Luca Thomas’ second-half brace overturned Jose Marquez’s stunning 16th minute strike, but a fourth Enterprise National League goal of the season for Worthing’s number seven ensured his side wouldn’t return home empty-handed.
Adam Hinshelwood made four changes for Bank Holiday Monday’s 3-2 defeat to Boreham Wood. Dom Hutchinson and Jack Wadham returned after serving their respective suspensions, while Harry Ransom replaced Joe Cook in the backline, who sustained a minor knock in training.
It was an uncharacteristic start to the encounter from Craig Mahon’s Coasters, as the hosts were careless in possession and wilted under early pressure from the Reds. Teenager Ramell Carter teased full-back Adam Lewis and advanced to the by-line, drawing a parried save from Fylde goalkeeper Zac Jones, while Hutchinson prodded an effort straight into the New Zealand shot-stopper’s palms following a corner.
Five minutes gone, the National League North champions suddenly kicked into gear and began to carve their opponents open through incisive and flowing passages. Patient play yielded their first of seven first half corners, as Taylor Seymour was equal to Ethan Mitchell’s side footed shot from 20 yards out.
Seymour’s net was living a charmed life, as a combination of Joel Colbran and Jose Marquez prevented the ball from travelling over the goal-line from Corey Whelan’s contact prior to Theo Upton having the freedom of the area to blaze miles over the crossbar from 12 yards out.
The Fylde onslaught continued and next it was Will Lancaster’s turn to lean back and misfire a shot out of the stadium, despite also being left unmarked.
Craig Mahon’s side would rue their missed chances, with the Rebels punishing in emphatic fashion.
Moments after drilling just wide from inside the box, Jose Marquez completed a neat interchange with Hutchinson and unleashed a dipping strike from 25 yards out, which flew over the outstretched arm of Jones, kissed the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the back of net. Two goals in two away outings for the Forest Green Rovers loanee as Worthing struck first again.
Undeterred from falling behind, the Coasters surged forward with intensity down both flanks. Aaron Drewe’s searching low delivery almost found Harvey Broad, but Colbran’s presence prevented an easy tap-in, while Grey Olley’s shot was down the throat of Seymour, who spread himself smartly to block the ball from point-blank range.
The remaining 20 minutes of the first period was relatively even, with a couple of half chances for Marquez not troubling Jones and Broad’s cheeky attempt to disguise a cross into a shot not deceiving Seymour.
Chasing the match, it was the hosts who controlled the early exchanges of the second 45 – yielding an equaliser on the stroke of the hour mark.
A sustained period of pressure culminated with an overload on the left, with Broad’s delivery inexplicably reaching the dangerous Thomas in the middle. Able to pivot, the 21-year-old improvised excellently to backheel past Seymour to restore parity in Lancashire.
With Fylde in the ascendancy, the Reds were struggling to match their energy and were regressing further towards their own goal which invited pressure. Changes were made to try and reinvigorate the eleven, with Remiero Moulton and Ashley Nathaniel-George replenishing the forward line.
Thomas thought he had doubled his and Fylde’s tally midway through the second half only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. His dismay was short-lived as a devastating counter attack resulted in the Fylde attacker bagging a brace.
Ollie Godziemski’s cross off the right was intercepted and Lewis quickly released Broad down the right. Turning defence into offence in the blink of an eye, Broad fed Thomas who kept his cool to dink the onrushing Seymour and breach his net for the second time, with Colbran unable to keep it out.
The team hailing from Mill Farm had control of the match and were seemingly heading towards a fourth victory of the season, until late drama was conjured against the run of play. Complacency on the ball at the back was pounced upon by Nathaniel-George to dispossess Lancaster and find Wadham on the edge of the box. The midfielder’s sweeping attempt was pushed straight into Coleman De-Graft’s path and Worthing’s top scorer tapped in to send the away into raptures in the final minute of the 90.
There was still time for two more late chances for the visitors, with Nathaniel-George curling over and Corey Whelan valiantly blocking Coleman De-Graft’s effort.
A first stalemate of the season represents a solid point on the road ahead of three successive matches at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗