Not that it was a runaway success auguring a dramatic cup run to follow. No, the BGB Southern League high-fliers put up a real fight and made AFC Telford Utd work for it all the way.
They sent shockwaves around the New Bucks Head when they grabbed a sixth minute lead, Ollie Burgess converting from a narrow angle to the left of the goal.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man….step forward Terry Fearns.
Out of form for several weeks, confidence low and dropped for the 1-1 draw at Gateshead last week, his presence in the starting line-up raised a few eyebrows in the crowd before the game.
But manager Rob Smith knows his men…and Fearns obliged with a hat trick.
Manager Rob Smith knows what his ace marksman can do though, and his loyalty was rewarded three times over.
He drew his side level on 11 minutes, added a second in the 25th and potted his third just before half time.
That should have ended the game as a contest but Corby once again displayed a determination and tenacity that should stand them well in their promotion bid.
Every successful team also needs a little bit of luck along the way, of course, and Corby got that too as they claimed a goal back just three minutes after the break - a flukey deflection from Telford skipper Stuart Whitehead sending a long range shot into the net.
Almost as if they had been stung into action, the Bucks turned on the pressure. There were corners galore and Fearns nearly bagged his fourth goal and Liam Blakeman had one cleared off the line.
l The Bucks were dealt an away tie on October 11 against either Dulwich Hamlet or Hendon Town in the draw for the next round.
The two Ryman League sides drew 2-2 on Saturday and were meeting in a replay tonight - with boss Rob Smith there to watch them.
Smith admits he knows little about either side, but added: “I’ll do plenty of work on them now. I’ll get down there to see the game and we’ll have whoever wins watched again on Saturday.”
