Micky strikes to send Rebels Youth into semis

They knocked Kingstonian 3-2 with his goal late in the first period of extra-time in their semi-final to earn a home tie against Bury Town from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, probably on Tuesday week.

The tall Rebels midfielder turned up on the end of yet another Jason Winch free kick just before the end of the first extra period.

That established the only result justifiable after Worthing had virtually played Ks off the park in the last 65 minutes, yet twice gone behind to goals totally against the run of play, albeit superbly taken by Mark Watkins, straight after the interval, and Ross Chalk in the 71st minute.

Rebels' striker Jamie Brotherton headed dramatically onto a post with five minutes left of the first half, by which time Worthing were establishing supremacy with their superior enthusiasm, higher tempo and team football.

No sooner than they went behind in the first minute of the second half than they were back at Ks' throats. In the next 13 minutes they forced four corners, then equalised. Brotherton, once more using his trickery, yet again got behind the left of Ks defence and this time pulled the ball back to the edge of the penalty area where Jason Winch stroked the ball impeccably inside a post.

Ks snatched back the lead but the second equalising move, started by Demetriou in midfield, went through the same personel on the same right flank and, this time, Winch's angled finish squeezed over the line off the keeper and a defender by a post. The ball came out again but referee Lloyd Rendell awarded the goal.

There was a Worthing scare at the other end when Joe Booker's back pass went over keeper Andy Thompson but the keeper got back to rescue it before it rolled in for what would probably have been a catastrophic Ks winning goal. Booker and central defensive partner Charlie Farmer had looked secure at the back, especially in the air, and suddenly Farmer appeared and headed over a possible winner at the other end from Winch's free kick, which was the last play of normal time.

Demetriou's winner ensured justice was done for Rebels, who were without schoolboy internationals James Fraser and Steve Bantock, first-team squad defender Stuart Axten, the team captain, who was being rested in advance of the Sussex Senior Cup Final, keeper Steve Phillips and midfielder Will Berry, playing for Wick and Lancing, respectively, and second choice keeper Josh Cottrell, who was playing for Worthing Cricket Club first team.

Midfielder Karl Akehurst was allowed only half a game, also with the Senior Cup Final in mind.

WORTHING: Thompson; Benn, Booker, Farmer. J.Pook; Mlynowski, Demetriou, K.Akehurst, Winch capt; Brotherton, Dodds. Subs: Eastwood (K.Akehurst 58), Pickup (Dodds 70), Farrier, Brynon, L.Akehurst.