This week saw the first team having no fixture so they were left to contemplate their poor performance in training whilst the second team took centre stage by travelling to Surrey to face a very competitive John Ruskin side. The seconds have shown a great desire to learn and develop since the Academy has begun and they were in bouyant mood after hitting four past their hapless Thames Valley opponents the week before. Coach Danny Cullip prepared the team extremely well and the game's early exchanges were fairly even with Worthing's defence holding a good high line to catch their opponents offside on numerous occasions. However later on in the game this tactic was to be their undoing.
The first chance of the game fell to winger Zaki Rahman, who turned in the box on his less favoured right foot, but still managed to force a save from the home goalie. From this point Worthing began to dominate possession and territory, which led to what some might say the crucial point in the game. Striker Phil Charman, who had been terrorising the home defence with partner Paul Jackson broke free into the box only to be cynically brought down by the John Ruskin full back as he was about to shoot. All around thought this was a stonewall penalty, with Danny Cullip being heard saying "you could get 6 months for doing less than that!". However the man that counts decided that Charman was already going down and with the referee asking for the video of the game he may in hindsight feel that his decision could have been different. This injustice motivated Worthing even more with Rahman, Paul Jackson, Matt Dodd and Phil Charman all going close. As half time approached it was winger Liam O'Connor, who should have put Worthing in front, but his close range effort sailed over the bar.
At half time the boys were all confident and happy with their performance in the first half, however the first killer blow came two minutes after the interval. Andy Herrington failed to clear a through ball and the full backs were out of position and this led to the pacy John Ruskin striker going through on goal and finishing cooly above goalie James Fernandez. 1-0.
To their credit Worthing's heads did not drop and chances kept on coming with Dodd (2 shots), Rahman, Herrington (from a corner), Charman and O'Connor, who went closer again with a chip that went over the onrushing goalkeeper, but over the bar. At the other end substitute Luke Jearum, who came on for the injured Liam Dunbar made a well timed tackle to prevent John Ruskin doubling the lead.
All of the Worthing pressure finally paid off with the scorer being the excellent Matt Dodd. After being alomst decapitated Dodd picked up the ball and smashed his free kick goalwards only for it to hit the bar and bounce down. Both the assistant referee and referee agreed that the ball crossed the line, which started some over enthusiastic celebrations. 1-1.
It was there for Worthing to take the initiative and Tom Taylor tried to put Worthing in the lead, but his shot sailed over the bar. After that chance disaster struck with another through ball cutting the Worthing defence in half and the substitute striker finished with aplomb. 2-1.
Worthing were now beginning to lose their shape slightly for the first time in the game, but chances still kept coming. Matt Dodd and Paul Jackson (2 chances) had a chance to get Worthing back on level terms. Unfortunately for Worthing it was the home side who had the last laugh with the second striker mis-hitting the ball over the unlucky Fernandez. 3-1.
All in all the result may not be positive but the performance certainly was, which prompted Danny Cullip to say "I feel we were better than last week. The team spirit is really coming together and its such a shame that we didn't take more chances. In total we had 17 clear cut chances and their players and management can't believe they have come out on top! However we have to look at our defensive shape and not switch off because all our hard work has been undone today, but again I'm proud of the lads and the attitude they have shown!" So another positive performance from the second team with James Fernandez and especially Matt Dodd performing excellently.
Cheers,
Hallsy
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