What’s this, a comfortable win? Before today 17 of Worthing 20 National League victories had arrived via that one goal margin. Frightening, really. No supporter should have to go through a campaign that takes you so close to the edge of the seat that you’re practically on the floor. Today was different. Today was a breeze. Today was three points and a return to the top of the league.

So, yes: Saturday, 8 March was a good day. The sun was shining and the shorts were out. 1,500 swelled in to watch this fine showing of attacking football, everyone utterly in tune. It just seemed to get better as the afternoon moved with the setting of the sun. These past seven days, where the Reds have claimed nine points from three matches, might just be the difference. This was the most convincing of the lot.

There were two changes to Tuesday’s side: Joe Partington returned and so too did Odei Sorondo – who was supreme in the midfield. There was, then, a switch from the back three that shaped up rather impressively a few days’ prior. It seemed to work. Liam Nash and Temi Babalola continued their partnership at the top of the pitch. That was also pretty effective, too.

A word on the visitors: Chesham United are a robust, resilient sort of side. This is their first season in the sixth tier, and they’ve acquitted themselves impressively. Perhaps just running out of steam as the sun returns from its winter hiatus, for they arrived on the south coast having won two of their previous 12. They’ll be staying up, though. And so here the shackles were off. But much like their season, they tailed off here.

They began pretty well in their eye-catching yellow and black strip. Questionable may that be, the performance in the shirts was energetic and purposeful. Much like Bath City in midweek, Chesham similarly chased and harried high up the pitch. The Worthing defence again taking risks in their box, but able to worm away from the zesty shirts.

Worthing’s opener arrived somewhat out of the blue. The opening 15 minutes had been a quiet, tetchy sort of affair – indeed much of the match was. Yet the goal came at a good time for Worthing: Sorondo bursting through and fouled, the ball finding its way into the path of Colbran who finished sweetly into the far corner. Exactly where he wanted it. It was a sweet strike, and that just dropped the shoulders a touch around Woodside Road. So many times have visiting opposition struck first. There was a collective calm about the place.

And that continued through to half time. It continued through to the afternoon’s end, too. By the 56th minute it was 3-0, three points. An early goal in the second half was exactly what the home crowd desired. Chris Agutter, too, would have dreamt of the day his side move into a 2-0 lead. 3-0 would be a fairy tale. But the second arrived in silky style: Odei chasing after the ball – as he so often does – and delivering a divine cross to the back post. Nash was there, sprinting in, to crash home the header.

Then it was three. Nicky Wheeler had one of his quieter games on the left side of the pitch, but he’d still collect an assist after setting up Babalola with an equally fine cross. The forward just had to make some sort of connection as it trickled beneath the frame of Ben Goode.

It was cruise control from then on. Babalola was replaced by Mo Faal, who only inflicted further fear into the Chesham backline. Then Sam Packham and Ruben Carvalho entered the pitch, and the latter was irresistible. He’d force a strong save from Goode and almost provide an assist for Colbran. The right-back just couldn’t quite keep the finish inside the frame of the goal.

Chesham didn’t offer much, but they came within the width of Lucas Covolan’s crossbar of ruining a first Worthing clean sheet since January 18. The grateful Covolan was content in seeing Ryan Upward’s effort whack the woodwork as the Reds shut up shot. It didn’t matter. The good vibes were already assured. Arthur Gregory then came on. The ovation for Sorondo was richly deserved.

At the full time whistle there was a strong sense of belief, not relief. This was the perfect performance Agutter was after. And after a quick scan of the table, there is more than one reason to rejoice on this Saturday afternoon.