Goals from Brad Dolaghan and a late penalty by Razzaq Coleman De-Graft was enough to take the
points back to West Sussex, with Dominic Samuel scoring late to halve the deficit for the home side.

Adam Hinshelwood made just one change from the side that started in the 5-0 win over Hornchurch last weekend; Nathan Odokonyero, who scored off the bench in the win over the Urchins, was brought in from the start in place of Jack Spong. Tom King also returned to the squad having recovered from a hamstring strain.

It was the visitors who dominated the early proceedings, moving the ball quickly to force the hosts back inside their own half.

Clever trickery from Coleman De-Graft allowed the winger to drive at the Ebbsfleet defence from the right flank. Cutting inside, his eventual effort deflected into the path of Odokonyero, with the former Fleet man flagged for offside as his attempt landed wide of the post.

A loose pass out of the hosts backline presented Dolaghan with possession in a central position inside the opposition half. Despite Fleet ‘keeper Jonathan Macauley being off his line, Dolaghan’s first-
time effort could not evade Macauley’s outstretched glove from 35 yards.

It took until the 22nd minute for the hosts to have their first clear sight on goal, with Josh Jeffries producing a stunning double save to prevent the Rebels going behind. A fierce effort from Ben Chapman from outside the box was saved down low by Jeffries, who got up quickly to deny Aaron
Cosgrove’s rebound from close range.

A minute later, the Rebels had a penalty shout waved away when Teddy Jenks was hauled down inside the box having made a powerful run through the centre of the Ebbsfleet defensive unit.

Despite initially looking to award to the penalty, referee Chay Hathway opted against it.

Worthing did not have to wait long to go ahead, with Dolaghan netting his 14th league goal of the
campaign in the 26th minute.

A corner routine led to Coleman De-Graft picking up the ball in space at the edge of the box, working the ball into the danger zone for the league’s top scorer to apply an instinctive finish which crept past Macauley at his right post.

The Rebels had to endure a period of pressure from the home side just before the break, with the best opening for Josh Wright’s side falling to captain Ben Coker.

Ebbsfleet worked the ball sideways before eventually finding the former Southend man in space on the left, taking a touch out of his feet before drilling a low effort goalward which was blocked before it could test Jeffries.

After a slow start to the second half saw little by way of chances through the first quarter of an hour, Ebbsfleet soon began to ask more questions of the Worthing setup.

A passage of play down the right wing allowed Josh Coley to cut the ball back from the by-line, with Jeffries once again well-placed to deny Coker from a matter of yards out.

Hinshelwood looked to his bench to try and get Worthing out of our own half, with Odei and King both providing much needed energy as Ebbsfleet pushed for an equaliser. The latter had a great chance to double our advantage, receiving the ball on the angle from Coleman De-Graft inside the box before firing into the palms of Macaulay.

With normal time almost coming to an end, the Rebels found their all-important second of the
afternoon, as Coleman De-Graft converted from the penalty spot after good work from substitute
Ollie Godziemski to poke the ball past the onrushing Macaulay to draw contact on the right side of
the box.

Up stepped Coleman De-Graft, who buried the spot kick into the ‘keeper’s top left corner to give Worthing breathing space heading into added time.

Ebbsfleet managed to pull a goal back with stoppage time having all but expired, as Samuel picked up the ball on the counter before hitting a low effort past Jeffries at his right hand side.

Disappointment for the on-loan Southampton ‘keeper to not keep a clean sheet in what was an otherwise superb goalkeeping display.

Defeats elsewhere for Hornchurch and Torquay United resulted in the Rebels pushing into second place in the National League South after collecting three massive points on the road.

We continue on our travels in midweek as we travel to Somerset to take on Weston-Super-Mare on
Tuesday evening.