Worthing in top three after thumping ten-man Kingstonian 4-0

The game had been in the balance until the hour mark, when Pearce grabbed Worthing's second goal and Gus Sow was sent off for the hosts in quick succession.

Adam Hinshelwood will be much happier with his side's performance in this victory. The Mackerel Men went into this tie on the back of a subdued defeat against lower league East Grinstead Town, which saw them crash out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

The game was a treat for those who enjoy the dark arts of the game, with plenty of flying challenges and bookings to go around. Kingstonian are a physical side, and aren't shy about sharing that fact with their opposition.

The K's had the first sight of goal after 10 minutes through centre half Jerry Puemo. Kingstonian delivered an inswinging free kick that fell at the feet of Puemo, but on-loan goalkeeper Toby Bull made himself big to save the shot from point-blank range. Puemo felt he'd been pulled to the ground in the buildup, but the referee waved away his protests.

Worthing responded through Dajon Golding, the winger rasping the hands of Rob Tolfrey with a fierce curling strike destined for the top right corner.

Ollie Pearce had the visiting fans on their feet prematurely, the striker firing a volley towards goal after a swashbuckling run down the right by Reece Meekums, but finding only the side netting.

Worthing found the lead midway through the half through Colbran. A corner kick was headed clear only as far as Colbran, and the right back connected with it cleanly to volley the ball through the crowd and into the bottom right corner.

After a very tame opening 15 minutes of the second period, Pearce breathed life into the half with a thumping header. New arrival Leon Moore delivered a sumptuous cross from the right into the six yard box, and Peace strained his neck muscles to power it past Tolfrey and double Worthing's lead.

It went from bad to worse for the hosts shortly after, as Sow was sent for an early bath after picking up a second booking.

With 20 minutes to play, Pearce scored his second to put the tie beyond all doubt. The ball had bounced around the Kingstonian box after a corner and the home side could not clear their lines. The ball fell towards Pearce with Tolfrey in no man's land, and the forward executed an acrobatic flick to score Worthing's third.

Not long after, three became four courtesy of young Jasper Pattenden. Colbran had broke through the K's defence after a deft lobbed pass by Jesse Starkey, but the right back's shot was kept out. The rebound fell to Pattenden and he made no mistake from 6 yards out to further ruin Tolfrey's day.

It ended 4-0, a scoreline which would have flattered Worthing based on their first half display, but one which could have been made even larger as the second half ran away from Kingstonian.

Worthing kept their first clean sheet of the season, a fact that will please on-loan Brighton goalkeeper Toby Bull. Bull joined up with Hinshelwood's squad as a late addition, covering for the injured Roco Rees. Rees is expected to return imminently, but Bull was a more than capable understudy.

The nomadic Mackerel Men are back on the road once more on Tuesday, as they make the short trip up to Lewes to take on their Sussex rivals.