Dare to dream? At the end of these 90 or so minutes of thrilling, often hypnotic football in Kent, Chris Agutter’s side moved one step closer to the top with a memorable victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Maidstone United.

This was an excellent game of football. In matches such as these, where the opponents are battling it out with similar dreams of promotion, it often ends in a damp squib. Not this. No, not this at all. Pulsating until the final kick, the fleeting breath, this was another statement victory in a string of fine recent performances.

Maidstone are a side deserving of their league position. Even despite a hesitant start to the season that had some calling for manager George Elokobi’s departure, the winds swiftly blew sharper and with it carried the momentum for recent success. The Stones had lost just once since September 3rd prior to today – an imperious record both on the road and in comforts familiar. So, this was always going to be a fierce battle. Always going to test every mind. And every minute a new challenge.

Prior to kick-off, 11 of Worthing’s 14 victories this season had been decided by just the one goal. That should tell you everything there is to know about the strength of a division that Worthing are now just a better goal difference away from leading. Increase that number to 12. A new day arrived, and a gorgeous one at that. The Kentish sun still offering some of its milky warmth in an opening half that exhibited both side’s excellence and ruthlessness when in control of the ball. Finding the net is rarely a worry.

Agutter has been generally rather pragmatic with his recent approach, typically opting for the frontline combination of Temi Babaloa and Mo Faal. The latter was in, but the former was out in favour of Reuben Carvalho, who was brilliant throughout. He crafted the leveller on 13 minutes, was somehow denied on the line, and never stopped running forward.

With 66 seconds played, Maidstone could have been shown two yellow cards. They possess a physicality that, when combined with their pace and power in attack, can be a nightmare to counter. But Agutter will be particularly dispirited by how his side fell behind after just 5 minutes. Every red shape in the box seemed to just stop as a free-kick was swung in deep to the byline. Aaron Blair, sensing the space, hooked the ball back into the box for Temi Eweka to glance beyond Chris Haigh.

The hosts were able to journey their way through the Worthing defence with ease. Exploit the high line, pick the perfect pass. There was a moment when Sol Wanjau-Smith just ran beyond Joe Partington, beaten in a foot race, before Haigh stood tall to prevent a second. Then the Reds started to breathe and build attacks of their own. These were of a more careful, finely crafted nature. Carvalho started to get involved and he looked to beat his opponent at every opportunity. Soon it was 1-1 – Eweka heading into his own net this time. The cross from Carvalho was just too good to defend.

Danny Cashman – who was deployed behind Faal but just loves to roam and drift across the width of the pitch – was similarly instrumental as the catalyst for so many opportunities in a first half that was largely commandeered by Worthing. Cashman volleyed wide before Nicky Wheeler forced a fine stop from Alexis Andre Jr. The next time the ball was in a six yard box, Joe Cook and Sam Beard were throwing themselves at the ball to stop their side from going behind again. It was breathless, brilliant.

Worthing were efficient in winning the ball back and they’d wrest control of the rest of the half. They even took the lead on 37 minutes: Cashman wriggling his way through a forest of bodies before setting up Faal, who stroked the ball home with his left foot. He’d been thrown a barrage of torment from much of that huge stand behind the goal. He’d played for Maidstone briefly last year. This year he was silencing them. Eweka produced a mesmerising block from Carvalho’s rocket to deny a third, then Cashman placed one wide when he should have scored as the Reds raced into the half full of verve and zest.

Maidstone returned with that similar mentality of driving hard and direct. Worthing had dropped a touch now, and moments of relief for the Reds arrived in the form of counter attacks. The second half felt like 45 minutes of additional time. Worthing reached the 60th minute still in the lead, even with FlashScore twice sending notifications of a Maidstone equaliser. Shaquile Coulthirst rumbled the side netting after Haigh was perhaps a touch fortunate to have won a free-kick following the ball nestling in the net.

Babalola was on now. Faal making way, he had led the line superbly. Instantly Babalola was on the attack, teeing up Wheeler, whose effort was forced wide. The Stones continued to pile on the pressure from all angles. Still the defence stood firm. Since the arrival of Partington, this Worthing backline have been nothing short of superb. Cook has gone up a few levels, Beard displays consistent brilliance and Joel Colbran is just Joel Colbran: all the vibes and qualities of a true Worthing captain.

They were irrepressible here. The whole team were, really, but the defence deserve particular acclaim for just how much pressure they were under in that second half. They made it look routine. Cam Tutt was on the pitch now, so too was Bailey Smith. And with 10 minutes remaining, having setup to defend their trench for almost the entirety of the second half, Smith was released along the right. Closer he moved towards the goal before laying it off to Cashman, but the shot was denied by Ben Brookes on the line.

Into the 90, the nervous nineties. Aaron Blair had the ball at his feet on the edge of the box, looked up, and smacked the post. Collective groans echoed around the Gallagher Stadium. There was a goalmouth scramble that somehow didn’t end up with the ball in the net. But The Stones’ domination wasn’t rewarded. They could find no way through the red wall.

The final whistle blew. Babalola hugged Cashman, the visiting fans jumped up and down as if they’d just witnessed a last minute winner. Someone hurled a red and white scarf at Faal and he couldn’t stop whirling it. The customary Agutter fist bumps and a shower of applause. Yes, this is what it feels like to be right in the mix. Strap in, Reds, for this team is only just getting started.