Well, that didn’t go to plan. As the afternoon reached 5pm the referee’s whistle hurled the curtain on this one with Welling celebrating, deservedly, having executed a gameplan to utmost perfection. Few may have expected a side winless in 10 and devoid of any confidence to dismiss the league leaders. Yes, Worthing were not at it today. That much was clear. But credit must go to Welling. They were a force that just kept rolling.

It’s Non-League Day, and from a Worthing persuasion not a particularly cheery one. But what better a setting than the J Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium. The most non-league looking ground with the name to boot. This reporter certainly approves. And with its tight, bobbly pitch, brutalist nature and hostile environment, Welling made this one incredibly hard for a side used to play on an artificial surface. Worthing never looked settled.

Welling are a side tough to beat. Yes, their form and league position suggest otherwise. But at home in particular they never give an opposition side an inch. Constantly in the faces of Worthing, they made life a misery and created an array of opportunities that might have had the opening half even further away from Worthing’s grip. The second half was just pure gamesmanship. Any team down the bottom would do the same.

The opening 15 minutes were frenetic. Worthing were right up against the Welling waves of attack. Sahid Kamara was excellent, constantly a direct threat that made Sam Beard’s head spin. The Worthing backline was up to it. They have been all season. But this was to be no easy task, again. Perhaps the pitch was a leveller, for it was understandably bobbly with Welling sharing this ground with Erith & Belvedere. Either way, Welling were up for this task.

The Reds were pushed back from an early minute. Despite the myriad issues Welling face they can field a team of genuine quality. Striker Scott Kashket has only just exited the EFL after a flurry of successful stints. He was a leader at the top, but his side’s physicality was brutal. There was scarcely a second ball that Worthing won.

They were winning the crosses, though. That is, until the 35th minute. Welling had delivered a barrage of balls into the box throughout the opening half. They just couldn’t get a home head on the end of it. 10 minutes before the referee called a halt on the opening half Welling were ahead. Gene Kennedy ghosted into space, and headed across Lucas Covolan as the ‘keeper had gambled on a near post attempt.

And it was completely deserved. The Wings were a level above, moving the ball quicker and with more intent. There was a belief about them, but this would have been known. They may have been without a win in their previous 10 matches but none of those had they wilted. They were fighting for every ball. Worthing were never able to sustain possession in that opening half.

How would the second half play out? After all, these were three points Worthing could hardly afford to drop. There was a nice moment shortly after the break that was patient, precise and almost restored parity. It was the Worthing way: swift passes and effortless movement where the ball just drifts towards the net with ease. The ball dropped to Nash, but the block forced it just wide. Positive signs that the style and patterns could be implemented after all.

Aarron Racine was on now, joining him was Odei Sorondo. Ruben Carvalho, who had struggled to grow into the game, was off alongside Joe Partington. It wasn’t until midway through the second half that the pendulum began to turn in Worthing’s favour. It had taken time – over an hour in fact – but Agutter’s side were beginning to show signs of fight. Still with the feeling that this just wouldn’t be Worthing’s game.

Within the space of two minutes Temi Babalola had two fine chances to draw the Reds level. They were not simple – the first forced Rhys Lovett into an exquisite save down low to his right. A minute later he was out in a flash to deny the one-on-one after Welling’s defence had parted like the Red Sea.

Suddenly it was 2-0. How, you may ask? The false belief had left Worthing exposed for the hosts to burst through, prey on Sam Packham’s errant pass and present Kennedy with time and space to slot home with the entire goal to aim at. Covolan was a man bewildered. Worthing were a team beaten.

From that moment Welling just did everything in their power to ensure Lovett would not be tested in the host’s goal. They did this to impressive effect, and as time rolled on and the Reds’ frustration began to grow and swell with the passing of the afternoon, the full-time whistle arrived before any darker coloured cards were brandished.

So, defeat. Agutter won’t be pleased about much that he saw on this late March afternoon, but he will be content with the quick turnaround. Tuesday night is a chance for an immediate response. And what of the table? In moments like these it’s important to not let the heads drop too much. Worthing’s last defeat spawned a five-game winning run. Repeat that, and you can guess who’ll be lifting the title in just over a month’s time.