Rebels had enough opportunities to win the game but failed to take any of a number of chances in the last 25 minutes.

The onslaught started when Worthing substitute Chris O'Flaherty blazed over on 64 minutes. He then had a low shot parried by Casuals keeper Colin Harris on 67 minutes, and then saw a 18-yard right-footed effort brilliantly turned around the post by Harris a minute later.

Ben Andrews had a header saved on 75 minutes and Andy Alexander shot the rebound wide from two yards, before Harris turned Paul Kennett's miss-hit cross over the bar three minutes later.

Ross Treleaven, who had earlier scored Rebels' goal, flicked the ball over the top of the Casuals defence to put Mickey Demetriou through on goal on 81 minutes, but Harris came out to block Demetriou's shot.

Treleaven then headed wide from six yards a minute later, before Casuals broke down the other end and twice went close to taking the points themselves.

Abdou Bojang just failed to get on the end of Sam Robinson's cross, before Robinson's unmarked header from Tom Jelley's corner was brilliantly saved by Worthing keeper Alan Mansfield.

Rebels then pressed for a late winner in the five minutes of injury-time and they almost got it in the third of those minutes, but Karl Akehurst's header was stopped on the line by Harris.

Both of the goals had come midway through the first half. Worthing defender Andy Alexander lost possession to Casuals Ryan Hughes, who he then tripped to receive a yellow card and concede a free kick.

From the resulting 23rd-minute kick, Casuals captain Chris Horwood got on the end of Kane Sargent's inswinging kick and volleyed home from three yards.

Within a minute, Worthing were level when Scott Kirkwood's corner was headed into the roof of the goal by Treleaven, at the near post, for his first goal at the A2B Stadium.

Kirkwood then shot wide from two yards from Richard Greenfield's low cross on 40 minutes, before Worthing took control in the second half but were unable to find the winning goal.

Match reaction

Worthing joint-manager Alan Pook said: "We're unbeaten in 10 games now, but it's defintely two points dropped today.

"We should have been making up ground so it's very disappointing. But, on a positive not, we've kept our unbeaten run going and in the last 20 minutes, we were even clearing the ball off their line with our own players.

"I don't know how some of them didn't go in.

"It's hard work winning at Kingstonian, beating Cray, drawing at Met Police, only to throw it away. But, take nothing away from them. They're building a new side and played good football.

"Today was a complete repeat of the Ashford Town game three weeks ago, only today we gave away a poor goal.

"I was glad Ross Treleaven scored and he showed in glimmers that his game is coming back together.

"But we missed a player like Jerahl Hughes. If he had played today and against Ashford, we would have won both games.

"We've not managed to replace him, but goalscoring wingers just aren't around."

WORTHING: Mansfield; Axten, Woodburn, Alexander, Andrews; Greenfield, Akehurst, Kirkwood, Demetriou; Brotherton, Treleaven. Subs: O'Flaherty (Greenfield, hamstring injury, 45), Kennett (Axten, lateral knee ligament injury, 69), Pulling (Brotherton 71), Mitchell, Benn. Subs: 266.

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