The visitors lead 3-1 at the break courtesy of a first half hat-trick by Ollie Pearce but were pegged back in the second period, before Jesse Starkey’s free kick fifteen minutes from time sealed a memorable 4-3 victory on the road.

A big game between two of the division’s fancied sides for promotion started in fiery fashion, with Dayshonne Golding clashing with Kingstonian’s Simon Cooper inside five minutes.

It was in-form Golding’s strike partner Ollie Pearce that would get things under way twenty minutes in. After neat link-up play between Jesse Starkey and Jasper Pattenden, Pearce concluded a lovely team move with a nonchalant finish beyond Rob Tolfrey.

Set-pieces have been a real strong point for Worthing this season, however not long after taking the lead they fell victim to a Kingstonian corner kick. Declan Skura charged to the front post and his flicked header found the far corner to level the scores.

The away side responded well that setback, re-taking the lead ten minutes later. Golding was at the heart of it again, utilising his blistering pace, he got to the bi-line before fizzing across a brilliant ball for the on-rushing Pearce to steer home his second.

And on the stroke of half time Pearce completed his hatrick. Pattenden taunted Cooper – who had a torrid first half, before chipping in the perfect ball and Pearce was there to nod home from just a few yards out.

After a poor first half, Kingstonian responded by making two half-time changes. They made an immediate impact, as the energy provided by replacements Aaron Lamont and Juevan Spencer helped the hosts grab an early second half goal. Rhys Murrell-Williamson was the scorer, as the K’s number 11 finished emphatically at the back post just minutes after the re-start.

The goal gave the home side real belief to push on for an equaliser, with the home support passionately getting behind them.

Worthing manager Adam Hinshelwood responded to the increase pressure by replacing Meekums with Luca Cocoracchio and reverting to a back four.

The change almost rewarded his side a goal just after the hour mark when Pearce was sent through, but he was denied a forth goal by the crossbar.

Worthing were made to pay for that missed opportunity as just a minute later Kingstonian equalised. Former Worthing man Kershaney Samuels’ wonderfully whipped free-kick was met perfectly by the head of the unmarked Bryant Akongo Bilongo, who deservedly levelled the game.

Despite all the second half momentum being behind Kingstonian, Worthing rallied and found themselves back in the lead with fifteen minutes to play.

After struggling to defend set pieces so much, the Rebels redeemed themselves from one of their own. Starkey curled the ball into the danger area; under pressure Tolfrey flapped at the ball and was unable to prevent it flying into the net in front of the travelling Worthing fans, who were ecstatic.

Despite an end-to-end conclusion to the game, Worthing defended resolutely for the remainder of the match to hold on for a big three points that sees them leapfrog their opponents into second just one point behind current leaders Enfield Town who they travel to on Saturday for their next league outing.