Jack Spong gave the Reds the lead just shy of half-time, with the visitors having withstood an array of
chances for the hosts. Late goals from Brad Dolaghan and Razzaq Coleman De-Graft were the prize
for a resilient defensive showing from Adam Hinshelwood’s side in our final away trip of 2025.

Hinshelwood made no changes to the side that started in the 5-0 home win over Farnborough at Woodside Road last weekend. The newest addition to the squad, Shiloh Remy, made his first appearance on a Worthing team sheet; starting on the bench against his former side following the winger’s midweek move from Chelmsford City.

The first effort of the game fell to the visitors following an edgy opening ten minutes, with Razzaq Coleman De-Graft drilling a low effort into the palms of Borough ‘keeper Woody Williamson after cutting inside on his left foot. The windy conditions on Priory Lane were evident from the off, with both sides taking time to adjust to the flight of the ball.

It was the Rebels who produced the first spell of goalmouth action for either side, with Brad Dolaghan denied by both Williamson and the offside flag after Spong’s deflected effort fell at the feet of the league’s top scorer just outside the six-yard box with a quarter of an hour played.

Any momentum built by the travelling Reds soon flipped in favour of the hosts, who came increasingly closer to taking the lead with a number of great opportunities in the middle of the first half.

In the 18th minute, a short corner was floated towards the back post for Maxwell Mullins to head back across goal, with Joe Cook fortunate to see the ball hit the outside of the post after he inadvertently connected with the cutback.

Minutes later, Eastbourne had an even better chance at opening the scoring with Cook once again heavily involved in keeping the score level. A Worthing attack quickly turned into a Borough counter,
with the ball finding Pemi Aderoju with space inside the box.

The Sports’ top scorer unselfishly squared across goal to Mullins, who, with the goal at his mercy, dinked the ball over Josh Jeffries only for his effort to be heroically hooked off the line by Cook.

Worthing would be rewarded for their defensive resolve with two minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, with Spong firing home from a central position inside the box following brilliant work from Toby Byron to keep the Rebels on the offensive.

An effort from Coleman De-Graft ricocheted out to Byron midway inside the Borough half, with the left-sided defender rampaging down the left flank before delivering a low cross from the by-line.

Awaiting the delivery was Spong, who fired home on his right side in front of the travelling faithful.

The attacking intensity shown through the first 45 minutes carried forward after the interval, and it was Dolaghan who came mightily close to making it 2-0 to Hinshelwood’s side 10 minutes after the restart.

The introductions of Remy and Teddy Jenks off the bench immediately looked to instil some energy into the visitors’ setup, and it was the latter who set up Dolaghan following a breakaway inside the
Borough half.

Having driven towards the box, Jenks fed the ball into an unmarked Dolaghan on his right, who was denied once again by the outstretched Williamson.

Eastbourne continued to ask questions of the Rebels, with one such opportunity falling to Arthur Grout who called Jeffries into action with a save low to his right-hand side following a drilled effort from range.

Despite the best efforts of the hosts to draw level, their attempts would fall short as Worthing managed to add on to their advantage in the closing stages.

In the 88th minute, it was Dolaghan who made up for his earlier miss by slotting home from the right side of the penalty area after brilliant play from Cook to drive through the heart of the Sports’ midfield.

With time all but expired, the visitors added a third goal with the last action of the game courtesy of Coleman De-Graft.

A lofted ball was brought down by Dolaghan outside the area, with the striker holding the ball up well before moving it wide to Coleman De-Graft, who picked out Williamson’s bottom right corner to round off the scoring.

The Rebels are back at home for the final game of the calendar year on Tuesday night, as we
welcome Dorking Wanderers to the Sussex Transport Community Stadium.