Rebels lose at Hampton and time ticks down

WORTHING Football Club were beaten 4-2 at Hampton & Richmond who, with that, went top of the Ryman League table. It leaves Worthing with five games left to save their Premier Division skins.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Mar 2007, 21:17 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 23:44 BST

Rebelswent with a starting XI unchanged from their shock Sussex Senior Cup win over Lewes three days earlier. But all four goals had an element of defensive error or mishap and Rebels thought they could have had a penalty when 3-1 down, only for the Beavers to score later that same minute.

Skipper Jamie Lawrence showed great determination but Rebels showed few other bright spots and were not able to bring important striker Omari Coleman into prominence.

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Hampton & Richmond took a 2-0 lead in the 19th and 36th minutes after, first, Mark Knee gave the ball away 25 yards from goal and, secondly, Rebels keeper Rikki Banks could not hold onto a cross-shot under a Rob Paris challenge. Knee atoned by heading in sub Tom Lawley's 61st-minute cross but seven minutes later, seasoned striker Lawrence Yaku touched in Ryan Lake's shot at goal and it was 3-1.

When Joe Keehan appeared from one angle to have been brought down from behind when running in on goal, the referee's decision, confirmed correct by the linesman up with play, went against a penalty and in the same 70th minute, a Stuart Axten clearance rebounded off a colleague and Yaku was there to capitalise 4-1.

After Lawrence deservedly reduced the arrears after a strong run, neither side went close to changing the 4-2 scoreline in the subsequent 14 minutes.

WORTHING: Banks; J.Keehan, Axten, Lutwyche, Simpson; Francis, Lawrence, Akehurst, Knee; Coleman, Andrews. Subs: Lawley (Francis 54), Brotherton (Akehurst 78), Day, Douglas, Hunter gk. Att: 359.

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Ryman Premier, Saturday: AFC Wimbledon 9, Slough 0; Ashford Town (Middx) 2, Hendon 0; Billericay 0, Ramsgate 1; Bromley 1, Folkestone 2; Hampton 4, Worthing 2; Harrow Bor 5, East Thurrock 4; Heybridge Sw 0, Carshalton 1; Horsham 0, Boreham Wood 2; Leyton 3, Chelmsford 2; Margate 3, Walton 0; Tonbridge Angels 3, Staines 1.

Worthing are now nine points adrift of absolute safety (the spot now occupied by Hendon) and eight adrift of the fourth-bottom (East Thurrock) where their final record may also cost them relegation if it proves poorer than the equivalently-placed teams in the Southern League Premier and the Northern Premier.

Rebels, in their final throes of the season, are at home to Leyton on Saturday, at Horsham on Tuesday, then on successive Saturdays at home to relegation rivals Harrow Borough, then Hendon, but finally away to also lowly Ashford Town (Middlesex).

Get the Herald for a fuller report on this game, and a look at what Worthing need to do to beat the drop