Emmerson Sutton’s first goal in Red put the hosts in the driving seat inside six minutes, but goals from Shakil Nicolaou and a stunning curling effort from Luca Fletcher resulted in the Tractor Boys returning to Suffolk with the victory.
It was a much-changed and attacking line-up named by Adam Hinshelwood, including a maiden start in between the sticks for Reuben Egan, who signed on Dual Registration terms from Basingstoke Town on the weekend.
The offensive eleven paid dividends early on, as the deadlock was broken before the visitors had a chance to settle. So often devastating in transition, the pacy frontline combined to great effect down the left flank.
Daniel Isichei burst towards the by-line and his powerful cross was parried into Sutton’s path by Ipswich goalkeeper George Barrett. Perfectly positioned was the Queens Park Rangers loanee to convert from close-range to put his side in control.
The remainder of the opening exchanges were relatively uneventful, aside from the Reds almost executing a carbon copy of the opener. This time it was Sutton asking the question of the defender as his cross was pushed back into the danger zone by Barrett, but the ball marginally missed Ashley Nathaniel-George’s right boot and was eventually cleared.
Ipswich grew into the contest as the half progressed and started to gain territory further up the field, although Frankie Runham’s free-kick from 25 yards failed to trouble Egan in net.
The woodwork then denied Worthing a second goal following some calamitous defending in the visitors’ backline. Ricky Aguiar’s set-piece from deep was flicked on by the skipper for the night Joe Cook and then kept alive by Dominic Johnson-Fisher. With the ball travelling goalward, Jokubas Mazionis’ attempted clearance was mishit and ended up clipping the post, leaving Barrett stranded but thankful to not to concede again.
Five minutes before the break, another blistering break from Johnson-Fisher and Sutton saw the former expertly feed the latter at the back post with a delicious pass, but Barrett spread himself adeptly to push the scorer of the first’s shot behind for a corner.
Worthing were made to rue their missed opportunities as the opposition restored parity just before the interval. Fletcher attempted to pick out the far corner, but Egan managed to thwart the youngster with a decent stop. However, the Irishman could only push possession into Nicolaou’s path, who composed himself prior to slotting away an equaliser. Honours even heading into the second period to set up an intriguing 45 minutes.
Changes were made during half-time, with Charlie Waller and Harvey Boddy introduced by Hinshelwood. The Rebels crafted chances in pursuit of reclaiming the lead, but Ipswich held firm to keep them at bay. Sutton’s rasping drive from the edge of the box was helped over by Barrett, before Nathaniel-George’s deflected shot bounced comfortably into the shot-stopper’s grasp.
A gilt-edged opportunity fell Johnson-Fisher’s way eight minutes after the restart following more positive play from Sutton, but the number nine couldn’t keep his effort on target as it flew over from a few yards out, albeit from a tight angle.
After weathering the storm, the Tractor Boys surged forwards and it was then their turn to hit the frame of the goal. Looking to double his and his team’s tally for the evening, Nicolaou’s swerving strike crashed off the underside off the crossbar and bounced away with Egan beaten. Seconds later, Charlie Compton found room in the area and saw his shot blocked by Egan’s feet.
That flurry of offensive work was a precursor to what was to come, as Fletcher’s spectacular curler ended up winning the match at Woodside Road. Cutting inside onto his right foot, the teenager unleashed an unstoppable strike that bent into the far corner from range, with Egan rendered helpless. A goal fitting of winning any match, that blow on the hour mark ended up being decisive.
The Reds continued to alter their eleven, with Charley Kendall, Callum Beck and a heartwarming introduction for Matt Burgess ensuing, with the midfielder returning to action after six months sidelined with a serious ankle injury.
Despite the added impetus and a late show of intensity, the Reds were unable to level matters in BN14. Dom Hutchinson came closest with his drilled attempt whistling just wide after taking a slight nick off a defender, with Kendall also having a very late shout for a penalty not only waved away by referee Isaac Searle, but seeing the striker penalised for alleged simulation.
A second defeat in this competition means the Reds are unable to progress into the knockout stages of the competition this season, with a final Group B match at home to Fulham U21s next month still to come. Attention now turns to the Emirates FA Cup, with Worthing travelling to fellow National League side Wealdstone in the Fourth Round Qualifying stage this weekend.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗