Joel Colbran’s first strike of the season and an unfortunate own goal from Nazim Benchaita five minutes from time earned Worthing the three-point prize which had eluded them thus far in the National League Cup.
Adam Hinshelwood shuffled his deck in preparation to face the Cottagers, making a total of seven changes.
Harrison Foulkes returned to the goalmouth for the first time since he stepped out against Wealdstone in late August. Daniel Isichei started his second National League Cup game for the Reds, as did Bailey Smith, Harvey Griffiths, and Emmerson Sutton.
Jordan Young made sure his influence was known a mere three minutes into the match, taking the ball in his stride before cannoning a shot towarda goal upon entering the box. The strike forced a corner due to Dino Kaiser’s reactive save.
It would be Young again to deliver the following dead-ball routine, his low-driven cross finding Joel Colbran perfectly. Playing as a makeshift centre-back for the night, the skipper connected with the ball, flicking it on with his boot and watched on in glee as it nestled in the far corner of Kaiser’s net.
Isichei looked a man committed to impressing those on the touchline, as he created another early opportunity 10 minutes in – his curled shot sailing over the bar.
Referee Adam Merchant brandished his first yellow card of the game minutes later; Nwoko was booked after tussling with Kendall, before another attempt would be squandered as Aguiar watched his rocket of a free-kick explode into the sky in firework-esque fashion.
As the timer ticked over into the 25th minute, Kendall was downed in a position that couldn’t be any closer to the penalty area. Our No.24 then stepped up to take the set-piece, but his attempt flew wide.
Continuing to cause havoc, Isichei would once again find himself in a promising position for a shot on his native left-hand side, but the attempt was blocked.
Young then looked to get back into the action, entering the box in the 34th minute before attempting a spinning shot along the floor which unfortunately fell to the left of Kaiser’s goalpost.
Another opportunity from a set-piece arose as the first half crept on; Aguiar’s free-kick moved as if it were in slow motion to seek out Waller, who leaped above the rest to direct it on target but straight at the ‘keeper.
The youthful Cottagers dug up their best opportunity of the first act just before the curtains closed; luck struck Jose Sani to gifted the striker a golden opportunity, but his shot bounced out for a goal-kick.
As the second 45 began, Isichei continued to look lively with his meandering footwork into the box. On this occasion, the chance left his feet and skewered over the bar once again.
Another Isichei chance would then come and go on the hour mark – his dragged shot trickling across the box and past the right post after Colbran had found him with a cross-field ball.
The returning Foulkes was then called into action soon after, reacting rapidly to palm away Dan Casey’s venomous attempt which came at the goalkeeper at a rapid rate, ensuring his clean sheet was kept intact.
However, any chance of a complete shut-out disappeared in the 71st minute. Sani’s relentless press finally paid off as he found himself in space to glance a header over the line directly from a rebound after Casey’s curler had struck the underside of the crossbar.
Bailey Smith, who had taken on the captain’s responsibilities after Colbran left the field, accelerated down the right flank with six minutes of regular time to play, crossing the ball with precision to Isichei, but the forward failed to convert.
Worthing’s crowning moment arrived bizarrely via the recently introduced Benchaita. Under little pressure, the defender scored against his own team with a powerful header which soared into the back of his teammate’s net, connecting with Cory Adjetey-Brew’s clipped cross to the back post.
With their lead restoed, a final opportunity was placed in Waller’s path, as Harvey Boddy tapped down a gliding Fin Smith ball in injury time. The MK Dons Loanee slashed at it, blasting the ball over and into the netting above the Flooring Products Direct Stand.
The final whistle signalled the end of the Rebels’ first National League Cup venture and handed them three points to lift them to a sweet sixth-placed finish in Group B.
There will now be an 11-day interval before Hinshelwood’s side takes to the pitch against Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park. An opportunity to regroup, prepare, and claim some well-earned rest.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗