Recap
Report
A resolute performance characterized by graft, determination and a sizeable chunk of luck secured the Peacocks their first win in 14 National League South games. And how vital those three points were given victories for relegation rivals elsewhere, with Town building a three goal lead thanks to two slices of good fortune and a Nat Jarvis header before the hosts notched a very late consolation. It’s about time though that the Peacocks enjoyed a break with all that has been thrown at them in recent months and to claim only their second away win this season against a top three side, apart from being a brilliant result, will hopefully provide the boost needed for the challenges remaining over the next six weeks.
Captain Nick Grimes returned to the team following suspension while Marcus Day and recent recruit Seb Bolton started in place of Rabby Tabu Minzamba, Louie Slough and the injured Callum Dolman, with the reshuffled side being made fully aware of the task in front of them inside six minutes when a long ball forward from Alfie Young found Danny Cashman who wrapped his foot around a strike which cannoned off the net stanchion. Town responded with their first meaningful foray, a great lay-off from Ollie Chamberlain releasing Zac Bell down the left but Jarvis was unable to get a shot away from the cross.
Much of the early possession belonged to the hosts without a clear chance presenting itself. A crossfield pass saw Cameron Tutt dissect the defence, but his ball across the face was too far in front of Cashman and put out for a corner from which Joe Felix curled an effort over the top. Joel Colbran’s pass then found the division’s top scorer Ollie Pearce who failed to test Town keeper Dan Lavercombe while some neat kicks, flicks and movement around the box threatened more than it delivered. There was nothing neat about the opening goal of the contest which stunned the vast majority of the 1350 crowd into silence after 19 minutes. Worthing midfielder Jack Wadham’s touch from Joe Rye’s pass was too heavy and when Bolton closed down with a tackle, the ball ricocheted towards an open goal and crossed the line with stranded Rebels’ keeper Toby Bull frantically attempting to backtrack to keep it out. They all count!
Taunton saw another glimpse of goal when Dan Ball planted a header just over onto the roof of the net from a Lloyd James free kick before Worthing set about their attempts to draw level. Despite numerous intrusions into the area though there was little to trouble Lavercombe. Tutt’s shot from a decent position looped over while Pearce remained out of luck, seeing his hooked effort safely pouched by the Town keeper before the striker received Cashman’s pass to curl a deflected shot wide and then drive another strike wide of the target from the ensuing corner.
Pearce was given the perfect opportunity to add to his 33 goal haul five minutes before the interval. Bell’s lunge upended Cashman in the box but Pearce’s penalty was tame and Lavercombe blocked with his foot as he dived to his right, with the ball booted clear. Pearce connected with Colbran’s cross to bobble wide while Colbran himself flashed a strike narrowly past the far post as the half ended in frustration for the hosts, with the Peacocks counting a few chickens.
The exasperation continued for Pearce inside the first five minutes of the second half when good work from Tutt down the left set up him for a left-footer from 15 yards which smacked off the crossbar while the impressive Joe Felix’s angled attempt took a deflection to fall into the clutches of Lavercombe. The Town backline was standing up well to the potent 78 goal Rebels strikeforce although they might have been tighter on one occasion, Wadham gliding through too easily to drill a shot inches wide.
Ross Stearn replaced Bolton just before the hour and within minutes the home side were celebrating when Colbran flicked a header beyond Lavercombe from Pearce’s cross into the far corner. A raised flag ruled the goal out and Town rubbed it in by doubling their lead after 65 minutes. Bell’s long throw aimed at the near post saw Bull come to claim but his handling let him down as the ball escaped his fingertips to sneak just over the line despite Colbran’s attempted block, with Chamberlain making sure.
Bull redeemed himself moments later when he palmed away James’ whipped free kick from the left as Worthing’s frustrations continued at the opposite end, Cashman wriggling across the edge to post a weak effort well off the mark and Jake Robinson drilling high and wide. Town now had real belief and after Marcus Day had cut inside to see his strike blocked, the visitors put the travelling faithful into dreamland with a third goal on 77 minutes. There was no luck about this one either, with Jarvis getting ahead of his man to glance a header into the far corner from James’ cross.
Evander Grubb took over from Jarvis for the final minutes, meanwhile the Sussex side remained out of kilter, Colbran failing to hit the target with another shot, until the 89th minute when Wadham stroked home a precise finish from the edge of the box. Town then had to negotiate five minutes of stoppage time, the only near miss coming when Greg Luer failed to connect with Felix’s cross, before the relief of the final whistle confirmed a crucial victory. Little time to bask in the glow of this win though with a congested programme of 15 games to get through. Next stop Plainmoor.
Line-Ups
Taunton: Dan Lavercombe, Zac Bell, Nick Grimes (captain), Dan Ball, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James (captain), Nat Jarvis (Evander Grubb 82) , Zac Smith, Cameron Evans, Marcus Day, Seb Bolton (Ross Stearn 57) . Unused subs: Rabby Tabu Minzamba, Louie Slough, Jaden Brown
Worthing: Toby Bull, Joel Colbran (captain), Cameron Tutt (Greg Luer 78), Joe Rye, Ollie Pearce, Jack Spong, Jack Wadham, Dylan Fage (Jake Robinosn 45), Joe Felix, Alfie Young, Danny Cashman. Unused subs: Kane Wills, Ollie Starkey, Brad Dolaghan
Officials
Referee: Robert Ablitt (Fareham)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Kai Morgan (Portsmouth)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Liam White (Sandown)
Attendance
1350
Reaction
” The players to a tee were absolutely magnificent today……” watch Rob Dray’s match reaction on Peacocks TV HERE
Highlights
Match highlights can be seen courtesy of Worthing FC HERE
Photos
Match photos from Club Photographers Darren Harris can be viewed HERE and Debbie Gould HERE
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance MOM
The whole team were named Man Of The Match for their fantastic performance