Elphick feels hard done by in Dulwich defeat

Worthing Football Club joint boss Gary Elphick felt his side were hard done by in their 4-1 defeat at Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.
Omar Bugiel scored Worthing's goal at Dulwich on SaturdayOmar Bugiel scored Worthing's goal at Dulwich on Saturday
Omar Bugiel scored Worthing's goal at Dulwich on Saturday

Two deflected strikes gave the hosts a 2-0 lead and they wrapped up the win with a fourth goal that Elphick described as the best free kick you will see in non-league football.

Worthing dropped to 15th in the Ryman League Premier Division and Elphick said: “It was a little bit closer than the scoreline suggests and we feel a little bit hard done by.

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“We were very much in the game for the first 20 minutes and were the better side. We got into promising positions but couldn’t get a goal.

“Against the run of play, they went ahead with a deflected goal and their second before half-time was after a deflection as well. That took the wind out of our sails a little bit as we were 2-0 down and didn’t deserve it and then they got on top and went 3-0 ahead early in the second half.

“After we got it back to 3-1, we had a bit more energy and always looked dangerous going forward but then they scored a free kick from 25 to 30 yards which flew into the top corner and you won’t see a better free kick in non-league football.”

In front of a 2,032 crowd, Worthing went close early on when Sam Rents rifled inches wide from 20 yards and Omar Bugiel shot straight at Dulwich goalkeeper Preston Edwards.

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Dulwich also looked dangerous and took the lead on 30 minutes when Dumebi Dumaka’s shot went in with the aid of a wicked deflection.

Dulwich went 2-0 ahead on the stroke of half-time when Vas Karagiannis cut in from the left and his shot clipped Jack Cook on its way into the bottom corner.

Marc Weatherstone headed home Dulwich’s third from a corner in the 53rd minute.

Worthing’s Lloyd Dawes’ lob came back off the bar, before Bugiel fired into the roof of the net to make it 3-1 on 68 minutes after Will Hendon’s shot was spilled.

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Dulwich regained their three-goal lead on 78 minutes when Ashley Carew crashed home an unstoppable free kick into the top corner.

Worthing now host second-placed Havant & Waterlooville tomorrow and Elphick said: “It’s going to be a very tough game and they’re going into it after a disappointing result as well.

“I’ve got great respect for the club and Lee Bradbury there and we know it will be a hard game but it’s one we shouldn’t fear.

“We’ll look forward to it, especially at home. We’ve got to try to be a bit tighter at the back, while also showing our attacking force going forward.”

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WORTHING: Fagan; Hendon, Cook, Heath, Rents; Newton, Wills, O’Neill, Sparks; Bugiel, Dawes. Subs: Edwards (O’Neill 72), Waller (Sparks 83), Boiling, Belward.

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