SAM Clark scored a hat-trick as Malvern Town held off a Worcester Raiders fightback to claim a thrilling 4-3 pre-season victory.
After Reece King put the home side ahead at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium, Bailey Fuller drew Raiders level.
However, Clark restored Malvern’s lead before the break and netted twice after the interval to complete his hat-trick.
Raiders responded through Prince Henry and a trialist as Lee Hooper’s side held on to claim a second successive pre-season win against the Step Four side.
Worcester went close early on as a shot flashed inches past the post inside the opening 10 minutes.
And Raiders broke the offside trap soon after as Luke Payne made a crucial clearance from in front of his own goal to keep the scores level.
The home side responded with a chance of their own as Jay Malshanskyj lifted a shot over the goalkeeper but wide of the post.
And Malvern broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when King flicked home a free-kick to put the Hillsiders ahead.
However, Raiders drew level three minutes before half time as Fuller lashed a strike from distance into the net.
The Hillsiders reclaimed the lead in first-half injury time when Clark spotted the Raiders goalkeeper off his line and sent a delightful lob into the net from distance.
And Clark doubled his tally for the game three minutes into the second period with another well-taken strike.
Clark completed his treble on 50 minutes with a simple finish after good work from summer signing Malshanskyj.
Worcester reduced the deficit five minutes later as Henry pounced on a mistake to find the net.
And the visitors scored a third goal on 64 minutes as a Raiders trialist struck following a quick break.
However, the Hillsiders saw a shot tipped over at the other end as Malvern held on to earn a second pre-season win.
Malvern continue their pre-season campaign against Stourbridge on Saturday, July 25 with kick-off at 3pm at the War Memorial Athletic Ground.
