Worthing 3
(Dolaghan 32′, De-Graft 57′, Moulton 81′)
United 1
(Worthington 85′)
There was more disappointment in Sussex for United, as Worthing ran out winners on Tuesday evening.
Bradley Dolaghan’s opener came largely against the run of play, but when Coleman De-Graft doubled that advantage after the break, there was sadly no way back for The Gulls, as late goals for Worthing’s Remerio Moulton and United’s Matt Worthington failed to alter the destination of the points.
Following the 4-2 reverse at Eastbourne on Saturday, boss Paul Wotton made two changes to the starting eleven, with Ed Palmer and Dylan Morgan replacing Ed James and Dan Hayfield.
United began the game well, and bossed the early stages.
Morgan and Louis Dennis went within touching distance of opening the scoring, and with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton’s trickery often too much for the hosts to handle, it seemed like only a matter of time when United would open the scoring.
However, shortly after James Hamon reacted smartly to repel a rare Worthing attack, the home side capitalised on a mistake from United’s No.1 to take the lead.
Hamon, eager to play out from the back, saw his goal kick intercepted by Dolaghan just outside the box, and left the prolific Worthing marksman to slot home from 15 yards.
Wotton’s men responded well, but were still left facing a deficit at the break.
Once things got back underway, once again it was Torquay in the ascendancy.
Dennis’ tumble inside the box – without reward – was perhaps a further illustration of United’s growing frustration, before things got worse in the 57th minute.
With Sam Dreyer’s departure due to injury forcing an extensive reshuffle at the back, an attack down the left flank caught Wotton’s side out, with De-Graft on hand to slot home from eight yards.
Substitutes Hayfield and Cody Cooke both went close to providing a lifeline, but when Worthing scored again with nine minutes left, it effectively sealed United’s fate.
This time it was Moulton who got on the scoresheet, as the Rebels man cut inside the box before firing inside the near-post.
Worthington’s late 20-yarder, from a half-cleared free-kick was merely a consolation when Torquay’s efforts finally brought a breakthrough on 85 minutes.
Next up, a return home as Chelmsford become the first of 6 visitors to Plainmoor during the course of the next four weeks.
There will be plenty more twists and turns before the season is out, but for now, United have no option but to dust themselves down and go again.
WORTHING: 15. Josh Jeffries, 2. Joel Colbran (C), 5. Joe Cook, 7. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, 10. Jack Spong (18. Toby Byron, 81′), 12. Harry Ransom, 14. George Cox (27. Ollie Godziemski, 88′), 21. Bradley Dolaghan, 23. Jack Young, 24. Teddy Jenks (11. Shiloh Remy, 87′), 25. Remerio Moulton (8. Odei Martin-Sorondo, 81′).
SUBS NOT USED: 6. Ben Jackson, 9. Daniel Nkrumah, 13. Taylor Seymour (GK).
Yellow Card: Colbran 68′, Remy 90+4′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston, 5. Sam Dreyer (C) (20. Dan Hayfield, 46′), 6. Munashe Sundire, 7. Louis Dennis (9. Cody Cooke, 65′), 11. Dylan Morgan (27. Matt Jay, 65′), 16. Ed Palmer,18. Matt Worthington, 23. Kieran Wilson (17. Sonny Fish, 79′), 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 26. Jordan Thomas
SUBS NOT USED: 21. Adam Seedhouse-Evans (GK).
Attendance: 2,094
