SAM Carey’s goal on the stroke of half-time could not inspire a fightback as Worcester Raiders lost 5-1 at league leaders Shifnal Town.
Carey halved a two-goal deficit going into the interval but the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division table-toppers made it seven wins from seven in emphatic fashion.
REPORT, REACTION AND RATINGS | 10-man Heather St John's 2 Worcester City 0
Pershore Town fared far better, winning 3-1 at Smethwick Rangers.
A slick move saw Jordan Hayward start and round off a cutting passage of play by dashing to the right post and tucking in a stylish team goal from an acute angle.
The other two came from Umit Eminoglu free-kicks, both high hanging crosses to the far post that saw Sam Clark score from a scramble two minutes after half-time and Nick Seabourne thump in a header midway through the second half.
Littleton found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-0 defeat at Dudley Town. Hinesh Patel (2), Mitch Lawley and Lewis Taylor-Boyce did the damage.
There were goals galore as Westfields eventually won a penalty shootout 8-7 after a 4-4 draw with Malvern Town in the Hellenic League Challenge Cup.
Malvern led 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 in Hereford but the hosts simply would not lie down.
Matt Turner gave Town a two-goal cushion at the break with a Sam Plane cross flying in to halve the deficit midway through the second half.
That truly kicked it all off with Harry Clark restoring the cushion only for Cameron Peters to hit back once more with Richard Greaves then levelling matters.
Many might have expected the higher-ranked hosts to produce an onslaught from there but Phil Harris then found the net for Malvern from all of 40 yards.
Westfields were not done, though, with Aidan Thomas equalising again, meaning all three home substitutes got on the score sheet.
In Midland Football League Premier Division, Nick MacPherson’s equaliser proved in vain as Stourport Swifts lost 3-1 at South Normanton Athletic.
MacPherson bundled in a rebound from Joe Billingham’s effort in the 57th minutes to cancel out Richard Hanslow’s 37th-minute goal.
However, John Guy and Dylan Garnett provided the goals that sent home Swifts empty handed.
Joe Marsden consigned Bromsgrove Sporting to a 1-0 defeat at home to Needham Market on an afternoon of few openings at the Victoria Ground.
Luke Ingram’s centre was turned in by Marsden to settle the Southern League Premier Division Central clash, punishing the Rouslers for not scoring during a spirited flurry late in the first half.
It was a similar story at Redditch United as Charlie Johnson’s 54th-minute goal saw St Ives Town make off with the spoils 1-0.
Kyle Perry’s penalty in the fifth minute of added time rescued Alvechurch a 1-1 draw with Biggleswade Town at Lye Meadow.
Evesham United’s fine run of form continued with a 1-0 win at Melksham Town in Division One South.
The decider came five minutes in with Jordon Sangha sweeping in at the far post Matt Dodd’s cross which had followed a tidy give and go with Lee Chilton on the halfway line and sprint down the right wing.
In National North, Hereford beat Kettering Town 1-0 but Kidderminster Harriers lost 2-1 at Spennymoor Town.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here