Ok, how do i play this game

I can beat moderate computer but hard keeps crushing me. I can get to classical maybe like 30 seconds before them but then after that their score is higher and they just send raids. I try to build a building for fighting units immediately after advancing but it's never fast enough. By the time I get a few fighting units, they have reached my base and are harassing my villagers.

Then after that, it just continues and my economy just lags further and further behind, and I never get a chance to strike back.

I feel like I'm supposed to be raiding or something first, but I can't get to classical much faster than them. Also I don't understand how they have so many more villagers AND soldiers, when I already autoqueue villagers. And the thing is that usually my economy starts out ahead of theirs anyways, but they just manage to get more soldiers.

Any basic tips? I feel like I'm losing my mind

(always loved this game but used lots of cheats so I never learned to ACTUALLY play)