WORCESTER Raiders began life at Step 5 in impressive fashion as they put five past Fairford Town in their opening Hellenic League Premier match of the season.

Having fell behind inside six minutes, Isaac Cooper equalised immediately before Richard Smith, signed on dual registration terms from Halesowen Town, quickly made it 2-1 after just ten minutes.

Debutants Cameron Walker and Syrus Warren-Paul also scored in the first-half before Sam Carey added a fifth in the last few minutes.

Raiders tore the hosts apart at times, especially in the first-half, and Fairford had no answer to it.

It looked like it could be a rude awakening for newly promoted Raiders early doors as Fairford scored with their first attack after a flowing move down the right.

But it was a matter of seconds before winger Cooper fired home from close range to bring the scores level after eight minutes.

Smith then showed his class with a cheeky chip over the onrushing keeper after a long ball forward to flip the game on its head.

Jade Ferron, another signed on the day for the visitors, was causing endless issues for the Fairford back line and he had three glorious chances of his own to add to the score before Walker swept home after Smith's cut-back to make it 3-1.

The away side were in a rampant mood and they soon had a fourth as left-back Warren-Paul thumped one home after the ball pinged around the box.

Into the second-half, there seemed to be an element of damage limitation for the home side and there were few real chances for either side.

But there was still time for one more as James Timmins pumped a free-kick forward and Sam Carey met it with his head, lopping one into the top corner to give Worcester the perfect start to the season.