WORCESTERSHIRE marched into the FA County Youth Cup third round for the second successive season with a 5-2 beating of Jersey.

Meeting Jersey for the first time, Worcestershire dominated the early stages at Kidderminster Harriers’ Aggborough Stadium and took a third-minute lead.

Harvey Parkes latched on to Louis Loader’s fine through-ball and fired high into the net past advancing keeper Curtis Hinault.

Chris Seekings and Mason Mansfield went close to doubling the home side’s lead. But, against the run of play, Jersey hauled themselves back on 20 minutes when a swift left-wing counter-attack saw Ruben Pestana equalise with a fine strike.

Jersey began to assert themselves with good passing football and the legs of keeper Lewis Gall prevented Daniel Tardival from putting the visitors ahead.

But Worcestershire regained the lead on 42 minutes when, after a determined run, Seekings crossed low and George Coley gleefully swept the ball into the net.

Due to illness and injury, Worcestershire were forced to make all three substitutions at the interval with Jamie Adams, Dan Holloway and Joe Hanbury replacing Jordan Jones, Josh Sinclair and Coley.

The first chance of the second-half fell to the home side with Seeking’s fierce shot parried by goalkeeper Hinault.

At the other end, home custodian Gall made a great save from Tim De La Haye. Substitute Hanbury’s pace and persistence began to cause Jersey problems as Worcestershire began to regain the initiative.

They forced three successive corners and saw Dan Holloway’s shot blocked on the goal-line.

Another corner saw Worcestershire take a 3-1 lead on 67 minutes with skipper Joe Hull rising high to send a powerful header in off the crossbar from Seeking’s set-piece.

Jersey were far from finished and, after De La Haye hit the bar, they reduced the arrears on 72 minutes when Pestana’s free-kick was deflected past Gall off the heel of Hull.

Straight from the restart, Worcestershire restored their two-goal advantage.

Hanbury and Parkes combined well to put Loader through and he coolly slipped the ball past the keeper. Dominant Worcestershire missed further chances through Parkes and Dan Holloway.

It came as no surprise when a fifth goal arrived in the 86th minute as a defence-splitting Mansfield pass put Dan Holloway clear and he netted with aplomb to round off a good win.

Worcestershire: Gall; Jones (Adams 46), M Holloway, Clarke, Hull, Mansfield, Sinclair (D Holloway 46), Loader, Parkes, Coley (Hanbury 46), Seekings.