Worthing left out in the Portch as Women's FA Cup runs ends in disappointing fashion

The Rebels took to the field with a side similar to that which surrendered at home to Abingdon United in National League Division 1SW a fortnight ago. Mia South and Laila Malcolm dropped to the bench and there were starts for Megan Gates and Lucy Jellett.

A slightly chilly but gloriously sunny day greeted the teams with the carrot of a home match against WSL2 sie Ipswich Town in round three dangling in front of them.

The visitors, wearing an all-red kit versus a predominantly orange one, showed first to devastating effect. Lauren Amerena released Jasmine Smith down the inside-left channel and Portchester were powerless to prevent Jellett guiding home her maiden goal for Worthing, as she converted Smith’s centre.

The Arancione soon hit back and Layla Morgan met a tempting right wing delivery but fired narrowly wide. Seconds later former Rebel Becki Bath cracked an identical attempt wide from further out.

Most of the attacking threat emanated from AFC, with travelling netminder Ella Hunkin being called into action to paw away another dangerous ball into the box, after Tilly Jones had become the first name in the notebook for a foul.

A brilliant recovery run and vital block by Ella Newman denied Charmaine True as she was about to pull the trigger and Hunkin’s services were required to prevent the same player levelling.

Worthing’s slender advantage was wiped out in the fourth added minute at the end of the opening period. One low, left flank cross wasn’t dealt with and Morgan quickly picked up the baton on the opposite side of the area, side-stepped a defender then drove beyond Hunkin into the far side of the net.

Jasmine Smith had a good opportunity to restore the lead almost but couldn't direct her shot on target.

Half-time saw wholesale changes for the Reds, with the visitors returning to the action… in Portchester’s sky blue change strip, at the match official’s behest.

Gates was replaced by Malcolm but it was the homesters who caught their guests as cold as the afternoon.

Marauding along the left, a sea of orange shirts swarmed forward where Jones could consider herself a touch unlucky to see the ball hit her heel as she was tracking back and land ideally for True, who made no mistake from marginally inside the 18-yard box.

Worthing had salt rubbed into their wounds courtesy of Portchy extending their lead when the trusty left-hand side proved profitable again, Bath getting goalside of Jones to meet an accurate delivery and send a 300-plus crowd into delirium.

Bridging the three-division gap with ease, Sarah Butterworth could only watch her header from a corner blocked by Jellett as Worthing stayed under the cosh.

The under-performing Rebels then conceded possession cheaply shortly afterwards, requiring Hunkin to keep them in the game as she stopped captain Gemma Hillier drilling home.

Soon an unmarked Bath ran on to a miscued and partially-cleared flag-kick to nod in her second.

Manager Jesus Cordon rang the changes, with forwards Nicole Mackay and Amber Hazlewood entering the fray and both having a say in rare sights of goal for the Sussex side.

Mackay concluded a spell of visiting pressure by laying the ball back for Jellett to sting the palms of the underemployed Shannon Betteridge and ascertain if she was still awake. Hazlewood shot early when latching on to a slide-rule pass and earned a corner.

Nifty footwork allowed Bath to tee up April Hill to blaze over. One final chance resulted in Hunkin demonstrating bravery when coming out to frustrate Millie Bradbury.