AS far as tests go, the Tigers' trip to Winterton was not exactly up there with the toughest. At 6-0 it was a stroll.
But manager Steve Bruce will have been pleased to see Matty Fryatt get back on the goal trail with a hat-trick in an easy victory.
However, it is the returns of fit-again Sone Aluko and Joe Dudgeon which will have offered him most cheer as both came through over 70 minutes in their first run-outs after Achilles injuries.
Whilst Aluko may not have got on the scoresheet, he did impress as he had a hand in some of City's best first-half attacking play.
From the start, it was obvious there was only going to be one winner as the Tigers stamped their authority on the part-time non-leaguers.
David Meyler's goal inside the first five minutes, a low left-footed drive from 15 yards out, set the tone.
A minute later Fryatt doubled the lead, with a right-footed drive to leave Winterton keeper Craig Turner with no chance.
Turner fared better with a smart save around the post after a neat one-two from Aluko and Fryatt saw the Nigerian have his first real chance. Left-back Bradley Hewitt felled Cameron Stewart to concede a penalty in the 16th minute, but Turner denied Fryatt with a full length dive to his bottom right.
With the hosts clearly struggling to get into the game, and Corry Evans making the Tigers tick from midfield, half chances came and went with regularity as Aluko dragged wide and Evans saw a 20-yard drive saved.
Winterton's only real foray did not come until the 38th minute, but Daniel Hagan's weak shot was never going to trouble Eldin Jakupovic in the City goal as it was dragged well wide.
Fryatt added to his tally with five minutes of the half remaining when blasting into the roof of the net from close range at the back post after Winterton failed to properly clear James Chester's header from a corner.
Impressive Evans, who thrived on the acres of space, ensured the result was never in doubt before half-time, rolling in when put clean through by a neat Fryatt chip over the top.
It was a similar story in the second half as City dominated the exchanges and added a quick-fire goal from a player named by the club as James Armstrong a minute after the restart after a great Meyler throughball caught the defence flat.
Fryatt's hat-trick goal came a couple of minutes later, with great composure allowing him to round Turner and slot home.
Winterton did fare a bit better as the game wore on, but only had a 20-yard drive from Nathan Watson to show for their improved efforts.
Stewart, Meyler and Fryatt all tested the Winterton defence after the break, but were denied by keeper Paddy Shaw.
Hull City: Eldin Jakupovic, Cameron Stewart, Joe Dudgeon, Connor Townsend, James Chester, Abdoulaye Faye, David Meyler, Corry Evans, Matty Fryatt, Sone Aluko, James Armstrong. Subs: Joe Cracknell, Jack Barlow, Paul McElroy, Ben Clappison, Danny Chambers.
Winterton: Craig Turner, James Watson, Robbie Spence, Tom Cocoran, Bradley Hewitt, Robbie Start, Kieren McCaffery, Aaron Raymond, Josh Nodder, Tom Finnigan, Daniel Hagan, Nathan Watson, Paddy Shaw, Daniel Ellerby, Phil Doyle, Jack FInnis, James Coulbeck, Dan Hubbard, Jack Ollsson, Mark McDonagh, Kirk Shrimpton, Grant Percival.
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