Using three-dimensional test particle simulations, we investigated electrons accelerated by a focused flat-top laser beam at different intensities and flatness levels of the beam profile before focusing in vacuum. The results show that the presence of sidelobes around the main focal spot of the focused flat-top laser beam influences the optimum (as far as electron acceleration is concerned) initial momentum (and incident angle) of electrons for acceleration. The difference of initial conditions between laser beams with and without sidelobes becomes evident when the laser field is strong enough (a0>10, corresponding to intensities I>1×10^(20) W/cm2 for the laser wavelength λ=1 μm, where a0 is a dimensionless parameter measuring laser intensity). The difference becomes more pronounced at increasing a0. Because of the presence of sidelobes, there exist three typical CAS (capture and acceleration scenario) channels when a0≥30 (corresponding to I>1×10^(21) W/cm2 for λ=1 μm). The energy spread of the outgoing electrons is also discussed in detail.