Goals from a Layne Eadie penalty, a brace from Callum Stead along with second half strikes from Luke Brown and substitute Marcus Gouldbourne sealed an entertaining 5-1 victory for Hitchin Town over ten-man Alvechurch, who notched a consolation through Kieran Cook.

A lively Hitchin side were helped on their way to a comfortable triumph over a depleted Alvechurch, after truculent left-back Zack Foster was sent-off after throwing the ball into the crowd midway through the opening period.

In truth, Mark Burke's Canaries would have won even if their visitors had their full complement, as they took their excellent pre-season form into their first game of the new campaign.

Eadie put the Canaries ahead through a fourth minute spot-kick to give the home side a perfect start to the new season.

Eadie emphatically slotted home his spot-kick to put the Canaries 1-0 ahead after only 240 seconds – even if questions could be asked of whether Alvechurch's keeper Jonathan Brown was slightly too keen to commit himself, allowing the penalty to fly into the middle. Possibly, but Eadie and his teammates cared not a jot as witnessed by their jubilant celebrations in the glorious September sunshine.

The penalty was awarded after Jhai Dhillon was fouled in the box, prompting referee Lewis Morgan to point to the spot. The highly-rated former Stevenage academy prospect was an intelligent presence throughout his many forays deep into Alvechurch territory – complemented, it has to be said, by so many of his maurading teammates throughout a long 90 minutes for the visitors.

The excellent weather made the afternoon feel like a balmy August day. Which was fitting given it was the Canaries opening game of the league season, albeit a month later than in normal years.

Despite the heat, the in-form Stead – who was a lively presence all game – doubled the lead with a clinical back post finish to make it 2-0 after further good work by Dhillion on 22 minutes.

The Alvechurch backline were being run ragged by Mark Burke's all-action Canaries with left-back Zack Foster floundering in particular.

His mood can't have helped after receiving unforgiving 'feedback' from home fans, targeting his travails against an incessant home side.

Eventually Foster snapped during a break in play and lobbed the ball in the general direction of home supporters, giving referee Morgan no option but to issue a straight red card, much to the delight of the Canaries.

Quite simply it was unprofessional behavior from Morgan through his unnecessary involvement with fans, with his indiscipline letting down his teammates, his manager, Alvechurch fans and himself.

Burke's Hitchin were to capitalise, even if the game lost its shape somewhat in the immediate aftermath, punctuated through a spell of shapeless play either side of the interval.

Alvechurch even pulled a goal back through a penalty of their own through Cook after Joe Hull was fouled in the box on 62 minutes.

The visitors' No11 made no mistake by slotting home past Horlock on 62 minutes.

But moments later, just as the away side harboured hopes of an unlikely comeback, the Canaries broke from kick-off.

Stead was the protagonist down the right channel, squaring to Brown who finished calmly to make it 3-1.

Stead then made it 4-1 with a 30 yard effort from the right flank, which, to be fair, did not look like it was premeditated – even if keeper Brown failed to deal with the ball's trajectory, as his cross-cum-shot flew over the busy netminder and into the far corner of the net.

As the clock ticked down Goulbourne made it 5-1 with a smart finish past the increasingly beleaguered Brown to cap a good day for the Canaries, who posted their first opening day win since 2016.