Mitch comes up clutch to secure opening day Worthing point

Mitch Beardmore came off the bench to head home a 91st minute equaliser and secure an opening day point against 10-man Worthing at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium this afternoon.

Played out in warm sunshine the opening exchanges were largely even, with a Packham free-kick that flew narrowly over the closest the hosts would come during this spell. City won a succession of corners just before the mid-point of the half forcing Worthing keeper Stacey into a couple of nervous moments. On 29 minutes the Rebels took the lead through Dolaghan’s neat turn and finish. City almost responded immediately as Stacey pushed away Joe Raynes’ well-struck 20-yard effort. Worthing were reduced to ten men five minutes before the interval when Colbran deservedly saw red for a dreadful lunge on Luke Russe.

Despite the numerical disadvantage the Rebels should have doubled their lead on 50 minutes but Dolaghan lifted a shot wide after Jack Batten misjudged a long ball forward. Packham’s corner was then missed by Harvey Wiles-Richards but Cook couldn’t apply the finishing touch at the back post. City were beginning to show sparks of an attacking threat and on 71 minutes Will Jenkins Davies’ through ball gave Scott Wilson a sight of goal but Stacey was off his line quickly to smother the shot. Four minutes later City had another escape when Cook’s header struck the post. And as the game ticked into additional time City made Worthing pay for these misses. Jenkins Davies swung in the cross for an unmarked Beardmore to direct a header past Stacey. There was still time for City to win a free-kick right on the edge of the box but Jenkins Davies’ shot was blocked by the wall. Then in the final action of the game Coleman De-Graft’s header was diverted onto the bar by Wiles-Richards