Match Report - WORTHING MVF (H) - 08 Sep 2024

From our very own reporter, Mr Cook

Portsmouth kicked off their campaign against a determined Worthing side.

In the 5th minute, Aaron Moule's free kick took a deflection off the wall, falling perfectly to Jimmy Richardson at the edge of the box. He struck it sweetly with his left foot, sending the ball low past the goalkeeper to give Portsmouth an early 1-0 lead.

Thirty-five minutes in, Worthing found their equalizer through a brilliant through ball, from Harry Margesson which was calmly slotted home by Jamie Cole to make it 1-1 going into halftime.

At the hour mark, Portsmouth regained the lead. After a corner was cleared, Aaron Moule picked out Manny Ferreira, who fired from six yards out. The Worthing keeper got a hand to it, but the ball crept over the line, putting Portsmouth 2-1 ahead.

Portsmouth nearly extended their lead when substitute Liam Lyons unleashed a first-time curling effort towards the top corner, only to be denied by a fantastic fingertip save from the Worthing keeper Matt Gibb. Just five minutes later, liam Lyons rattled the crossbar with a thunderous strike from 20 yards.

However, in the 67th minute, Worthing leveled once again. A perfectly timed through ball from Paulie Mayhew found striker Jamie Cole, who finished calmly to make it 2-2. Four minutes later, Jamie Cole struck again with a near-identical goal, this time Mark Stuckey providing the assist putting Worthing 3-2 ahead.

In the 89th minute, with Portsmouth pushing for a late equaliser, a Worthing counter-attack saw Jamie Cole break free one-on-one after a long ball again from Mark Stuckey with the Portsmouth keeper, slotting home to complete his hat-trick and secure a 4-2 victory for Worthing.

Final score: Portsmouth 2, Worthing 4.

Tough game which either team could have won