It was a repeat of last season’s Play-Off Semi-Final as Worthing welcomed Maidstone United to the Sussex Transport Community Stadium on a sunny autumn afternoon on the South Coast.

Chris Agutter made two changes to his side that were victorious in the Emirates FA Cup last week, as Sam Beard returned from injury to replace Sam Packham, while there was a rare start for Jack Bates who was in for Kane Wills.

The Stones imposed themselves on Worthing in the opening stages and made things difficult for the Rebels, particularly at the back by pressing effectively to win the ball back in high areas. They earned a throw-in on 6 minutes which Charlie Seaman launched into the box, finding teammate Temi Eweka unmarked in the six-yard box, but he headed over from point-blank range.

The visitors were rewarded for their strong start on 12 minutes, but it was a moment to forget for Worthing goalkeeper Chris Haigh who rushed out to collect a ball that was hit to the wide edge of his area. He was beaten to it by Seaman who tucked away the finish into the far corner before joining the 200-strong Maidstone away supporters in celebration.

He could have easily doubled his tally just a few moments later when he picked off Ollie Black before rushing through on goal. He took it around Haigh and it looked for all the world that he would finish it, but he leant back and skied it over the bar.

They continued to cause problems while pressing and chances followed for Jon Benton and Aaron Blair before the half-hour mark but neither troubled Haigh in the Worthing goal.

The Rebels had their first real chance of the half on 40 minutes when Danny Cashman broke into space on the right flank and he picked his head up early to find Ollie Starkey who was unmarked in the area. Starkey’s touch took him wide, though and the angle closed which allowed Alexis Andre Jr to make the save. Jack Spong delivered the resulting corner into Glen Rea, but his header was high and wide and the Rebels had work to do going into the second half.

A half-time change saw Jack Wadham replace Starkey as the Rebels looked to get back into it and they nearly did when a free-kick was awarded in Jack Spong territory, but his strike was straight into the tall Maidstone wall.

From then on, the Stones took control of things and created chance after chance in a ten-minute spell. Reiss Greenidge, Eweka, Corne and Blair all tried their luck but it was Muhammadu Faal who had the best chance of all on the counter-attack. Andre Jr rushed out to meet him but Faal got there first and his lobbed effort looked goal-bound, but it struck the bar after bouncing!

Then, the Stones went straight up the other end and doubled their lead. Blair delivered the cross to Corne who calmly finished past Haigh.

Chris Agutter looked to change things with changes from the bench, Nicky Wheeler and Joel Colbran came on to replace Tommy Willard and Sam Beard on 70 minutes and Harrison Smith came on for Spong five minutes later, but the Stones defence was stubborn and prevented the Rebels from ever really threatening.

It brings an end to the Rebels’ six-game unbeaten run but they’ll be looking to bounce back quickly on Tuesday night when they play host to Welling United.