Aside from the obvious positives of seven goals and a clean sheet, there was plenty of other bright points to take home to West Sussex. Anointed Chukwu and Nathan Odokonyero opened their goal scoring accounts for the Club, Taylor Seymour made his return to competitive action after over a year sidelined with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury and academy prospect Danny Jordan made his senior debut at the Tester & Jones Sportsground.

The Jarvis Brook resistance held firm for 14 minutes until a penalty was conceded by Victor Penfold. Bailey Smith, who was playing as an auxiliary right-wing-bac,  burst to the by-line and was scythed down inside the area, resulting in a spot-kick being duly awarded. Chukwu took the responsibility into his stride and coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to mark his first competitive start for the club with a goal.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to double their advantage, as another summer striker signing found the net for the first time. The impressive Kwaku Frimpong danced past four blue shirts with exemplary footwork and managed to work the ball towards Odokonyero. Our number nine cut inside and flashed a shot goalward, that found it’s way past Matt Harman following a slight deflection. Midway through the first period, Dean Hammond’s side were already in command of the second round tie.

Brad Dolaghan came close to adding a third as his deft header travelled marginally wide, while the captain on the night Odei curled an effort from distance just over the crossbar.

The hosts barely ventured into Worthing’s half, although they did manage a shot in the first period with Jimmy Hoy wildly missing the target.

After the interval, the Rebels resumed control of the ball and the game itself immediately and pressed to increase the deficit. A short corner routine culminated with Dolaghan inexplicably firing wide, as the former West Ham United youngster couldn’t convert on the rebound after Harman smartly saved Odokonyero’s attempt.

However, Dolaghan made amends less than two minutes later, as more industrious work from Odokonyero saw the ball land at the feet of his fellow striker, who made no mistake on this occasion with a finish into the bottom corner.

It was almost a quick-fire double for the 20-year-old, but a fingertip save from the Jarvis Brook stopper pushed another shot onto the post, before rolling into the grasp of the number one.

In the only change for the Rebels in the match, Razzaq Coleman De-Graft was introduced in the 64th minute to maintain the pressure in place of Matt Burgess, who was one of only two players to start consecutive matches.

As a classic frontman manages to do, chances kept falling at the feet of Dolaghan. The eventual hat-trick hero misguided a header following a pin-point cross from Jordan moments after being denied by another good reaction from Harman.

Odokonyero thought he had grabbed his second with 15 minutes to play as he followed up yet another save from Harman to deny Dolaghan, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

Despite further heroics from the opposition ‘keeper, Dolaghan eventually found the net to put Worthing four up. A triple save created chaos in the six-yard box, but fortunately the academy product was perfectly-placed to lift a shot into the roof of the net.

The floodgates were well and truly open, with the Reds were showing no signs of slowing down. Coleman De-Graft was dropping deep to receive possession and unleashed a swerving effort off the post and into the net from 30 yards out to put his side five goals up. A moment of magic from a man who fans have become accustomed to conjuring up the spectacular.

With seconds remaining of the 90, Odokonyero scored his second with an  instinctual drilled finish into the bottom corner to double his tally for the night.

Somehow there was still time on the clock for Dolaghan to claim the match ball as he dispatched his third after Harman thwarted him for the umpteenth time.

A professional and ruthless display from the Rebels to advance into the third round of the County Cup. They now await their next opponents in the competition.