FOOTBALL: Outstanding Worthing thrash leaders Kingstonian

WORTHING Football Club completed the double over Ryman League Division 1 South leaders Kingstonian on Saturday (January 31) with a 4-1 win.

Rebels closed the gap on Ks to five points and extended their unbeaten run to 18 league games.

Rebels were outstanding throughout and started at a high-tempo, which saw them win a penalty with less than three minutes on the clock.

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Chris O'Flaherty's cross from the left bounced up and hit Kingstonian defender Adam Thompson's arm. The referee, somewhat harshly, pointed to the spot and Karl Akehurst, who took on penalty duties with Scott Kirkwood suspended, stepped up but hit his effort against the post.

Three minutes later, Kingstonian's Tommy Williams' 20-yard free kick hit the underside of the bar and bounced on the line before Rebels defender Andy Alexander headed to safety.

Then, on eight minutes, Akehurst made amends for his spot-kick miss with an excellent half-volley from 20 yards which flew past Ks keeper Luke Garrard to give Worthing the lead.

But within two minutes of the frantic end-to-end opening, Kingstonian were level. Tommy Williams' flick through found Phil Williams, who scuffed his shot past Alan Mansfield and into the far corner.

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Another two minutes later and Kingstonian had a penalty appeal waved away when Carl Wilson-Dennis went down under a Glen Woodburn challenge, before Worthing went ahead again on 14 minutes.

A superb team move involving Akehurst, O'Flaherty and Ross Treleaven ended with Mickey Demetriou crossing for the unmarked Ben Andrews, who tapped home from six yards.

Rebels moved 3-1 ahead on 28 minutes. O'Flaherty played in Demetriou down the left and his cross was brilliantly headed home by the onrushing Paul Kennett.

Alexander then had a header ruled out for offside on 33 minutes, before Ks were also denied by the assistant referee's flag when Phil Williams rolled the ball home from Tommy Williams' pass.

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Stuart Axten missed a glorious chance to make it 4-1 early in the second half when he blazed over with the goal gaping, before Jamie Brotherton twice went close to extending the advantage.

Ks pushed more men forward in the final 20 minutes and should have set up a nervy finale with 12 minutes left. A long ball left Bobby Traynor through on goal, but with Mansfield rushing out, he lobbed his shot just wide.

Worthing then sealed the win on 80 minutes when Paul Kennett put Demetriou through on goal, and he blasted home an unstoppable effort from 20 yards.

Despite the win, Rebels stay sixth in the table, although are just three points behind second-placed Fleet with three games in hand.

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WORTHING: Mansfield; Axten, Woodburn, Alexander, O'Flaherty; Brotherton, Kennett, Akehurst, Demetriou; Andrews, Treleaven. Subs: Benn (Axten 69), Lopes (Treleaven 88), Farmer (Brotherton 90), Mitchell, Barton. Att: 462.

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