So, that happened. On a bitter December night, the young Reds continued their perfect start to the campaign with a blistering 7-2 victory over Eastbourne Borough U18s.

Stuart Evans’ side had soared to the top of the table following last Tuesday’s convincing win over Bognor Regis Town, and they would be making it five wins from five in the league with a stellar showing beneath the bright bulbs.

It actually started a tad quietly at both ends, but with 12 minutes played Worthing started to raise the tempo. Walter combined cutely with Eiri Keskinis to feed Ollie Vodden along the right, but the dinked cross just about evaded the onrushing Red, before Keskinis blazed over the bar.

Patient play almost rewarded the Reds — shifting the ball from side-to-side with intent and speed — as Vodden again slipped in along the right. The angle is acute, and the shot is blocked. But it’s the first attempt of the night, and those opening 20 minutes, although attritional, showed genuine signs of superiority.

The opener arrived in the 27th minute. The Reds hadn’t been bombarding the Borough box, but they had been playing with a fluidity and a mindset that matched the scoreline. It was the delivery into the box that was pure perfection: Cooper Renzulli almost forced out of play, but able to find the composure to send a left-footed cross straight onto the head of Walter, who made little mistake from a matter of yards.

But Borough bounced back. For 34 minutes they had scarcely stepped into Archie Short’s box, yet they were level just seven minutes after going behind. It arrived from a free-kick. Set pieces haven’t caused the Worthing defence too many problems of late, but this one had pretty much everything. So much, in fact, that Reece Saks could only turn it toward goal, beyond the arms of the unexpectant Short.

At the other end Worthing were spying an immediate riposte. Arthur Gregory and Renzulli were proving useful on the left-side of the Worthing formation, and the former found Walter in time and space in the box, but the low effort destined to nestle was blocked away on the line.

It didn’t take long for the visiting resistance to be broken for a second time. With time running down towards the interval, the temperature dropping ever-closer towards freezing, the second arrived through the one wearing the armband.

It wasn’t the prettiest, but the result is the same: a melee in the box isn’t dealt with, and Jordan found just enough space to force the ball over the line. The whistle blows, everyone looks to the referee, and the arm is pointed to the centre circle. There’s the half. 45 minutes from continuing that perfect record.

And yet, it would only take 15 minutes for the Reds to be completely out of sight. With 55 minutes played it was still 2-1. In the 58th minute, it was 5-1. Worthing had been relentless. Borough had been obliterated. First, it was Ellis Collier who latched onto the end of a deep cross into the box, heading down and over the rooted goalkeeper.

Then, the museum piece. Will O’Brien is about 25 yards out with the ball at his feet. A little look up, and he spots the top-left corner. He finds it with the sweetest of strikes. But it was a goal he deserved, for throughout he was ravenous in the opposing half: linking the play, playing the perfect pass.

The fifth arrived a minute later and Borough were utterly depleted. Keskinis earned his place on the coveted scoresheet, heading home from close-range to complete the rampage. There was no question that the exquisite record wasn’t stretching deeper into December. Now it was time to climb back down the gears, and see this one out with ease.

They didn’t seem to listen. Instead, they hunted more. Worthing continued to build attacks, eye a sixth, then seventh. They even conceded through a quite wonderful strike from range, but Walter’s late finishes embellished an already memorable night for his side. He’d be leaving with the match ball, too.

Things are looking rather rosy in the red camp of Worthing, and a chance to further extend their lead at the top in seven days’ time, as Horsham comes to town.