Worthing 4
(Fage 22′, Cashman 27′, 88′ Pearce 41′)
United 2
(Lapslie 11′, Archer 66′)
United left West Sussex empty-handed, as Worthing ran out 4-2 winners at Woodside Road on Saturday.
The Recalled Tom Lapslie gave United the lead, however Worthing responded strongly, and were ahead at the break thanks to goals from Dylan Fage, Danny Cashman and Ollie Pearce. Ethon Archer’s second-half effort pulled his side back into proceedings, before Cashman’s late clincher sealed the three points for the hosts, with Dean Moxey’s late red card only adding to the disappointment.
The Gaffer made two changes to the starting line-up that secured a 1-1 draw at Chippenham on Tuesday, with Archie Harris and Asa Hall replaced by Dan Martin and Lapslie.
United couldn’t have wished for a better start, as they took the lead on 11 minutes.
A break down the left saw Brad Ash lay the ball onto a plate for Lapslie six yards out, with The Gulls midfielder happy to poke the ball past Jefferies to make it 1-0.
Sadly though, the lead lasted just over ten minutes.
With debutant Fage finding himself in space on the right of the 18-yard box, his low diagonal shot found the back of the net, despite Halstead getting a hand to it.
Things got decidedly worse just short of the half-hour.
As Reuben Livesey-Austin’s shot from 22 yards headed towards the top corner, Halstead dived to keep the ball out, and although he succeeded with that, an awkward landing left the ball on a plate for the unmarked Cashman to head home from point-blank range.
Halstead tried to resume, but ultimately he couldn’t, and United’s injury woe continued, as Marshall followed him shortly after.
Prior to that though, Johnson’s men were 3-1 down.
Martin had already come up with a brave and miraculous goal-line block to keep out Fage’s point blank effort, before Worthing primary goal threat struck.
It was the league’s leading scorer Pearce that did the damage, running into the area before firing home low past Lovett to make it 3-1 at the break.
United had to make sure they struck next, but there were chances for both sides following the restart.
In the 59th minute, Lapslie nearly marked his return to full action with a second goal, however this time he was unable to lift the ball over the advancing Jefferies as he darted into the penalty area.
Moments later, and substitute goalkeeper Rhys Lovett produced a marvellous denial to prevent Pearce profiting again in a one-on-one situation, before The Gulls hit back in style on 66 minutes.
Archer, cutting in from the left, looked up and took a touch before unleashing a superb effort from 22 yards that beat Jefferies all ends up, and soared into the roof of the net.
Game on, and minutes later came arguably the game’s turning point.
With Ash making a nuisance of himself inside the box, Alfie Young’s rash challenge appeared to involve little of the ball – at least initially – prompting extended appeals for a penalty.
The referee though, waved the protests away.
Frustrations at the injustice prompted a flurry of yellow cards – mainly in United’s direction, before further salt was added to the wounds with three minutes left, as Moxey received a second yellow card, followed by a red, prompting The Gulls’ skipper to leave the field early.
With Johnson’s remaining men left with no choice but to attack, gaps began to appear at the back, and in the penultimate minute of normal time, Worthing sealed the win with their fourth goal.
Former Gull Joe Felix found space on the right wing, and with his cross finding Cashman unmarked at the back post, his confident finish was fired across goal to seal Torquay’s fate.
Next up for United is a return at Plainmoor, as their strong home record will be tested by St Albans on Community Day.
WORTHING FC: 1. Josh Jefferies, 2. Joel Colbran (c), 8. Michael Klass, 10. Ollie Pearce, 15. Reuben Livesey-Austin (3. Cameron Tutt, 66′), 19. Finlay Chadwick (9. Jake Robinson, 80′), 20. Jack Wadham, 22. Dylan Fage (18. Ollie Starkey, 85′), 23. Joe Felix, 27. Alfie Young, 28. Danny Cashman.
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Roco Rees, , 26. Bradley Dolaghan.
Yellow Card: Cashman,
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead ( 22. Rhys Lovett, 36′), 3. Dan Martin, 4. Tom Lapslie (10. Lewis Collins, 82′), 6. Ross Marshall (15. Finley Craske, 45+1′), 11. Brad Ash, 14. Brett McGavin, 17. Dillon De Silva, 18. Will Jenkins Davies, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 30. Ethon Archer.
SUBS NOT USED: 8. Asa Hall, 26. Archie Harris.
Yellow Card: De Silva, Lapslie, McGavin, Jenkins Davies, Tomlinson.
Yellow Card / Red Card: Moxey
Attendance: 2,267