Below-par Worthing lose at home to Casuals

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Worthing Football Club's winless run in Ryman League South Division increased to three games when they lost 2-1 at home to Walton Casuals this afternoon.

Rebels, without the suspended Omar Bugiel and injured Lloyd Dawes, failed to get going in the first half against a blustery wind and trailed 2-1 at the break. Ben Pope headed Worthing into an early lead but goals from Scott Day and Quincy Rowe gave Casuals the half-time advantage.

Casuals had Rhys Paul sent off for two bookable offences on 80 minutes and Rebels then finished strongly but were unable to find an equaliser.

The defeat sees Worthing drop a place to fifth, only two points ahead of Hastings who are just outside of the play-off places.

Rebels keeper Rikki Banks comfortably saved efforts from Jake Nicholson and Day before Worthing went ahead after just five minutes.

Will Hendon released Ira Jackson down the right and his cross perfectly picked out Pope to head home from five yards.

Despite taking the lead, Rebels lost possession too easily in the early exchanges and the visitors had another opportunity on 12 minutes when Day’s header released Gabriel Odunaike in a decent position but he scuffed a weak effort straight at Banks.

Casuals again went close on 18 minutes when Banks failed to hold a cross and Odunaike was first to react but could only shoot straight against Worthing’s keeper.

The goal Casuals had been threatening came on 20 minutes when Yousouff Bamba skipped past Hendon down the left and crossed for Day to powerfully head home from six yards.

The visitors then had two opportunities in as many minutes to go ahead shortly afterwards. Corey Heath brilliantly blocked Day’s goalbound shot on 23 minutes, before Omar Folkes, stretching at the back post, could only head wide from a teasing right-wing cross.

Rebels continued to struggle against the strong wind and Casuals’ Paul was booked for trying to punch the ball into the goal, before he blazed over after Worthing failed to clear a free kick on 29 minutes.

At the other end, Jackson fired into the side netting after a neat turn on 31 minutes, before Walton’s Nicholson saw a free kick rebound off the outside of a post three minutes later.

The visitors went ahead in the first minute of injury-time at the end of the first half when Nicholson’s free kick was headed forward by Paul, struck the top of the bar and was then nodded home from a matter of inches by Rowe.