DANNY Waldron scored twice as Alvechurch stunned League One Cheltenham Town to cause a famous FA Cup upset with a 2-1 win in Gloucestershire.
Waldron scored a wonderful opener before a scrappy second goal put Church in command as Ryan Jackson’s thunderous finish proved in vain for the third tier side at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.
Victory means Church have claimed the £41,000 in prize money on offer and will be in the hat for Monday’s second round draw.
Some 1,423 fans travelled to Gloucestershire to show their support for Ian Long’s side and will now be waiting to discover their second round opponents.
Church are ball number 39 in Monday’s draw which takes place at 7pm and will be broadcast live on BBC Two with second round ties to take place on the weekend of Saturday, November 26.
And Alvechurch were fired up from the first whistle as Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton sent an early free-kick from 25-yards out a few yards over the crossbar.
However, a nervy free-kick at the other end was kicked straight into the path of James Olayinka who saw his shot bravely blocked behind by Ash Carter.
And Olayinka had another chance to break the deadlock soon after only to miscue a shot well wide of the target from Ryan Broom’s cutback.
Church goalkeeper Dan Jezeph then made a fine reaction save to keep out Caleb Taylor’s flick-on from a long throw from the right.
And Church took the lead on 19 minutes when Skeen-Hamilton won back possession and played in Waldron who raced through on goal, cut inside of the defender, and placed a cool finish into the bottom right corner.
The visitors matched their opponents throughout the first half an hour before Waldron’s shot deflected behind for a corner end Tom Edge volleyed wide from the resulting set-piece.
Cheltenham responded when Lewis Freestone’s cross from the left was headed narrowly wide by George Lloyd and Carter was forced to make a terrific recovery challenge to prevent the Robins from bursting through on goal.
And Church captain Jamie Willets then made a sensational block to keep out Olayinka’s effort from close range after the ball broke kindly for the Cheltenham forward in the box.
There were no further chances in the first period with Church more than worthy of their lead heading into the break whilst Cheltenham were booed off by the home supporters.
And Alvechurch doubled their lead on 50 minutes when Skeen-Hamilton’s shot deflected onto the post and Waldron turned home the loose ball with Jack Concannon in close attention to spark wild scenes of celebration on the touchline.
However, Cheltenham responded just four minutes later when Church failed to clear a cross at the back post and Jackson lashed the ball into the bottom left corner.
The home side began to play more direct football and were almost rewarded when the ball squirmed out to Olayinka only for the Cheltenham man to blaze his effort well over the crossbar.
Church almost found a third goal at the other end when Skeen-Hamilton drove into the box and jinked his way past two defenders before shooting inches over the top.
Cheltenham should have drawn level when substitute Christian Norton beat the offside trap before squaring to Broom who inexplicably shot over from 10-yards out.
There was controversy on 72 minutes when a Cheltenham free-kick towards the back post was headed across goal and Norton looked to have forced the ball over the line only for Jezeph to cling onto the ball with no goal awarded.
Another flashpoint arose on 81 minutes when Edge beat Charlie Brown to a ball on the halfway line and appeared to be dragged down only for the referee to wave away Church’s appeals.
Waldron hit the post with a sensational effort late on before the final whistle sounded as Church players and fans celebrated together on the pitch at full time to mark the greatest day in the club’s recent history.
There were 74 places between the two clubs in the football pyramid at the start of play with Church the lowest ranked team left in the competition.
