Westies beaten in eight-goal thriller

The Westies were beaten 6-2 by a Worthing United side which has won nine of its first 10 Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two games despite goals from David Pugh and Jack Whiteman.

Worthing drew first blood in the 13th minute when Wayne Joseph delivered a low cross for Jacob Schilt to finish into the top corner. Joseph was also the provider of the hosts’ second goal, which was slotted into the bottom corner by Sam Blundell.

Westfield began to push people forward from set-plays and were causing real problems. Just before half time, Worthing failed to clear a free kick and Pugh got to the ball before the goalkeeper before bundling it home for his seventh goal in eight games.

The second half began in much the same way the first had ended with Westfield frustrating their opponents. But Worthing went 3-1 up when a Westfield attack was snuffed out and Blundell raced through to score from a one-on-one situation.

The game remained stretched and both teams had chances, yet it was Westfield who landed the next blow. Another free kick wasn’t cleared properly and Whiteman popped up at the back post to score his first senior goal from five yards.

Westfield’s hopes of salvaging something during the final 10 minutes were effectively ended almost immediately as Lawrence Edwards made it 4-2 with a fierce drive from the edge of the box following a short corner.

As Westfield piled men forwards, Worthing found them ripe for the counter. Joseph squared for Blundell to complete his hat-trick and then claimed his fifth assist with a cross which was met with a diving header by Paul Elliott.

Standings (played-points): 1 Worthing United 10-27, 2 Wick & Barnham United 9-22, 3 Oakwood 10-22, 4 AFC Uckfield Town 12-19, 5 BEXHILL UNITED 11-19, 6 Mile Oak 11-18, 7 Steyning Town 10-18, 8 LITTLE COMMON 11-16, 9 Haywards Heath Town 10-15, 10 Rustington 11-13, 11 WESTFIELD 10-10, 12 Storrington 11-10, 13 Midhurst & Easebourne 9-7, 14 Saltdean United 10-7, 15 Seaford Town 11-0.