Worthing blow away Chichester in top-flight relegation battle

Playing against a strong wind in the first half, City were under pressure from the start but managed to hold out for 15 minutes before conceding.

As soon as Sam Schaaf lobbed in the opener, the floodgates were ripped open and Lucas Mann slammed in a second almost from the restart.

Mann struck twice when the Mavericks beat Chichester in October and again he was a thorn in their side. On 26 minutes his drive from a tight angle hit the post and bounced away.

On 38 minutes the same player waltzed through the City defence to make it 3-0.

City’s long-ball tactics were inadequate in the swirling conditions, and it was plain to see Worthing had done their homework, knowing exactly what to expect from the basement side.

There was a glimmer of light on 43 minutes when Gary Buller netted with Chichester’s first shot of the contest, but two minutes after the interval it was business as usual as Schaaf cracked a shot against the crossbar and seconds later Mann converted.

Mann had a simple tap-in to claim his fourth on 70 minutes, and a few minutes later Dean Gilmour completed the rout after Schaaf’s free-kick wasn’t properly cleared.

CHICHESTER: Batey, Carrington, Cotton, Ford, Day, Hooper, James, Cutler, Buller, Lopez, Briggs. Subs: Browne, Sharpe, Forry.

CHESTER BROWTON