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- Full-time: Raiders 0 Alvechurch 5
- WORCESTER Raiders endured a chastening afternoon as they were outclassed by Alvechurch in their 5-0 defeat in the opening fixture of the 'Red Recruitment Trophy' on Saturday afternoon.
- Raiders were always going to find it difficult against higher level opposition, Church play in the Southern League Premier Division Central, three steps above Raiders, and their quality shone through.
- Church forward Tyrell Hamilton was the standout performer with a hat-trick and it could have been a lot worse had it not been for Raiders' keeper Matt Gwynne, who made a number of saves.
- Worcester had started well and went toe-to-toe with Church but after half an hour the away side took control and scored the opener as Hamilton bundled a rebound over the line after Sam McLintock's goal bound strike found the striker at the back post.
- Five minutes before the break Church doubled their lead after Hamilton's deflected shot looped over Gwynne following Logan Stoddart's attempted block.
- The second period started in the worst possible fashion when new centre-half signing Harrison Yates misjudged a long ball over the top and Church midfielder McLintock took full advantage to lob the ball over Gwynne for the third goal of the afternoon.
- It was a difficult 40 minutes thereafter as Church turned the screw and scored again through defender Joe Hull's back-post header after a pin-point cross from the impressive McLintock.
- With fourteen minutes left Hamilton got his hat-trick as substitute Kevin Monteiro beat the offside trap and unselfishly passed to Hamilton for a tap in.
- James Baldwin came on and offered some energy on the left-hand side and he forced the Church keeper into a save in the closing stages but Raiders struggled to create anything clear cut throughout and they were well beaten on the day.
- Raiders: Gwynne; L Stoddart, Flowers, Stubbins, Yates, J Stoddart, Lester, Belmonte, Hart, Cooper, Molloy.
- Subs: Hussain, Baldwin, Marsh, Carey, Gaffney.
- Church: Sargeant; Walker, Sephton, Barkers, Hull, Willets, Bellis, McLintock, Spray, Cook, Hamilton.
- Subs: Endall, Birch Botfield, Monteiro, Taylor.
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