Late goals cost Worthing at Faversham

Rebels bossed the first half and much of the second and could have had all three points in the bag, but another nervy finish left manger Chris White rueing their ability to see out games.

First-half goals from strike partners Terry Dodd and Matt Geard saw them cruise into a 2-0 half-time lead, but with less than 10 minutes to go, an off-target effort took a massive deflection off Worthing defender Zac Beda, as he tried to hook clear the ball, and it flew into the top corner.

Rebels were then punished with four minutes to go as keeper Michael Hunter came to collect the ball, but collided with defender Tony Timms, to leave a simple tap in for Faversham’s Dane Luchford.

White said: “It was a game of 80 minutes and 10. We were just excellent in the first half, we did really well and went in two up, although it could have been more.

“The second half they put us under pressure, which I expected, but we weathered it well and were cruising.

“We deserved our lead and it’s definitely two points dropped by sloppiness.”

From the off, Rebels were in charge. Dodd had a one-on-one saved and Luke Gelding’s effort went just wide.

Dodd made sure Rebels went in front on 30 minutes, when he chested down a fine forward ball and rifled home.

Callum Saunders instigated the second just eight minutes later when he played the ball wide to Tom Manton. The winger then skinned his marker on the byeline and crossed for Geard to finish.

White felt a disallowed Saunders’ strike after the break would have sealed it. Geard, who played no part, was coming back from an offside position as Saunders went through, but Geard was flagged by the linesman. White said: “It was a strange decision and at 3-0 that would have been it.”

WORTHING: Hunter; Lansdale, Timms, Beda, Metcalf; Saunders, Huckett, Gedling, Manton; Geard, Dodd. Subs: Pulling (Huckett 77), Lawley, White (Geard, Saunders 88), Biggs, Townsend.