The Scholars’ habit of conceding early goals struck almost instantly as a Church free kick from out on the right was deflected by returnee Gary Birch across his own goal and past Ryan Price to give the visitors the lead.

The Scholars soon began a fightback, Dean Perrow playing back to Chris Slater in front of goal in the eighth minute but he fired his shot over the bar before the striker cut in from the right to lay up Birch in front of goal but the Alvechurch defence halted him before he could shoot.

On 14 minutes Birch would make up for his earlier faux pas when he received a pass from Jordan Johnson and rifled his shot beyond Richard Taylor in the Church goal to equalise.

This was the spur the Scholars needed and their pace visibly increased, Perrow’s low shot going wide before a chaotic goalmouth scramble on 20 minutes saw Perrow’s efforts blocked twice before the ball was eventually forced over the line with some help from a defender.

Four minutes later and the Scholars made it three, Mark Branch’s corner fired goalwards by Perrow but his shot was blocked by Taylor, Matty Cohen sliding in to put away the rebound and increase Chasetown’s lead.

On 29 minutes a Branch free kick was headed on by Richard Teesdale and found Ben Jevons at the far post, but defender Danny Gall got the last touch as the Scholars made it four.

Five minutes before the break Perrow cut in from the right to tuck home his second and Chasetown’s fifth, but there was still time before the break for the visitors to pull one back courtesy of Elliott Nash before Branch sent a free kick over the bar to close an extraordinary half.

Ross Dempster had the first chance of the second half for the visitors but fired over the bar under pressure from Andy Westwood, but on 57 minutes Chasetown made it six when Johnson fired his maiden Scholars goal past the outstretched hand of Taylor.

Jevons thought he had netted a seventh on 68 minutes but the flag was up for offside, and Johnson almost added his second in the 84th minute but his shot hit the base of the post. Chasetown could afford to ease off a little in the closing minutes but Ryan Price was still on form with a diving save to deny Rory Curtis with four minutes on the clock while Sam Wills hit the post in stoppage time.

Chasetown: Price, Turner, M Branch, Cohen, Westwood, Teesdale, Johnson, Slater (Hurren, 61 mins), Birch (Smith, 71 mins), Perrow, Jevons (Steadman, 75 mins)

Other Subs: Parsons, Melbourne, Peel, Wiggins (not used)