Both sides came into the fixture looking to put an end to their recent poor form. The Reds had lost three straight league fixtures for the first time since 2019 while The Hamlet were winless in eight and had picked up just a single point from the possible 24.

Dan Bowry, James Beresford, Josh Chambers and Reece Meekums all returned to the Rebels’ starting eleven as they looked to get back to winning ways. Defender Cameron Tutt was named amongst the substitutes after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The Rebels started brightly and took an early lead after Meekums linked up with Ollie Pearce down the right-hand side. The latter delivered as glorious cross straight to the unmarked Chambers who headed into the bottom left corner.

The trio threatened again soon after when Chambers broke the line with a lovely bit of skill before using Pearce to switch play to Meekums on the right. He cut inside onto his left foot but fired just over.

On 27 minutes, Chambers was fouled by Frankie Raymond in the area with his back to goal and the referee pointed to the spot. Pearce stepped up and sent James Holden the wrong way as he rolled his penalty into the bottom right corner for two-nil.

The lively Chambers played through Lewis White some ten minutes later, providing him with a big chance to get a third but White stumbled as he hit it and scuffed wide.

The visitors made their first real chance on 40 minutes when Dominic Odusanya was played through. He fired at goal, but Male saved low to his left.

Straight up the other end and Meekums made it three for the Reds. Chambers was again at the heart of it as he danced past tackles before feeding through Meekums who slotted in under the keeper’s leg to give the Reds complete control at the break.

It was a quiet start to the second half, and it took some 15 minutes for either side to create a real chance. But, when the chance did come, it was a big one. The ball fell to the unmarked George Porter at the far post, but Joe Rye denied him with a fantastic block on the line.

Soon after, the Reds made the Hamlet pay by grabbing their fourth. Colbran headed at goal and the keeper failed to deal with it, with Meekums in his way and making a nuisance of himself. That left Colbran an empty net and he poked home.

It was nearly five a minute later when White played a reverse pass through to Pearce, but the forward was tackled as he was lining up his shot.

On 66 minutes, Hinshelwood made his first changes, replacing Danny Barker and White with Davide Rodari and Liam Vincent.

Soon after, the Rebels were confidently strutting their stuff. A move which started from defence ended with Kane Wills playing through Meekums one-on-one. The winger did everything right until the finish, which he dragged just wide.

Meekums did get his second on 74 minutes. Wills’ quick thinking from a corner kick saw him play a low ball into Chambers whose shot fell straight into the path of Meekums who comfortably fired in for five-nil.

Five minutes later, Hinshelwood made his final change replacing Beresford with Ibby Akanbi.

There was a big appeal for a second penalty soon after when Pearce went down in the box. But the referee blew his whistle and signalled a Dulwich free kick before booking Pearce for simulation.

Pearce capped off the victory in outrageous fashion soon after though, as he audaciously lobbed the keeper from a tight angle on the right-hand side of the box. What a way it was to not only finish proceedings on the night, but to also bag his 100th Worthing goal.

The Rebels will be pleased to have put the run of defeats behind them with a comprehensive victory this evening – a result which helps the Reds climb up to 5th in the league table.

Worthing are back at Woodside this Saturday as they welcome an in-form Hungerford side.