A brace from Brad Dolaghan, another goal for Joel Colbran and a late effort from Cheltenham Town loanee Tom King sealed a statement win over high-flyers Hemel Hempstead Town.

Adam Hinshelwood was forced into one change from last weekend’s 3-0 toppling of Hampton & Richmond Borough, with Toby Byron replacing the injured Sam Beard.

The opening 10 minutes saw both teams cancel each other it what was a fierce encounter at Woodside Road.

Chances for either side were few and far between until the 13th minute when Michael Johnson’s net was breached for the first time of the afternoon. It started with central defender Joe Cook, as he ventured forward in customary fashion and picked out Brad Dolaghan on the edge of the box.  The number 21 rode a few challenges and relied on his instincts to smartly poke the ball past Johnson to open the scoring in West Sussex.

Following the opener, the tetchy nature of the clash resumed which resulted in possession changing hands multiple times in quick succession. On the stroke of the half hour mark, referee Sam Read awarded a free-kick right on the cusp of the penalty box after Cook had impeded Darion Dowrich. Jevani Brown came a whisker away to levelling matters as his dead ball attempt clipped the upright with Josh Jeffries at full stretch.

Mesmerising play from Razzaq Coleman De-Graft deserved a more fruitful outcome minutes later as Dolaghan uncharacteristically couldn’t apply the telling touch. Our number seven danced past several opposition defenders, reached the by-line, cut a delivery back, but the subsequent flick rolled wide.

However, Dolaghan wouldn’t be denied for much longer as he grabbed his second of the afternoon five minutes before the break. A lapse in concentration from Olatunbosun Adenola allowed Teddy Jenks to dispossess the defender and spark a promising counter-attack. Unselfishly, the former Forest Green Rovers supplied his teammate with the opportunity to double the advantage. Dolaghan kept his composure and feinted to shoot which committed the Hemel players, creating an open net to fire into. Double figures now for the season for the 20-year-old, who has entered a rich vein of form.

The Rebels went into the break with a comfortable cushion and kept the momentum flowing into the second period.

In search of a hat-trick, the scorer of the opening two goals was thwarted by Johnson, as the Hemel shot-stopper parried Dolaghan’s left-footed attempt. On the rebound, George Cox wasn’t able to sort his feet out in time to punish the opposition.

However, the former Swindon Town defender was the architect for our third as he delivered an enticing cross towards the back post in the 58th minute. Captain Joel Colbran was on hand to convert for a second weekend running to turn our lead into an unassailable one.

With the match against AFC Totton on Tuesday night looming, Adam Hinshelwood opted to freshen up his squad with the instrumental Dolaghan and Jenks making way for the returning Matt Burgess and lively Tom King.

Coleman De-Graft was given licence to roam freely throughout the pitch on a crisp autumnal afternoon and almost added his name to the scoresheet, but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Johnson.

The visitors’ attempts to mount a comeback were nullified by the ever-imposing Harry Ransom and Cook, with their closest effort coming from the right boot of Jake Gray, who curled over from distance. Dorwich posed a threat with his ability to chuck the ball into the box from throw-ins, although the Reds defended each situation calmly.

In the dying embers, teenager King capped off a fine collective display and scored a fourth for the hosts. Two players at opposite ends of their career combined, as King burst clear of the defender before picking out Nicky Wheeler. The experienced winger’s shot was blocked and dropped to his teammate, who coolly dispatched past a despairing Johnson to open his account for his new side.

Five wins on the bounce is an impressive feat at any level and Worthing look hungry for more with AFC Totton in their sights during midweek. Another clean sheet will undoubtedly please the pragmatists amongst us too.