Beneath the bright bulbs on a bitter December night, Worthing U18s returned to the top of the Isthmian Youth League South with a convincing victory over neighbours Bognor Regis Town.

This was only Worthing’s fourth league match of the season, yet victory here confirmed their perfect start to the season continued, knocking Eastbourne Borough off the top. And how impressive they were from the very first whistle.

The campaign had begun in Bognor Regis’ Norwood Lane little under two months ago, and the Reds had played with a similar verve and intensity then. Frankie Spitteri’s brace had helped his side to an October 3-1 win, but his goals weren’t required this time as Archie Stairs, Ellis Collier and Dylan Walter all found the net to seal the points.

With just three minutes on the clock Worthing had their first: Ollie Vodden released along the right-hand side of the pitch, he drove into the box and fizzed the ball across goal to the feet of Archie Stairs, who could scarcely miss from a matter of yards out.

The early red pressure was intense. A few minutes into the future Eiri Keskinis was presented the ball with the ‘keeper stranded, helpless. It is never easy to find the target with the angles and the pressure to ponder, and the shot had just a bit too much on it as the ball glided over the crossbar.

The second arrived before the 15-minute mark. A neat exchange on the edge of the box culminates in a clumsy challenge. Ellis Collier walks over, places the ball onto the plastic blades and spies the bottom corner. And he finds it with utter ease. Squeezing it between post and glove, it nestles neatly to double the Rebels’ advantage.

Vodden was relentless in this opening half. Tirelessly romping up and down the right, his crosses into the box were of equal excellence. Arthur Gregory it fell to, hitting first time but denied by an instinctive stop. How the Rebels didn’t find a third before the break few will know.

Walter, who had been kept quiet in the opening half-hour, was unleashed and through on goal after being slipped through by a delicate Keskinis pass. Swiftly he only had the ‘keeper to beat, but the shot was a tad rushed and screamed wide of the woodwork. The ball is recycled, Vodden is in with the angle acute, but the shot is again denied.

With half time approaching Keskinis was released on the left. Striking it true, most in the ground were expecting the net to ripple as it zipped across the face, and away to safety. There’s the half time whistle. One-way traffic, and few signs of slowing.

The second half arrived and so continued the bombardment. Walter’s run was found with an adroit pass into the box, but his low shot was saved by the legs of the goalkeeper. The ball dropped to substitute Liam Hill, but his first touch was a fierce strike. Blocked away by the Bognor backline.

Vodden’s performance in that opening half alone was enough to crown him the player of the match but, in truth, he was equally impressive in the following 45 minutes. He’d deserved a goal but the ‘keeper was there again, standing tall to mop up the shot. The one between the posts had kept his Bognor side in this game, but there was just no way through the defensive wall of Danny Jordan and Oliver Cowdrey.

For as comfortable as the Reds were, the scoreline still remained 2-0 – a dangerous scoreline no matter the previous dominance. Archie Short was yet to be tested when Dylan Walter threw his body in front of a goal bound effort – the forward earning his defensive stripes when his side needed it.

There were signs of a late revival but the Worthing defence remained resolute. They were utterly dominant, and with Vodden and Collier romping along the touchline with their side on attack, they were ultimately too strong for the young Rocks.

The third did finally arrive with 10 minutes of the night remaining. Cooper Renzulli, who had bossed the midfield throughout, threaded the perfect pass into the path of Walter. The goalkeeper cleared but it rebounded of Walter, and zipped into the net. An unfortunate moment for a ‘keeper who was wonderful on the night, but a deserved third for the Reds regardless.

The Reds searched for a fourth – had three efforts wonderfully saved by a Bognor goalkeeper in ridiculous form – but would have to settle for three: goals and points as they soared to the top of the table in terrific style.

Next up: a battle of top two as Eastbourne Borough slide along the coast next Tuesday.