Following on from last week’s FA Cup success at home to Leatherhead, the Rebels ran out at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium once again to take on newly-promoted Hammersmith in the London & South East Prem.
There was some good news on the injury front with Ruby Murdock returning to the fold, alongside Nicole Mackay and, for her full debut, the recently signed Ella Terry. Amber Hazlewood (ankle), Paige Baker-Carroll and Sophie Richards – who started on the subs’ bench – were the trio absent from the first eleven of seven days ago.
In an increasingly tight division, the visitors got off to the better beginning, thanks to Angie Dunbar-Bonnie threading a defence-splitting pass for Kelley Francis to latch onto and test home goalie Sian Woods just five minutes in.
Woods’ right boot had deflected that particular shot to safety, but her services weren’t required moments later when the same player fired over the top.
The home rearguard was leading a charmed life, none more so than within a matter of seconds, forcing Woods to get down low to make a sharp stop from Hope Mumford.
Despite all that, it appeared the hosts had very much ridden their luck on eleven minutes; a quickly taken throw-in by Neve McEvaddy, in front of the home dugout, led to Mackay spreading play out to the right, where Richardson struck a ferocious attempt when both the angle and distance seemed to be against her, to put her side ahead in stunning fashion.
Although the early warning signs hadn’t been heeded at the back, with Leila Ayimba’s effort only narrowly drifting past the post a short while later.
Sensing the home team’s vulnerability in and around their own penalty area, the travelling Blues almost capitalised via Francis finding Mumford, though Woods did well to push the ball above the bar at close quarters.
Less than 120 seconds later, the big talking point of the game came when Sophia Wickenden looked to have been brought down by Woods’ opposite number, Grace Amos. However, the referee decreed that the Hammers’ netminder had, indeed, played the ball and not the player.
Annie Gracey had taken on the role of supplier but, possibly suffering from a sense of injustice, the next chance of the afternoon fell to the West Londoners, who came mighty close to punishing the Rebels, as Francis and Mumford linked up once more but the latters’ finish landed the wrong side of the back stick by a whisker.
Dunbar-Bonnie continued the onslaught courtesy of a crossfield pass to Francis, who subsequently beat full debutante Terry before picking out Ayimba. Yet again though, Woods’s bravery and brilliance saw the chance evaporate.
Panic on the pitch of Woodside Road, rather than the streets of London (or Birmingham), resulted in an opening for Dunbar-Bonnie herself to try her luck, in the last five of an absorbing encounter, although the roof of the net proved to be the final resting place for the travellers’ latest go at goal.
There was still time for Ayimba to be presented with an opportunity to take the teams into the break level-pegging, but she couldn’t quite keep her edge-of-the-box effort down.
Worthing’s narrow advantage looked increasingly perilous at the commencement of the second half, especially when a slip saw Aya Mirjan break to the byline and locate Ayimba at the far upright.
While there may have been no change to the scoreline at that specific juncture, a rare spill by custodian Woods offered hope to the away side; Mumford stretching every sinew but just unable to convert, after Ayimba’s deflected attempt had fallen into her path.
It then needed the wherewithal of Eleanor Keegan to clear off the line, following a Mumford flag-kick which caused the homesters problems.
Eventually, Hammersmith got their equaliser; Francis’ left-wing cross was met by a sliding Mumford to put last season’s Division One North Champions back on level terms.
They even hit the crossbar via a free-kick off the opposite flank, and Woods was called into action yet again to smother at the feet of Ayimba.
Then, twice in a minute, Woods repelled another Mumford shot marginally prior to both Jess Richardson and Annie Gracey being denied up the other end.
With little time for anyone to catch their breath, a counter-attack concluded by way of Woods saving and pouncing on the loose ball to prevent further damage, and we still had a quarter of an hour remaining!
In spite of this though, six minutes from time, the Reds bagged the points thanks to Gracey ending a passage of “if at first you don’t succeed” by burying the ball past Amos to bring a scrimmage to a satisfying resolution.
Not that the drama ended there, of course.
Two substitutes combined to near-devastating effect, as Ruby Melis’ deep corner was turned wide, via a deflection, by centre-half Sophie Richards.
Although, the points might have been shared had Woods’ latest wonder save not frustrated Dunbar-Bonnie, who sent the rebound a touch too high.
The conclusion of the 90 minutes spelt a third home victory of the bounce for Jesus Cordon’s squad, who wrap up the month of September completely unbeaten.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗