2-0 and 3-2 down – but Worthing battle back to hold Southend in a thriller

After entering half-time two goals behind, a quick-fire double from Dominic Johnson-Fisher and Cory Adjetey-Brew got the hosts back on level terms before Jordan Young’s strike cancelled out Tyreece Simpson’s close-range effort with 13 minutes left to play.

From the weekend’s success at Kidderminster Harriers, Adam Hinshelwood opted to make a pair of changes to his starting eleven. Johnson-Fisher was deservedly handed a starting berth following his startling cameo on Saturday, while Harvey Griffiths replaced Jack Wadham in midfield with the 24-year-old dropping to the bench.

It was Southend who assumed control of the match early on and dictated the tempo of the contest. Taylor Seymour was needed on two occasions to parry away efforts from Omari Patrick either side of Johnson-Fisher’s looping header being tipped over the crossbar by Shrimpers goalkeeper Joe Duncan.

The visitors managed to convert their early pressure into something tangible with 16 minutes on the clock as Seymour’s net was breached. Tireless work from full-back Kyle McAdam led to the defender cutting the ball back to Oli Coker and the captain’s subsequent side-footed finish was devastatingly dispatched to give Kieron Dyer’s side the lead.

A rare first-half foray forward from the Reds almost transformed into an immediate response as Razzaq Coleman De-Graft’s swerving effort bounced off the wheel behind the upright of the goal prior to Adjetey-Brew’s well struck volley from distance sailing narrowly over the crossbar.

Not satisfied with their first, Southend continued to surge forward and eight minutes after breaking the deadlock, their advantage was doubled. A brisk counter-attack was instigated by McAdam again, who after supplying the opener, laid a pass on a plate for Promise Omochere to fire a finish in off the underside of the crossbar to double the scoreline. Worthing now had a mountain to climb.

Before the half was up, Seymour was required to scamper across his goal-line to thwart Darren Oldaker’s free-kick while the Sussex Cat was Patrick’s nemesis again as he repelled the forward’s third effort of the night.

During the break, drastic measures were taken by Hinshelwood in the form of a triple change. Jordan Young, Jack Wadham and Charley Kendall against his former side were all introduced in a tactical adjustment that pushed Johnson-Fisher out to the left-flank and Adjetey-Brew into midfield.

Those alterations proved a masterstroke by the Reds management team, as the momentum completely shifted in Worthing’s favour.

Kendall slipped as he released an attempt allowing Duncan to gather and Young uncharacteristically fired over from a free-kick. Despite the newly found dominance, Seymour was still forced into flinging a strong wrist in the direction of another Patrick attempt as the Southend number 24 advanced on goal.

Moments before the hour mark, the Rebels found a foothold in the match through a simply unbelievable solo goal from Johnson-Fisher. Picking up possession well inside his own half, the former Truro City man dashed over 50 yards before unleashing an unstoppable effort that arrowed into the top corner to give his side hope.

Hope quickly turned into pandemonium at Woodside, as Adjetey-Brew continued his fine goalscoring form to restore parity six minutes later. Johnson-Fisher was at the heart of the move again as he executed some stepovers, breezed past Vontae Daley-Campbell, delivered a searching drilled cross on a plate for the arriving teenager to score his fourth in three matches.

Remarkably, Worthing were level after an abject showing in the first half and were now in the ascendancy.

Though a reality check swiftly occurred, as Southend wasted no time in getting their noses in front again. A third of a triple change of their own, substitute Tyreece Simpson bundled the ball in virtually on the goal-line from a set-piece to put the Shrimpers back in the driving seat against the run of play.

The match evolved into a basketball match of sorts, as the hosts replied up the other end with two gilt-edged opportunites. Kendall came within a hair’s breadth of poking in Johnson-Fisher’s cross after Young had weaved his way through the Southend defence before sending an effort wide.

The outcome of the match could’ve been very different had Jayden Moore not conjured up a goal-saving block to deny Simpson a second. On loan from Port Vale, the 24-year-old rounded Seymour, but couldn’t find a way past Worthing’s number six, who positioned himself perfectly to complete a clearance that would prove pivotal.

Worthing would have the final say on a thrilling National League contest with less than a quarter of an hour remaining.

Popping up invitingly on the edge of the area after sustained possession, Young’s powerful drive was too hot for Duncan to handle as the ‘keeper made a mess of his attempted save and allowed the ball to slip through his grasp, crossing the line and causing an eruption around Woodside. At 3-3 the encounter was finely poised and begging for a late winner.

Despite both sides having chances to claim all three points, neither team could find a fourth. Simpson rattled the crossbar after a neat turn inside the box, while Kendall and Sutton spurned chances after a late Reds onslaught to score the winner.

In the end, fittingly the points were shared in a fantastic advert for Non-League football. Worthing stretched their unbeaten league run to 10 matches heading into Hallowe’en home action against Sutton United and Southend retained third spot in the division and preserved their respective invincible streak on the road.