Shaq Gwengwe - one of nine changes at half-time - came on to turn this latest friendly around after former favourite Chas WIlliamson had given the Wessex League visitors a shock fifty-fifth minute lead.
Worthing strolled to a nine-nil victory against Southern Combination League visitors Loxwood, as the Starkey brothers set the benchmark for goal of the season and Ollie Pearce scored four.
It is with great sadness that Worthing Football Club announces the passing of one of it’s own, the multi-tasking but always affable, Roger Johnson.
It took two deflected goals and extra time with a man advantage for Brighton U23’s to finally get the better of Worthing; who more than held their own against supposedly illustrious opposition.
Only two superb saves by the Potters Bar ‘keeper in stoppage time prevented Worthing stealing three undeserved points from a largely nervous and disjointed performance.
Worthing were unable to break down a Kingstonian team that played three-quarters of the game a man light and, needed a penalty save by Carl Rushworth to preserve a point.
Two goals in a minute just shy of the hour mark turned this game back in Worthing’s favour, after Dayshonne Golding had cancelled out Connor Hunte’s first goal for the club.
Red’s promotion-winning winger, Ira Jackson returned to Woodside Road to blow Worthing away with a late winner and reduce their lead to two points - but still with a healthy advantage over the rest of the play-off places.
Worthing slipped quietly out of the Velocity Trophy at the quarter-final stage, with ex-player Zack Newton starting the comeback, as Cheshunt cruised into the semis.
An individual mistake and a lapse in concentration cost Worthing three points and their eighteen-match unbeaten run but some solace was found in the fact that closest rivals, Folkestone and Hornchurch both lost too.
