WORCESTER Raiders chairman Kevin Jenkins said he was “over the moon” to see almost 800 fans turn out to welcome Worcester City home.

City marked their first match in Worcester for four years with a 4-0 win over Raiders at a packed-out Claines Lane on Monday night.

A penalty from Dave Reynolds and a close-range header from James Baldwin sent Worcester on their way before Aaron Brett struck twice late on to seal an emphatic victory.

Jenkins insisted the first ever Worcester derby had been a “rip-roaring success”.

“As the chairman of the club I am just over the moon with everything that has happened,” he said.

“All the backroom staff, committee members and other volunteers have all chipped in and we could not have done it without them.

“It was much bigger than what we expected, but I am so happy with the crowd.

“Everybody I spoke to said how well organised it was.

“It was a rip-roaring success.”

The match also saw both clubs secure £1,106.50 which Jenkins described as an “absolutely massive” financially boost for Raiders who play in West Midlands League Division One.

With about 780 supporters watching on, joint manager Martin Stephens said the bumper crowd emphasised how much appetite there was to see exiled City return to Worcester.

“It was nice to see so many people here,” Stephens said.

“Our aim is to help Worcester get back to the city, so to get just under 800 here says a lot.

“LMS Events who have organised it have done a brilliant job and there wasn’t any trouble.

“It was a fantastic occasion and a good game of football as well. It wasn’t dirty and everybody just enjoyed themselves.”

The Blue and Whites have been in exile since leaving St George’s Lane and currently play at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground.

City joint boss Lee Hughes said he was keen to make their friendly with Raiders an annual fixture.

“It was a good test for us,” Hughes added.

“The lads worked their socks off, so it was a nice fitness exercise, but they got it down and played some good football in the end.

“It has been brilliant to see all the supporters turn out, it was a good occasion and hopefully we can do it each year.”