Worcester Raiders remain unbeaten this pre-season following Friday night’s 3-1 victory over local rivals Evesham United in front of 150 fans at Sixways.

A brace from Rich Smith either side of half-time and a 30-yard stunner from substitute Ash Parsons in the closing stages of the contest kept the feel-good factor going at Sixways.

Matt Gwynne, Raiders’ shot-stopper also played a key role with a flurry of impressive saves keeping his side in the game at crucial times. Gwynne, who was in fine form during Tuesday’s win on the road at Hereford, made two top-class saves in quick succession just after the half hour mark to deny Evesham the opening goal. His first save was the pick of the two, thwarting a piledriver from just outside the six-yard box before the ball was cleared to safety.

Moments later Gwynne saved with his legs David De Gea style, with Evesham made to rue these missed opportunities when clinical striker Smith put Raiders ahead just before the break. Smith, a nuisance to Evesham’s defence throughout the night, nodded home from close range after defender Jordan Stoddart headed brother Logan’s deep cross to the far post.

Raiders tweaked a few things at the break and came out for the second half all guns blazing, Smith bagging his second goal of the evening within minutes of the restart when he latched on to Jordan Stoddart’s long hanging free-kick to calmly prod home to make it 2-0.

Evesham to their credit hit back immediately, taking advantage of a Raiders defensive mix-up to reduce the deficit to 2-1. However, Raiders kept their composure and weathered a period of sustained pressure to keep their lead intact going into the dying embers of the game.

Gwynne came to Raiders’ rescue with a sublime save to his left and then talisman Jordan Stoddart underlined his bravery by diverting a curling free kick over the bar as the hosts pulled through unscathed.

With the full-time whistle looming, substitute Parsons made it a night to remember for the Raiders fans with a 30-yard strike into the top corner of the net. The attacker, who looked lively when he came on at home to Tividale last week, was hungry to the second ball before smashing the ball into the top corner.

“We were a bit slow to start with and then the lads had a bit of a rocket up them at half-time and we changed a few things,” said Raiders joint manager Chris Cornes.

“Rich’s goals were really good and he worked so hard – I’ve been questioning his work rate the last couple of weeks, but he’s made me eat my words a little bit tonight.

“To get two goals like that is just reward for him and then the goal from Ash was something else.”

Worcester Raiders | 1 Matt Gwynne, 2 Logan Stoddart, 3 Martin Newman, 4 Sam Lester, 5 Jordan Stoddart, 6 Sam Parmenter, 7 Zaq Hussein, 8 Ellis Stubbins, 9 Isaac Cooper, 10 Rich Smith, 11 James Baldwin

Subs | Joe Gilbert, Trialist, Dan Flowers, Darren Critcher, Ash Parsons