The Rebels began their bank holiday weekend double header at Hemel Hempstead Town who had picked up seven points from a possible nine going into the contest.

Chris Agutter, who was serving the last of a three-match touchline ban at The Focus Community Arena, switched things up as Joel Colbran and Jake Hutchinson dropped to the bench in place of Nicky Wheeler and Harrison Smith. New signing Jack Bates was named among the substitutes.

It was a combative start to proceedings at Vauxhall Road where three yellow cards were shown in the first 15 minutes. The first chance came just three minutes in when Kyle Ajayi headed at goal following a corner, but Chris Haigh made a comfortable save.

The Rebels were able to provide a chance for Smith early on, but the Tudors’ defenders recovered well to get in the way to make the block.

From there, the home side proved a threat on the counter-attack and chances fell for Jack Davies, Ricardo German and George Williams before they eventually got the breakthrough on the half hour mark.

Trae Cook-Appiah picked out German with a defence-splitting through ball and the forward converted his third of the season to give his side the lead.

He threatened again in the box a few minutes later, but this time he couldn’t divert his effort on target. The forward was then forced off with an injury after his lively first-half performance.

Danny Cashman had the ball in the back of the net for the Rebels moments before the half time whistle, but the flag was raised for offside and the Rebels had left themselves with work to do going into the second half.

Into the second half, Worthing’s frustrations grew further as the home side continued to impose themselves on the Rebels and slow the game down to suit themselves. First half substitute Alfie Cerulli went close to doubling his side’s advantage ten minutes in as his curled shot with the outside of his right boot went narrowly wide.

The Rebels turned to the bench for the first time on the 57th minute, as Wheeler was replaced by Ollie Starkey and Worthing’s best spell of the match followed. Sam Beard’s shot across the face of goal on the hour mark took a slight deflection that sent it narrowly wide of the far post. The resulting corner was somehow cleared off the line after Cook towered above everyone in the box to head at goal.

Agutter made his second and third changes in quick succession with about 15 minutes left on the clock. First, Jake Hutchinson replaced Harrison Smith, before Beard made way for debutant Bates.

Cashman had a golden chance at the near post with 5 minutes to go but Craig King made himself big to make a superb save. At the other end, Cerulli struck the post for the home side as they looked to settle it!

Into the six minutes of added time, Sydney Ibie went so close at the near post but Haigh managed to keep it out to hand Worthing a lifeline.

Some way, somehow, they found a way through, right at the death! On the edge of the area, Bates laid it into Spong who looked to play a one-two with Glen Rea to get himself in on goal. It fortuitously found its way back to Spong who was in on goal after a number of deflections and he made no mistake in tucking it away past King between the sticks to salvage a point!

The late equaliser means that Worthing maintain their unbeaten start having picked up 5 points from their first three matches.

Next up is a trip to Cornwall to take on Truro City on bank holiday Monday.