FOOTBALL: Worthing draw with Fleet Town

WORTHING Football Club increased their Ryman League Division 1 South unbeaten run to 16 games on Saturday (January 17) with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Fleet Town.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jan 2009, 15:01 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:55 BST

Fleet will have left Bognor's Nyewood Lane wondering how they failed to win and they slip a place to seventh, while Rebels have dropped a spot to fifth.

Fleet had the better of the first half and could have taken the lead after just 13 minutes. James Field fed through Eddie Smith, who pulled a hamstring when through on goal and failed to get any power on his shot, which went across goal.

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Field then headed James McClurg's cross back across goal instead of towards goal on 36 minutes, before Field fired his side ahead with a stunning 20-yard free kick a minute before half-time.

Rebels brought Karl Akehurst on for Will Jenkins at the break and switched from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 and they looked more of a threat in the second period.

Ross Treleaven twice could have levelled before Worthing equalised on 59 minutes. Jamie Brotherton brilliantly controlled the ball and then beat three players before finding Mickey Demetriou, whose drilled shot was deflected goalwards by Fleet defender Tom Bird, and Treleaven got the final touch just as the ball was crossing the line.

Rebels' Scott Kirkwood then had two headers saved by Fleet keeper David Smalley before Fleet had an outstanding chance to regain their lead with 14 minutes left.

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Bird's cross from the left found its way to the back post where McClurg was waiting to tap the ball home but he incredibly knocked the ball back across goal to the astonishment of his side's dug-out and supporters, and Rebels keeper Alan Mansfield pounced on the ball.

A long Treleaven throw on 83 minutes caused panic in the Fleet penalty area but neither Ben Andrews or Andy Alexander could force the ball home and Rebels had to settle for a point for the fourth successive home match.

Midfielder Mark Pulling has left Rebels and re-joined Burgess Hill.

WORTHING: Mansfield; Simpson, Woodburn, Alexander, Andrews; Brotherton, Kirkwood, Kennett, Demetriou; Jenkins, Treleaven. Subs: Akehurst (Jenkins 45), Axten (Simpson 75 - hamstring), Greenfield (Demetriou 86), O'Flaherty, Lopes. Att: 231.

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