An entertaining spectacle in Gloucestershire wasn’t without its melodrama, with Josh Jeffries’ crucial penalty save in the shootout being controversially ruled out by the linesman for encroachment off his goal-line.

A six-goal thriller included several twists and turns, with the hosts producing a quick-fire comeback before Jack Spong equalised on two occasions.

The Rebels flew out of the traps and almost opened the scoring inside the opening 45 seconds. A rotated midfield of Odei and Kwaku Frimpong combined, as the Basque enforcer dispossessed Michael O’Regan on the edge of the Gloucester box. Our number eight teed up Frimpong, who fired straight at opposing goalkeeper Jared Thompson from 12 yards out. Upon reflection, the former Carshalton Athletic player may discover he had more time than he realised, with no blue shirt within a five-yard radius of him.

The away dominance continued, as possession was comfortably in the visitors’ favour, yielding a flurry of corners.

A sweeping shot from Jenks was closed down smartly by Ben Richards-Everton, while a goalmouth scramble ensued following a particularly dangerous delivery from the left foot of Spong.

It took 16 minutes for Gloucester to register their first shot of the match as a looping clearance caused issues for Harry Ransom. After a few bounces it broke to Harry Emmett and a well-struck effort from 20 yards forced Jeffries to parry clear.

Smart work from Cheltenham loanee Tom King on his first start for the club saw the diminutive winger pick out Frimpong inside the box, but the midfielder’s glancing header didn’t test Jared Thompson. Minutes later, 18-year-old Danny Jordan took the ball in his stride and unleashed a rasping half-volley that stung the palms of the opposition ‘keeper.

The match was then disrupted by several stoppages, with Jenks requiring treatment for a head injury while Gloucester’s Ed Williams was forced off for Marcus Day.

Once play resumed, the Rebels broke the deadlock in minute five of the allotted eight additional minutes at the end of the first half. Swift, incisive one-touch play from Spong and Jenks saw successive give-and-gos, with Spong’s final pass breaking through the defence. Jenks had the freedom of the box and slotted past Thompson with unerring composure. Cool, calm and collected from the bandaged midfielder.

Before the half was up, another stoppage occurred as King couldn’t continue following a clash with Richards-Everton. Brad Dolaghan’s introduction was the final highlight of the half.

Worthing’s control on proceedings continued into the second period. Toby Byron was picking up promising positions on the left flank and almost inadvertently assisted Dolaghan moments after having a penalty appeal waved away by the referee despite his shirt being pulled. The National League South top scorer couldn’t convert with a flick after Byron’s cross-cum-shot fell to his feet.

Completely against the run of play, Gloucester levelled matters. Elis Watts broke down the right, cut inside onto his left foot and whipped a delightful finish beyond Jeffries and into the bottom corner. A moment of magic ignited the cup tie at the KMM Energy Stadium.

Within 100 seconds, the hosts’ comeback was complete. Another fast break saw gaps exploited, resulting in Mitchell Roberts squaring it to captain Joe Hanks. The Tigers’ skipper had time to compose himself before breaching Jeffries’ net from close-range.

But Worthing had the character to respond themselves to the setback and restore parity midway through the second period. Sustained pressure resulted in Watts scything down Jenks just inside the area and referee Stephen Swan contemplated the decision before pointing to the spot.

Spong stepped up and despite guessing the right way, Thompson couldn’t keep the penalty-kick from rippling the side-netting.

However, parity was short-lived. As Worthing pushed for a quick-fire double of their own, Gloucester executed another devastating counter-attack to reclaim the lead in the 71st minute.  Sion Spence was yards onside, with his darting run starting from well inside his own half. The high defensive line couldn’t recover in time, as Spence beared down on goal and had an age to think about where to place his finish. The former Welsh U21 international didn’t pass up the opportunity and netted their third into the bottom right corner.

The pendulum of momentum swung back in Worthing’s favour, as they looked to preserve their status in the competition in the closing stages.

Despite the pressure, it was Gloucester’s Dylan Jones that had the next chance, as he smashed the outside of the upright from an acute angle.

But the offensive surge would produce another goal as Spong added his name to the scoresheet once again.

Razzaq Coleman De-Graft and Sam Packham was introduced in the second half and both played a part in their sides’ third goal. A free-kick was taken quickly by Packham and rolled to Coleman De-Graft whose shot tested Thompson. The goalkeeper spilled the effort, but redeemed himself by smothering Colbran’s close-range attempt.

From the resultant corner the ball was worked to Spong on the edge of the box. The former Brighton & Hove Albion technician tried his luck and his strike took a heavy deflection. It looped into the sky and made it awkward for the goalkeeper, who palmed it onto his post and into the back of the net.

In the dying embers, Dolaghan had two gilt-edged opportunities to snatch a winner, but uncharacteristically spurned both shots from inside the six-yard box. A snapshot was fired just wide, before a volley was miscontrolled over the target.

Over 100 minutes had elapsed and penalties were required to determine a winner. Gloucester stepped up first and after seven perfect penalties (four for Gloucester, three for Worthing) Thompson telegraphed Coleman De-Graft’s spot-kick and saved the effort. There was still time for another dramatic twist as Josh Jeffries then saved Marcus Day’s penalty before the linesman ordered the kick to be retaken as they adjudged he was off his goal-line. Replays contradicted the decision and Day made no mistake at the second time of asking to send Gloucester through to the last 32 of the FA Trophy and dump Worthing out of the competition.