Pure drama, this. Woodside Road was a cauldron-ish sort of place prior to kick-off. How many months has this one been circled on the calendar? Spoken about in the pubs? An occasion that carried, in its entirety, a play-off vibe. An edgy, tense affair; Worthing were the better side for large swathes of this one. As 5pm approached they had lost this one, and the narrative of the season had changed, again, within just 90 minutes of football.
Truro City are an excellent, fluid team. Victory here lifted them to the top of National League South. They rarely lose games, but the three they have this calendar year have all arrived on the road. They weren’t at their best here, but they had all the hallmarks of a successful side. It was an ugly win that featured even uglier goals. But they were effective, and they had the perfect start.
It was the first time the ball had been played into any side’s box, and Truro would be wheeling away in delight. How did this end up in the back of Lucas Covolan’s net? The visitors, who had journeyed long from distant Cornwall, had three chances here, and the goal was the least likely of which to end up giving Truro the lead. Will Dean’s volley slamming into the ground, bouncing between Joel Colbran and Covolan before nestling in. A breakdown in communication, and a costly, devastating early blow.
The Reds needed a reaction. Chris Agutter needed a reaction. An unsettled start made way for a calmer, more organised Worthing. Soon they’d wrest control, picking the precise passes that paved the path toward parity. Nicky Wheeler, shaping up for one of his trademark right-footed finesse shots, clipped the top of the crossbar with a rasping, dipping drive from just outside the box.
Worthing’s pressure persisted throughout the opening half. Visiting manager John Askey couldn’t have dreamt of a better start for his side. As well as being one of the division’s top scorers – chiefly through the right boot of Tyler Harvey – they are similarly effective at the back. They started to sit deep, dig the trench inside their own half. Worthing were the footballing side, the better side. But this would become an infuriating opening half of intense pressure, without the final penetration.
There was plenty of space to play in, and Worthing worked the ball well. Jack Spong and Odei Sorondo worked tirelessly to recycle possession, and with the ball at their feet there was always an option up top. These waves of attack started to translate into shots on target. That was the issue. Joe Partington headed into the side netting, then Temi Babalola’s shot on the swivel was well-saved by Dan Lavercombe. The pair would meet again in very different circumstances.
As the fourth official raised the board for additional time Babalola was clattered by the visiting ‘keeper in the box. In a footrace Babalola is rapid, and he always looked like beating Lavercombe to the ball after Sorondo’s header released the forward in behind. Harrison Blair hardly hesitated as he pointed to the spot and brandished the yellow. Danny Cashman collected the ball off Liam Nash and drilled the ball hard into the net.
It was deserved, though. Despite the scoreline Worthing had been bright and sharp. They appeared somewhat unfazed by that early setback, and mixed patience with positivity to get themselves back on level terms before the break.
At the break Joe Cook was replaced by Sam Packham. A likely injury to a Worthing centre-half who has been an ever-present in Agutter’s side. The Reds were similarly strong as the second half commenced. Spong was influential in the midfield, orchestrating the attacks as Sorondo continued to hound and rob the opposition. In the 58th minute Wheeler again curled towards goal, forcing Lavercombe into a parry that is pushed into the path of Cashman. He just didn’t have the time to shape his body.
And the Reds kept running, kept fighting. Rarely do you see a side want to win a game of football more than Worthing did here. They were utterly indefatigable, and the 2,771 present in the ground where with them for the duration. But against the top teams you can never take a moment switch off, let alone blink. So, when Luke Jephcott caught the Reds defence napping and sneaked in behind to finish low beyond Covolan, the dismay and exasperation that was felt in the third minute returned once more.
It’s frustrating at the best of times, but when you battle hard, remain the better side but come unstuck through two avoidable goals, that infuriation turns to dejection. As the 90th minute approached Worthing thought they had sourced their leveller. Babalola, who was superb here, did everything he could with his vicious shot on the spin, but Lavercombe somehow kept it out. Still the red shapes surged and swarmed the Truro box, but it just wasn’t to be. This was Truro’s afternoon, and by the end of this month we will know if it’s their season, too.
With four games remaining Truro City return to the top of National League South. Level on points with the Reds, for a neutral this is all very, very exciting. From a Worthing perspective, it remains in the balance. There have been umpteen twists and turns over the course of this season. Worthing will hope there is one final twist to come.
