TASKMASTER Chris Cornes revealed Worcester Raiders had “a bit of a rocket at half-time” of the match that sent them top of the table.

Raiders fought back from behind to beat Cradley Town 2-1 at Sixways, Danny Flowers levelling quickly after an early blow before Isaac Cooper was fouled for a converted a penalty 10 minutes from time.

The fourth West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division win on the bounce saw Raiders overtake red-hot favourites Shifnal Town, whose match was postponed at the weekend, at the summit but Cornes admitted there had been flaws in the performance.

“I didn’t think we were at the races and they had a bit of a rocket at half-time,” he said.

“It slowly got better when we changed the formation 20 minutes in, we got a foothold in the game but we could not take anything away from Cradley, they played really well.

“They fought for everything, won a lot of second balls and the fact they probably outfought us a little bit put us on the back foot.

“In the second half, the last 25 minutes especially, I think we deserved to win the game but if we had drawn it I don’t think we could have said too much about it.”

Raiders start a run of three away games in seven days on Wednesday with a trip to second-bottom Smethwick Rangers (7.45), a side that groundshares at Tividale FC and has lost all six league matches to date.

*Pictures courtesy of Will Cheshire Photography