FOOTBALL: 10-man Worthing get injury-time winner

JAMIE BROTHERTON kept up Worthing's Ryman League Division 1 South title hopes on Saturday (March 28) with a winner two minutes into injury-time against Walton Casuals.

Brotherton netted with a looping header from Chris O'Flaherty's cross after Mickey Demetriou had got his head onto the cross under pressure from Walton keeper Craig Bradshaw.

The win keeps Worthing in fourth place, although they now trail leaders Cray by just three points.

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After a dismal first half, it was 1-1 when Rebels were reduced to 10 men on 53 minutes. Walton's Paul Armstrong and Rebels' Scott Kirkwood clashed and it looked as though both players were going to be booked but Kirkwood appeared to flick his leg at Armstrong and was shown a straight red card by referee Gary Croft.

A brilliant 20-yard free kick from Anthony Gale had given Walton the lead two minutes into the second half, but Worthing equalised when Ross Treleaven volleyed home Karl Akehurst's cross on 52 minutes.

After Kirkwood's dismissal, Rebels controlled the game and should have been ahead before their late winner. Treleaven screwed his effort wide on 65 minutes, and Brotherton's weak effort from 10 yards was easily saved a minute later.

Treleaven then fired just wide from 20 yards two minutes later before Brotherton hit the post from close-range after Paul Kennett headed O'Flaherty's free kick goalwards on 76 minutes.

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A minute later, Casuals were lucky not to be reduced to nine men when two of their players, Armstrong and Nick Burton, who had both already been booked, came head-to-head with each other. After consulting with his assistant, referee Croft just spoke to both players, although Armstrong was then immediately substituted.

Brotherton headed just wide on 87 minutes before he then got the late winner.

Rebels had been forced into a personal change before kick-off when Jorge Lopes pulled out of the starting line-up with a foot injury. That resulted in Glen Woodburn starting in central defence and Will Jenkins moving up front, while Andy Alexander went on to the bench.

WORTHING: Mansfield; Kennett, Axten, Woodburn, O'Flaherty; Brotherton, Akehurst, Kirkwood, Demetriou; Treleaven, Jenkins. Subs: Benn (Jenkins 57), Simpson, Howell, Alexander, Farrell.

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