy Corby forwards and Mitch Borfield was cautioned for a foul on Bradshaw. Kyle Morrson then pushed Jordon Crawford out on the wing and also picked up a yellow card - as, for some reason, did Crawford.
If one man was deserving of a goal it was Elliot Sandy who never stopped running all afternoon. Corby's centre forward did have two late opportunities but he lost control as he attempted to round Evans from the first and curled an effort just wide from the second.
He also attempted an audacious long range effort which only just cleared the cross bar with Evans struggling to get back into his goal.
A 4-1 victory was more than we had dared hope for before the game but it happened and Corby's players and supporters alike milked the occasion for all it was worth at the final whistle.
Now bring on Stockport County !!!

ALVECHURCH:- Paul Evans; Josh Ezewele, Taylor Morrison; Tom Turton, Kyle Morrison, James Willetts (captain); Theo Llewellyn, Mitch Borfield, Josh March, Luke Yates, Kieron Cook. Substitutes: Dan O'Callaghan, Aaron Lloyd, Aaron Birch, Zack Foster, Andy Parsons, Matt Sargeant.

CORBY TOWN:- Dan George; Miles Smith, Sam Warburton; Joel Carta, Jamie Anton, Gary Mulligan (captain); Jordan Francis (substitute Dennis Nkrumah), Connor Kennedy, Elliott Sandy, Ben Bradshaw (substitute Jake Bettles), Jordon Crawford (substitute Zac Allen). Unused substitutes: Dean McBride, Ashley Robinson, Sidik Atcha, Dan Smith (GK).

REFEREE:- Mr Oliver Mackey