Worthing match report
match report by Rupert Cane
Kingstonian succumbed to a second straight 4-0 defeat in the Isthmian Premier Division as leaders Worthing asserted their quality at Woodside Road on Tuesday evening.
Hayden Bird changed shape and personnel to try and counter the Mackerel Men - including former Rebel Alfie Young man-marking star striker Ollie Pearce – and the plan worked for 40 minutes as K’s stifled their high-flying opponents.
With only a couple of half-chances concerning Sarine Sanneh in our goal, it looked like we would make it to the interval unscathed. We could and probably should have then taken the lead with the chance of the game so far. Kenny Beaney pirouetted in midfield before releasing Daniel Ajakaiye with an inch-perfect through pass. The striker bore down on goal but shot too close to young Worthing stand-in stopper Tommy Reid.
On such moments games change, and barely 60 seconds later we were behind. Sanneh initially did superbly to stop Jasper Pattenden’s header finding the net, but with Kingstonian’s defence statuesque, Callum Kealey was on hard to tuck home the rebound.
A killer second goal arrived before half-time, as a deep corner was not fully cleared, Kealey collected and then blasted a shot into the roof of the net with the aid of a deflection off Fabio Saraiva. Pattenden even hit the inside of the post with a cross-shot before the whistle.
To their credit, Kingstonian kept fighting when play restarted and did enjoy increased possession and territory. Saraiva had a free-kick blocked and unexpected sub Elliott Buchanan, donning a mask, had a couple of sniffs of goal.
But midway through the second period any hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Pattenden tucked home an inviting left-wing cross from close range. Not long after, Jerry Puemo was shown a second yellow card for a mistimed tackle, and Worthing extended their lead through sub Reece Myles-Meekums. It compounded another dispiriting day in West Sussex.
Worthing: Tommy Reid, Joel Colbran, Cameron Tutt, Danny Barker, Aarran Racine, Davide Rodari, James Beresford, Ollie Pearce, Jesse Starkey, Callum Kealey, Jasper Pattenden.
Subs: Will Seager, Marvin Armstrong (for James Beresford, 72m), Dayshonne Golding (for Davide Rodari, 71m), Dean Cox, Reece Myles-Meekums (for Ollie Pearce, 78m).
Kingstonian: Serine Sanneh, Jerry Puemo, Fabio Saraiva, Alfie Young, Ollie Cook, Simon Cooper, Daniel Ajakaiye, Kenny Beaney, Walter Figueira, Jay Barton, Kershaney Samuels.
Subs: Elliott Buchanan (for Jay Barton, 57m), Calvin Ekpiteta (for Daniel Ajakaiye, 87m), Rhys Murrell-Williamson (for Kershaney Samuels, 57m), Lewis Pearch, Mason Whitnell.
Goal scorers: Callum Kealey (41m, 1-0), Callum Kealey (45+2m, 2-0), Jasper Pattenden (68m, 3-0), Reece Myles-Meekums (83m, 4-0)
Red card: Jerry Puemo (75m, second caution)
Attendance: 765
