The U18s kicked off their 2024/25 campaign with a cup encounter at Horsham as they looked to go one better in the competition this season. The sides last faced each other back in April and it was Worthing who were narrow winners that night as goals from Luke Harrison and Evan Hoarty helped the Reds to a 2-1 win.

A much-changed young Rebels side since then, as with the way of development football, took to the field at the Fusion Aviation Community Stadium to get the new campaign underway.

In the early stages, they struggled to get their passing game going and were picked off on a few occasions that led to good chances for the home side. Archie Short made some important saves in the opening 20 minutes to ensure the contest remained goalless.

The Rebels began to find some joy some 20 minutes in when they crafted their first opening. It was Frankie Spitteri who battled hard up top to get in on goal, but the Hornets’ keeper rushed out to meet him before he could get his shot away. Spitteri had another half chance ten minutes later, but his snapshot from outside the area was comfortably saved.

As the heavens opened above Hop Oast before half-time, it was Horsham who had the best chance to break the deadlock. The Hornets picked off a loose pass at the back and drove at goal, but the forward dragged his shot wide of the upright despite being presented with a glorious opportunity one-on-one against Short. That meant that it remained goalless going into the break.

Into the second half, Horsham continued to have their best moments from pressing successfully. Short was called into action again just five minutes in and produced a quite brilliant save to keep the scores level.

Eiri Keskinis and Will O’Brien were introduced on 55 minutes, replacing Archie Stairs and Jed Warner, but the hosts’ dominant spell continued and they eventually broke the deadlock just after the hour mark. After a couple of corners in succession, the Hornets found space on the right flank to deliver the ball back into the area, the cross found Collyer who took a touch before slotting past Short.

Nathan Bowen made his third sub immediately after as Caleb Tiangco replaced Oliver Cowdrey and from there, momentum started to swing in Worthing’s favour as they looked to get back on level terms. Two chances in a matter of minutes came Spitteri’s way but neither troubled Horsham’s no.1.

Captain Danny Jordan had a golden chance on 71 minutes as he was found unmarked at the back post by Arthur Gregory’s floated cross. His header bounced agonisingly wide of the upright.

Keskinis followed five minutes later with a dinked effort towards the back post that might have been intended as a cross, but it evaded everyone and went wide. Then, Gregory floated a corner in from the right two minutes later to Jack Downie whose header was somehow cleared off the line!

A fourth change was made with ten minutes to go as Liam Hill came on to replace Cooper Renzulli before the fifth and final change was made some five minutes later that saw Ollie Vodden make way for Josh Edwards.

Worthing kept piling on the pressure and they eventually got their reward on 89 minutes! O’Brien hammered home from close range after a scramble in the box to salvage a shootout for his side.

Into that shootout, he stepped up first but saw his penalty saved, but it was goalkeeper Archie Short who made himself the hero, making three saves of his own to present Keskinis with a chance to win it – and that he did in style! His penalty rifled into the top right corner to send Worthing into the next round after a brilliant contest at Hop Oast between two fantastic young sides.