Last gasp strike denies City comeback win

A stoppage-time equaliser denied City a hard-fought victory over Worthing at Twerton Park this afternoon. A quick-fire Sonny Cox double around the hour mark looked to have secured a first league win since early November but a late penalty miss by Scott Wilson allowed the visitors to grab a share of the points right at the death. In truth, Worthing deserved to take at least a point back to Sussex having controlled the game for long spells. Josh Gould was forced into two early stops as the visitors built patiently from the back, then Kieran Parselle and Jack Batten both produced excellent blocks. City did occasionally show glimpses of an attacking threat, the best seeing Cox’s 30th minute low shot blocked on the line by Colbran. Shortly afterwards Batten produced an equally well-timed intervention to deny Kealy a goal. The deadlock was finally broken nine minutes into the second half when Pearce lashed a shot home after his initial free-kick was blocked by the City wall. City’s response was immediate though as, within three minutes, Cox latched onto Danny Greenslade’s pass to round Male and roll the ball into the net. And just six minutes Cox struck again, his 20-yard shot deflecting off ex-City defender Bowry to wrongfoot Male. Worthing continued to create chances to get back in the game but with nine minutes left City were handed the perfect chance to seal the win when Cox was tripped in the box by Bowry. However, Wilson saw his spot-kick crash against the underside of the bar and Worthing took full advantage of this escape three minutes into stoppage when substitute Starkey slide the ball home from close range.