Worthing match report
match report by Rupert Cane
Kingstonian succumbed to a second straight defeat by a four-goal margin to one of the league’s promotion favourites as Worthing left King George’s Field easy winners on Saturday afternoon.
Off the back of a 5-1 thumping at Cray on the opening day, and then a narrower 2-1 loss at Horsham in the FA Cup, K’s went in to our first home league game of 2020/21 in need of a positive start. We nearly got it with 11 minutes played.
A free-kick was curled in and Jerry Puemo controlled it on his chest having got the wrong side of the Worthing defence. As he went to shoot from six yards out, he appeared to be tugged back by an opponent who was desperately trying to recover. Many would have seen it as a penalty and even a red card for the lack of intent to play the ball, but on this occasion ref Tom Ellsmore waved hooped appeals away. That was about as good as it got all afternoon.
By the 23rd minute, the title favourites had the lead. A corner was not fully cleared and Joel Colbran was on hand to guide his shot into the corner through a crowd of bodies.
K’s huffed and puffed but despite enjoying plenty of possession didn’t come close to mustering an opportunity of note. Debutant Dominic Vose fired a free-kick over, but otherwise it was very much the visitors who looked the more threatening on the break.
Gus Sow was one of three K’s to be booked in the first 45 minutes for a cynical foul stopping the counter, and his second yellow card of the game, shortly after Worthing had doubled their lead on the hour, effectively ended the contest.
Captain for the first time, Sow left a foot in as a defender cleared the ball. It was soft but asking for trouble, and especially irresponsible coming so soon after Oliver Pearce’s powerful header had put Worthing 2-0 up.
The Rebels took full advantage of their extra man, adding further goals through Pearce and Jasper Pattenden as crosses and set-pieces continued to cause a new-look defence problems. Worthing were worthy winners, while K’s have it all to do to prove they are capable of getting anywhere near the Rebels come May.
Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Harry Osborne, Fabio Saraiva, Jerry Puemo, Jake Hutchings, Kenny Beaney, Gus Sow, Omarr Lawson, Elliott Buchanan, Dominic Vose, Tom Richards.
Subs: Corie Andrews (for Elliott Buchanan, 73m), Tom Kavanagh (for Tom Richards, 79m), Juevan Spencer, Andre Coker, Tom Howard (for Dominic Vose, 68m).
Worthing: Toby Bull, Leon Moore, Joel Colbran, Danny Barker, Marvin Armstrong, Aarran Racine, Jasper Pattenden, Jesse Starkey, Dayshonne Golding, Ollie Pearce, Reece Myles-Meekums.
Subs: Mo Diallo, Shaquille Gwengue (for Leon Moore, 79m), Cameron Tutt (for Dayshonne Golding, 73m), Tom Chalaye (for Ollie Pearce, 81m), Sam Keefe.
Red card: Gus Sow (63m, two bookable offences)
Goal scorers: Joel Colbran (23m, 0-1), Ollie Pearce (60m, 0-2), Ollie Pearce (70m, 0-3), Jasper Pattenden (75m, 0-4)
Attendance: 417
