The injury crisis only increased too, as Laila Malcolm was forced to pull out in the warm-up – Erin Sherwood stepping up off the bench – although better news came when Captain Holly Talbut-Smith passed a pre-match fitness test.

Recent signing Macey-Nikiah Walters caught the curse during her debut at leaders Swindon Town last Sunday, so her spot was taken by another newbie in the form of Jodie Freeman-Woods.

Laura Huish also appeared in a matchday squad for the first time and club legend Lauren Dolbear provided cover for ‘keeper Ella Hunkin. Amber Hazlewood, Lucy Jellett and Megan Gates all also returned to complete a full subs bench.

Having dispatched the same opponents to the tune of four-one in the FA Cup as recently as three weeks ago, confidence in the camp was high and it took less than two minutes for the hosts to make their mark on proceedings.

Space opened up wide on the left for leading scorer Lauren Amerena, who’s swerving, long- range shot should have been dealt with fairly comfortably by United custodian Caitlin Crierie.

However, despite getting two hands on the ball, she could only palm it up and over but under the crossbar. The far-side assistant raised her flag to confirm it had indeed crossed the line.

Nerves may have played a part in what soon became a tight, cagey affair as both teams struggled to penetrate the final third.

Although it needed a brave block in the box on twenty-six minutes by Mimi Hodges to ensure that Amerena’s latest thunderbolt from distance couldn’t threaten the target again.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Molly Lygo latched onto a perfectly weighted pass through the inside-left channel but Hunkin stood tall to deny the Yellow’s top markswoman.

An even better opening fell to the feet of Rebels’ Jasmine Smith moments later, as she was denied at close quarters by Crierie following a burst down the right and byline delivery from Amerena.

Worthing’s lead was proving precarious and first-half stoppages saw the visitors test the home backline once last time heading into the break.

Kara Howes slipped a ball around the corner for Isobel Bradley, who side-stepped centre-half Mia South, though her off-balance effort went well wide.

That proved to be Bradley’s final contribution of the afternoon, with Mollie Dyer coming on for her at the interval.

Aptly, it was the number nine’s namesake, Lygo who made sure that the Oxfordshire-based guests were quicker out of the blocks after the change of ends.

Getting the better of Ella Newman and reaching the byline prior to picking out the aforementioned Dyer, only for a
strategically placed outstretched leg by Grace Jarrett to deny the latter the opportunity of potential equaliser.

Fractionally shy of the hour, there was little anyone could do to stop the leveller eventually arriving.

Lygo, (who else?) sent in a free-kick from a fair old way out on the left that, somehow, managed to deceive everyone in the penalty area, bounce once and fly over the head of a despairing Hunkin and her fellow rearguard Reds to end up in the back of the net.

Less than a quarter-of-an-hour further on, things got worse for Worthing when the two Molly’s/Mollies linked up again, to devastating effect.

Lygo deftly lifting a pass into the path of Dyer who repeated the trick over the head of Hunkin, for her ninth goal in fourteen appearances to put The U’s ahead for the first time in the match.

The result was very nearly put beyond doubt courtesy of Dyer winning possession and breaking clear, then seeing teammate and regular partner in crime Lygo missing the conversion at the far upright by the narrowest of margins.

That chance came just before Freya Gilmore entered the fray and caused Hunkin to spoon behind her edge-of-the-box attempt, at the, as it transpired inexpense of a corner.

Sunday week (23/11) sees the Reds return to FA Cup action at lower league AFC Portchester, whom they faced in a pre-season friendly at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium in the heady days of summer, prior to a fixture that now takes on even greater significance, as closest-rivals Keynsham Town make the long trip up from Bristol.

A mere two points separating the two sides at the bottom of the table, with Town currently holding the added advantage of a
game in hand.