WORCESTERSHIRE started the new campaign with a trip to Huntingdonshire with seven of the starting 11 players making their competitive debuts in the Midlands County Youth Championship 4-0 victory.

The County started brightly getting a lot of the early possession.

Debutant Jamie Molyneux caused a few early problems for the home defence forcing a corner as early as the second minute and a minute later he fired inches over from the edge of the area.

The visitors continued to get the better of the early exchanges and, on 15 minutes following two consecutive corners, both Tom Allard and Connor Smith were denied by excellent saves from the home goalkeeper Luke Shipp.

Despite all their early pressure the visitors nearly went behind, Ryan Potts for the home team broke away and with only the goalkeeper to beat he put his shot wide.

The visitors took the lead on 22 minutes when, following good approach play, Molyneux ran clear of the home defence to slide the ball past the goalkeeper.

The same player could have doubled the score two minutes later but, having got around the goalkeeper, he put his shot wide of an empty net.

It came as no surprise when the visitors increased their lead on 39 minutes when, this time, Molyneux made no mistake from close range.

Just before half-time the home team had a chance to reduce the arrears when Potts ran clear of the Worcestershire defence only to put his shot straight at the goalkeeper.

After the interval the visitors continued to control the game and prevented Huntingdonshire from attacking.

On 52 minutes, the County’s Gareth Williams-Howells headed over from a good cross from Bradley Niblett.

Worcestershire continued to pressurise the home defence and on 61 minutes Williams-Howells headed the third goal following a good corner from Tiago Ribeiro.

On 70 minutes, Jamie Schembri had an opportunity to increase the visitors lead but put his shot just over the bar.

However, he made no mistake 10 minutes later when placing his shot wide of the goalkeeper to put the ball just inside the far post.

The home team had an opportunity to get on the scoresheet on 84 minutes but a free-kick from just outside the penalty area was placed wide of the visitors’ goal.

Worcestershire: Joshua Smith, Ben Hayes, Gareth Williams-Howells, Bradley Niblett (Chris Smith 68 mins), Eddy Westbury, Christopher Neilson, Tom Allard, Connor Smith, Jamie Molyneux, James Schembri (Jack Cullity 81 mins), Harry Osborne (Tiago Ribeiro 46mins). Unused subs: Sean Cooke, Oliver Butler.