Three first-half goals gave the Rebels a mountain to climb, which proved too steep to overcome despite battling hard in the second period,
Despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise, it was the visitors who controlled the opening exchanges. Pushing high up the pitch and applying significant pressure, their endeavour yielded numerous chances. Brean Plaku shrugged off the attention of a defender and fed Freddie Kokot, whose curling attempt was blocked by the Eastbourne goalkeeper Myles-Watkins. Minutes later, Queens Park Rangers loanee Harvey Boddy stung the palms of the opposing shot-stopper and Darcey Hinshelwood’s shot sailed over the crossbar from the subsequent corner.
However from the tenth minute onwards, Eastbourne dominated proceedings and physically overwhelmed their West Sussex counterparts. Noah Willard was required to sweep up a searching pass over the top of defence prior to Downey’s header bouncing off the woodwork.
Just past the midway point, the deadlock was broken. A flowing move down the left resulted in the ball being worked to the back post where Kennedy was perfectly placed to tap home from close-range.
The Rebels tried to reply instantly with Plaku’s drilled effort failing to trouble Myles-Watkins and Benji Schmidt’s header looping onto the roof of net.
They were then creators of their own downfall, as a mix-up between Willard and Reg Lee ended catastrophically, with Stubbs profiting and rolling into the empty net.
It was almost two in as many minutes, with Foden hitting the post from an acute angle after finding more joy down the left flank. Breaking up the other end, the visitors worked possession into Laurentiu Sendrea, but the goalkeeper was equal to his slotted attempt.
Eastbourne skipper Kadric then scored a third with aplomb shortly after for Borough to compound the Rebels’ misery.
Following the interval, the side trailing reduced the deficit less than six minutes into the second period. In similar fashion to the Sports’ second, an error in defence presented Boddy with the chance to coolly convert from 12 yards out to give his team a lifeline.
However, Willard was needed to prevent the opposition from restoring their three-goal cushion, as the teenager spread himself adeptly to thwart a dinked shot.
The woodwork was then Worthing’s nemesis, as a sweetly-struck Plaku shot cannoned off the upright after clever footwork from Sendrea.
After wholesale changes from both sides, the match reached a stalemate in the final quarter. There was still time for the hosts to add gloss to the result, as one of their substitutes smashed in a fourth from close quarters – leaving Willard with no chance as Eastbourne prevailed on a fierce contest along the South Coast.
In the dying embers, Worthing substitute Logan Arnold was shown a red card for a strong challenge in the middle of the park – summing up a tough evening for the young side.
A fortnight break for the Rebels will be used as a reset, as they prepare for their Isthmian Youth League Cup tie away to West Sussex rivals Horsham.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗