BRAD Birch fired in a debut goal as Worcester Raiders moved level on points with the leaders in West Midlands (Regional) League (WMRL) Premier Division.
Raiders, playing their fifth straight away game of the season while Claines Lane is redeveloped, blitzed Smethwick Rangers 4-0 at The Beeches.
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Hotshot Roland Krol bagged a first-half brace to make it seven goals in five matches with Birch and ex-Stourbridge and Kidderminster Harriers striker Ryan Rowe getting off the mark for the campaign after the interval.
The win sees third-placed Raiders grasping the coattails of Shifnal Town and Bewdley Town at the summit with the leading lights on FA Vase duty this weekend.
Division One Droitwich Spa produced one of the shocks of the FA Vase first qualifying round as Connor Collins and Lewis Phillips scored in a 2-0 win at WMRL Premier outfit Wednesfield.
A penalty from ex-Worcester City striker Mark Danks and a goal from Jamie Clarke saw Stourport Swifts fightback from an early deficit only to get knocked out 3-2 by Boldmere St Michaels.
Swifts will hope to do better away to the same opponents on Monday night in an FA Cup replay.
Tomorrow (Sunday, 3pm), Malvern Town tackle old boss Les Jones and his Pershore Town side at Evesham United’s Jubilee Stadium.
Two goals in four first-half minutes consigned off-colour Bromsgrove Sporting to a 2-0 defeat at home to Banbury United in Southern League Premier Division Central.
Jannai Gordon slotted past keeper Tony Breeden one-on-one just before the half-hour mark at the Victoria Ground with Ngaah Bosio slamming in a gift from 10 yards moments later.
Richard Gregory and Shaquille McDonald went close early in the second half but that promise was not backed up afterwards as Sporting succumbed.
Alvechurch shrugged off a nightmare six-hour journey and having 30 minutes to prepare for a late kick-off to win 2-1 at Leiston.
Josh Ezewele’s fine run and shot and a Harry Knights own goal put Church in command in the first half.
Rhys Hilton scored on his return to the starting line-up in Redditch United’s 1-1 draw at home to AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
In Division One South, Evesham United hit the road to face Southampton-based Sholing tomorrow (Sunday, 3pm).
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Westfields led once and trailed twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Brimscombe & Thrupp in Hellenic League Premier Division.
Sam Gwynne struck after 17 minutes but the hosts levelled pretty much straight from the restart through Edd Major and Kane Kahaki put through his own net moments later.
Chances came and went for Fields with home keeper Ashley Gale in inspired form but he could not prevent Ben Hayes squaring things up with a header 10 minutes before the break.
But having done that hard work, the visitors afforded Jack Smith the space to head in another for Brimscombe in the third minute of added time at the end of the first half.
Aidan Thomas levelled again after the interval but was left frustrated by having two penalty appeals waved away and Fields had to make do with a point that maintains their unbeaten league record.
In National North, Hereford FC drew 0-0 with Boston United in Russell Slade’s first match as manager.
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Kidderminster Harriers lost 1-0 at home to Alfreton Town, a first-half header from Dominic Smith proving the difference in an evenly-matched contest.
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