Cook’s early header was quickly cancelled out by Will Hugill inside 20 minutes, before Jordan Young put the home side back in front just before half-time. The Reds kept the upper hand through the final 45 minutes, with their effort helped by a straight card for Halifax substitute Dylan Crowe for denial of the goalscoring opportunity
Several absentees, including international call-ups for Dom Hutchinson and Ashley Nathaniel- George, forced Adam Hinshelwood to shuffle the pack in the Rebels’ search for a third straight National League win.
Razzaq Coleman De-Graft and Joe Cook both returned to the starting eleven having both featured on the bench in the 3-1 win at Hartlepool United last weekend. Newly-acquired QPR loanee, Emmerson Sutton was named amongst the substitutes following his midweek arrival.
Both sides came into the game looking to build on promising recent form, with John McGrath’s Halifax seeking five straight unbeaten in all competitions. It was the Rebels who started on the front foot, however, whose buoyant start produced the opening goal inside seven minutes.
An out-swinging corner delivery from Young invited a swarm of Worthing heads to attack, with Cook rising highest to power past True Grant in the visitors’ net for his first goal of the league campaign.
The early concession breathed life into the Shaymen, with it only taking ten minutes for the Yorkshire outfit to get back on level terms. A passage through the right channel saw Hugill charge into the left side of the Worthing penalty area before setting his sights on goal.
The midfielder’s right-footed strike proved too much for Taylor Seymour to handle, bundling underneath the Reds ‘keeper at his left post.
Despite occasional sloppy play allowing Halifax the chance to spring attacks from deep inside the hosts half, Hinshelwood’s Reds began to reaffirm their foothold on proceedings through the half hour mark.
Breaking into the box from the right flank, excellent skill from Coleman De-Graft created ample space for the winger to fashion a delivery. A powerful cutback from the former Lewes man picked out the run of Adjetey-Brew into the area, however the left-back was unable to keep his effort from sailing over the bar.
With pressure mounting on the Shaymen, Worthing pressure soon turned into a restored lead with the interval fast approaching.
Skipping past one challenge at the edge of the box, Ricky Aguiar shifted the ball along to Adjetey-Brew on the left side of the penalty area.
With the ball initially stuck under his foot, the left-back mustered an effort goalwards which took a slight deflection off the body of Young who had made a run across goal.
The former Torquay forward’s intervention left the away rearguard, including a rooted Grant, powerless to stop the ball from rolling home to put the Reds back ahead with just over five minutes of normal time to play at the end of the first half.
Halifax narrowly avoided déjà vu to begin the second half of action, with Young and Cook almost combining to recreate their early opener.
Once again, a corner from the left foot of Young picked out Cook unmarked, although the centre half’s headed attempt skewed off target.
Besides a handful of penalty appeals, Worthing’s attacking play in the second half yielded minimal results prior to the debut introduction of Sutton off the bench with 30 minutes remaining.
A lofted ball by Seymour deep into Halifax territory was charged down by the former Morecambe loanee 20 yards from goal. With only the ‘keeper to beat should he have controlled the bouncing ball, a challenge from behind by Crowe brought Sutton to ground just outside the box in a central position. Referee Dan Blades showed no hesitation in brandishing a red card.
The Rebels almost made immediate use of their numerical advantage, with Aguiar’s free-kick attempt clipping the top of the crossbar on its way out of play.
With just over two minutes of regulation to play, Coleman De-Graft had two quickfire chances to put the result beyond doubt.
Clever play from Kendall to anticipate a mistake from Max Bardell allowed the former Southend man to drive into the area through the left channel. A square ball across the face of goal reached the run of Coleman De-Graft, who saw consecutive efforts kept out by a sprawling Grant.
The hosts weathered a late Halifax storm to seal a third straight win to climb just three points behind second placed Southend in the table. Adam Hinshelwood and his side head to Yeovil Town during midweek looking to make it six unbeaten in all competitions.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗