Adam Hinshelwood opted to split his squad into two separate elevens, to accommodate the possibility of every player gaining meaningful minutes in the tank. After his arrival was announced the previous evening, former Dorking Wanderers goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes was deployed in between the sticks from the off, while fellow summer signings Dom Hutchinson and Ashley Nathaniel-George were included in forward areas.
The opening exchanges at the Badgers Hill Stadium was punctuated by lethargy for the travelling Reds, which allowed their Southern League Premier South counterparts to profit.
Within the opening 20 seconds, Josh Owers occupied acres of space on the edge of the area and curled a dangerous looking effort towards the frame of debutant Foulkes’ goal – fortunately falling just wide of the post. Almost instantly, the imposing Archie Ferris was found at the back post by Zak Drew, with Worthing’s blushes spared once more by an inaccurate volleyed finish over the crossbar.
Caution wasn’t exercised by the visitors and Frome denied Foulkes from registering a debut clean sheet with only 100 seconds on the clock. Another threatening delivery from the right caused issues for the defence and travelled all the way through to Ferris at the back post, who had the simple task of slotting home from close-range.
Falling behind ignited a response from the National League South champions as they surged forwards in pursuit of parity.
Picking up pockets of space, Hutchinson was instrumental in ensuring the Reds preserved the pressure in the final third, with multiple intricate flicks and tricks.
It would be the former Wealdstone man that conjured up a moment of individual brilliance to take the scores level inside a quarter of an hour. After being tripped 20 yards from goal, the summer recruit curled the subsequent free-kick around a four-player Frome wall and into the back of the net, with the Robins goalkeeper Kyle Phillips rooted to the spot.
Hutchinson came close to doubling his tally minutes later after a precise interchange with Teddy Jenks, but this time his swerving strike was gathered by the opposing shot-stopper.
For Frome, striker David Duru was proving a handful for the Worthing backline, as he occupied the attention of captain Harry Ransom and central defensive partner Joe Cook.
Midway through the first period, the forward beat Ransom to a loose ball and attempted to chip Foulkes, with the 25-year-old caught short while trying to sweep clear the danger. Everyone of a Worthing persuasion watched on as the ball landed onto the roof of the net.
Hinshelwood’s men dominated the remainder of the first period, although couldn’t convert their superiority in possession into a second goal. Jenks’ came close to picking out Hutchinson in the middle, while Nathaniel-George’s curling shot was always rising.
The Rebels commenced the second half with more vigour and poise than their opponents, with eight changes made at the interval. Sam Packham, Ransom and Cook were the trio to retain their place in the eleven, as the likes of Brad Dolaghan, Joel Colbran and Razzaq Coleman De-Graft were brought on.
A flurry of chances ensued. Ollie Godziemski fizzed a rasping effort wide, George Cox’s clipped cross went unmet and Dolaghan’s drive from distance was dealt with by Phillips.
The Frome goal continued to be bombarded, yet a second goal was proving elusive. Cox fired over and the lively Godziemski’s weak-footed effort lacked the power to truly trouble the goalkeeper.
Proceedings faded into obscurity as the match progressed, with both sides making decisive substitutions. For Worthing, it was a chance to present an opportunity to youth prospects to collaborate with the first-team, with talents Will O’Brien, Fin Smith and Callum Beck entering the fray.
The fifth-tier outfit asked questions of the Frome defence, but a combination of poor pitch conditions and a lack of synergy thwarted any chance of a winner.
Down the other end, Danny Greaves’ side barely tested Taylor Seymour, with a speculative free-kick from an acute angle the only time ‘The Sussex Cat’ was called into action.
Full-time was welcomed by both sets of players in the sweltering Somerset heat. The Reds are back in action on Tuesday night, as they play at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium for the first time since winning the league title, welcoming a Queens Park Rangers U21s outfit to West Sussex.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗