On the back of back-to-back National League South wins, Chris Agutter’s side turned their attention to the Isuzu FA Trophy and to a home tie against Gosport Borough of the Southern League Premier South.

Agutter named an unchanged eleven from Tuesday night’s win away at Salisbury and had the luxury of naming two extra substitutes which meant that there was room for Ollie Black and Cooper Renzulli on the bench.

It took both sides a little while to acclimatise to conditions with the blistering winds from Storm Darragh arguably having the biggest impact on the contest in the early stages. The Rebels were not only unchanged in personnel, but unchanged in approach, too, as they dominated possession in a low-key first half.

Despite their dominance on the ball, the Rebels weren’t creating too much by way of chances and it was actually the visitors who had the first effort at goal. Playing out from the back, Alfie Young gave possession away to Samuel Faniyan and he looked to catch Chris Haigh out of position, but the keeper recovered well to make the save.

After a scare at the other end, the Rebels built from back to front to get themselves in front. It was Joel Colbran whose cross from the right that caused chaos in the Gosport penalty area. So much so that Charlie Wassmer, who got there first, could only manage to turn it into his own net to hand Worthing the lead.

On the half-hour mark, Danny Cashman struck the woodwork for Worthing. He had a free kick just outside of the box on the left that he whipped into the near post and it struck the upright and bounced wide.

Before the conclusion of the half, Kane Wills looked to drive an effort goalwards from the edge of the box, but his effort went narrowly wide and Worthing’s one-goal lead remained into the interval.

The visitors started the second half much brighter and had their best opportunity yet on 50 minutes when Samuel Faniyan cut inside from the left and shot with his right foot towards the near post. As Haigh dived towards the far post in anticipation, he did well to make the save with his feet and forced it wide for a corner.

The Rebels had a flurry of chances over the next ten minutes, but all of which were from outside of the penalty box and not too troubling for Charlie Philpot in the Boro goal. Ollie Starkey, Jack Spong, Sam Beard and Cashman all tried their luck in a ten-minute spell on top, but none of them could double their team’s advantage.

This gave life to the visitors and they had a golden chance through their talisman Dan Wooden on 65 minutes. He got in behind and went one-on-one with Haigh, but the Worthing shot-stopper did brilliantly in coming out to make the save.

Ten minutes later, Boro squandered another massive opportunity. Fanyian broke away and got into the penalty area with Asher Yearwood unmarked to his left. Faniyan over hit his square pass to Yearwood, though and the chance had gone.

Looking to shore things up under increasing pressure, Agutter turned to his bench and brought on Glen Rea in place of Harrison Smith.

But, moments later, Haigh was called into action again and had to make a quite remarkable one-handed save to deny Yearwood who was bearing down on goal. Yearwood looked to lift his shot over Haigh and the keeper produced a fantastic reflex save to tip it over the bar.

Agutter made two more defensive changes, with Sam Packham and Ollie Starkey making way for Joe Cook and Ollie Black.

Into added time, the pressure kept mounting. Yearwood went one-on-one once more and Haigh was brave in taking the ball away from his feet. It was kept alive by Faniyan who tried his luck at goal, but Worthing’s defenders combined to collectively clear the ball away off the line!

Faniyan struck the post moments later as they continued to push for the leveller. He shot from a tight angle on the right side of the box and the ball cannoned back off the upright.

Despite their best efforts, the Rebels weren’t able to prevent the inevitable. Haigh was left with a lot to do from Rea’s back pass and Wooden was able to take full advantage, winning the loose ball in a battle with Haigh to give himself an open goal to hammer the ball into to send us to a penalty shootout.

Level after one penalty each, both sides failed to convert their second penalties as Colbran blazed his over, before Wooden saw his saved by Haigh. It was 2-2 after three penalties each and Young was up next for Worthing, but Philpot made the save. Bradley Tarbuck converted the following penalty to give his side the lead.

Temi Babalola then took next knowing that he had to score to keep his side alive, but his penalty rebounded out off the crossbar and Worthing exited the Isuzu FA Trophy.

They turn their attention back to the National League South next week as they welcome St Albans City to the Sussex Transport Community Stadium.