In what can only be described as a breathless start to the season, the opening four matches had spawned 18 goals – a ridiculous number that showed no sign of slowing under the overcast skies above Hampton & Richmond’s Beveree Stadium.

An unbeaten start abruptly ended in Truro on Bank Holiday Monday, the thirst for a first victory since the opening day of the campaign intensified from the first peep of the referee’s whistle.

Chris Agutter named three changes to the side beaten in Cornwall, and the early signs were one of prominence and credit as his Rebels began the afternoon with urgency and pace.

Yet as Worthing’s quest to strike the netting first extended into the final weekend of August, shadows of a difficult month defensively surfaced as Kristian Campbell funnelled the perfect pass into the path of Bunmi Babajide, splitting the backline wide open.

The angle was acute, as the shot was slapped wide via a deflection. With 20 minutes played the Rebels’ resistance was broken. Receiving the ball in a crowded area, beset by a swarm of blue shirts, Campbell was still able to find the grace to find the net by drilling the ball through a forest of bodies.

Messy to the many eyes, Worthing’s search to score first now moves into the month of September. But Agutter’s side threatened with chances of their own. Finding success through the mighty throw-ins of Ollie Black, the host’s defence appeared a touch bewildered by the distance as Tommy Willard came close to latching onto one in the box, but he was outmuscled at the pivotal moment.

Perhaps a touch harsh to fall a goal behind, the goal had breathed a new life into the hosts as Chris Haigh produced a fine save to deny a second, springing to his right as James Roberts spied the far corner.

Within the blink of an eye, Worthing had found a leveller. This was them at their most fluid best. Commencing from their own box, Jack Spong collected the ball in a pocket of space, turned, and burst forward.

From that moment, there was simply no stopping this beautiful team move that linked Sam Beard, Temi Babalola and, the goalscorer Danny Cashman. With the back sprayed out to Beard on the right-hand side of the pitch, a delicious, snaking thing finds Babalola in the box who, after an intelligent lay off, releases Cashman in space to pick his spot, and he finds it with complete aplomb.

Chances continued to arrive at both ends as the referee brandished a panoply of yellow cards – first to Kane Wills for a late challenge, then to Cashman. Though, as the interval beckoned, it was the hosts who finished the stronger of the two sides.

Beard, who was excellent throughout the afternoon, turned behind a teasing cross for a corner that allowed Roberts to rise highest from, but his effort from close-range was palmed away to safety.

Worthing, wishing for a whistle, would soon hear the one they were looking for. A half of football that saw opportunities missed and chances taken, but one that held a barrel of hope from a visiting perspective as the players returned under the bright white floodlights.

Just three minutes had been played following the game’s resumption when the Worthing supporters would be cavorting behind the goal. A deft pass played into Tommy Willard opened up space for a shot that was spanked viciously at Ted Curd in the host’s net, but the power beat the glove as it bounces over the chalked white line.

This opening 15 minute period of the second half would prove the story of the day. For just moments later the Beavers were level. Alfie Williams was presented with the freedom of the left-hand side of the pitch to advance deep behind enemy lines before laying it off into the path of Jake Gray.

On the run, his first time cross was swept coolly home by the onrushing Bunmi Babajide, who made little mistake from a matter of yards out, but there was more to this script than a mere draw.

Worthing had fought bravely throughout, and Glen Rea’s thunderous header from 7 yards out that bulged the net was the final nail in the Beavers’ coffin. A delicate, clipped corner from Spong landed straight onto the head of Rea who made little mistake for his first in Worthing colours.

Caught your breath? As the minutes faded into the dull sky, the pendulum swung back into the Beavers’ favour as Haigh was on hand to expertly tip Robert’s dipping, fizzing shot over the crossbar, and away to safety. Agutter looked to his bench behind.

Reinforcements were required. On came debutant Sam Packham, then Harrison Smith joined the fray ahead of Jack Bates. The squad was strengthened, and it needed to be to resist the host’s increasing waves of attack.

And, to inject the obligatory dose of anxiety, Glen Rea was shown a second yellow card minutes before the end for trying to eke out a few more seconds. Hampton & Richmond piled on the late pressure, pinning the Rebels back deep inside their half.

The height of the aptly named Alex Wall instilled further fear into a Rebels’ backline that had worked tirelessly in tandem throughout. If there was any room for a few extra heart beats, then those were dialled up just moments before the end.

Mauro Vilhete is presented with the glorious opportunity of snatching a late leveller as he has time and space in the box, but he couldn’t quite thread the needle as a brilliant block is made to deny a certain goal.

And as the clock struck 16.59 the final peep from the referee’s whistle was heard. A chorus of exuberant Rebels behind the goal, the buoyant band of blue are there applauding, lauding their supporters who had backed them not just from the first minute of this afternoon, but from the outset of the season.

There have been times on the road in this testing, gruelling start to the league campaign where Worthing have played some simply sumptuous football.

The results haven’t always reflected the quality on display but, under the sheet grey sky above, Worthing produced their most complete performance of the season. Strap in, it’s going to be quite the ride.