ADAM Taylor’s goal helped Worcester Raiders reach the next round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win against Ashby Ivanhoe.
Taylor scored the game’s only goal shortly after half time to settle the extra preliminary round tie at the Diary of a Debt Collector Stadium.
The victory means Worcester will travel to local rivals Malvern Town in the preliminary round of the competition on Saturday, August 16.
Worcester went close early on as Taylor raced through only for the Ashby goalkeeper to keep the scores level.
Chances were at a premium at the half-hour mark as Raiders whipped a dangerous cross into the Ashby box with two Raiders attackers unable to make contact with the ball.
With neither side able to break the deadlock, the first half ended goalless.
However, Raiders took the lead on 50 minutes when Taylor fired a low shot through a crowd of bodies from the edge of the penalty area and into the bottom corner.
The home side almost doubled their lead soon after only for the Ashby goalkeeper to make a crucial double save.
Ashby almost drew level late on as Raiders goalkeeper Charlie Emery dove to his right to deny the visitors an equaliser.
Raiders twice went close in the final few minutes as George Parkinson forced a corner from a tight angle from which Carrick Hill headed wide.
The win also means Worcester have retained their record of never exiting the FA Cup as early as the extra preliminary round stage.
