Worthing Women were soundly beaten by a rampant Swindon Town but still only trail the Robins by two points with a game in hand in the race for third place.
A second minute Sophie Humphrey goal set the tone for this contest as Worthing Women controlled it from the outset before ultimately emerging 3-1 winners over Keynsham Town.
Despite a valiant effort, the full-timers of Brighton & Hove Albion proved a step too far, as Worthing’s Sussex Women’s Cup hopes came to a halt at the semi-final stage.
Worthing Women extended their unbeaten league run to seven, as they moved level on points with third-placed Swindon Town, after completing the double over Portishead Town.
Despite their best efforts, Worthing Women were forced to settle for a draw at home to Bridgwater United.
Meg Curran scored her first goal for the club on her full debut, as the Reds eked out a victory in particularly testing conditions at Southampton Women.
In a battle of the wonder goals, Worthing’s Izzy Franklin usurped former Red Charlie Carter’s opener, to eventually see the hosts through to the semi-finals of the Sussex Women’s Cup, at the expense of Newhaven.
Tierney Scott led a rout of Bournemouth Sports with four goals out of a team total of seven, as Worthing inched up a place to fifth; seven points off the top but with three games in hand on current leaders, Swindon Town.
Three goals in six early second-half minutes saw the Rebels pull away from Portishead and ultimately claim three more valuable points from a 324 mile round trip to Bristol.
Georgia Tibble was at the double as Worthing returned to league action with a convincing win over Southampton Women.
