By Stuart Fairway
Photo: Alan Hook
After a 1-1 draw at Oakwood in the week, Hailsham Town went down 2-1 to Worthing United on Saturday in a game where the result does not tell the whole story.
After a very scrappy opening period, with the visitors on top, Hailsham took the lead on 10 – Peter Cooper and Sammy Townsend both seeing shots blocked, before another Sammy effort was turned in off the post for an own goal.
Hailsham almost doubled the lead soon after, with Charlie Playford just about denied by Kurt Jenner-Swain, and a fierce Jack Baden drive was blocked. Despite needing a clearance off the line soon after the opener, Hailsham looked bright coming forward, with the livewire Michael Mwuaba causing problems, and almost carving out a chance for Connor Townsend on 24 with a cross that just fell onto his trailing foot and was hooked over from close range.
Cooper would then see a header fly wide, but on 37, the Stringers would be reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Connor Berwick was shown red after appearing to collide with an onrushing forward. The resulting free kick was a terrific effort from Dean Sherwood into the top corner that gave replacement ‘keeper Toby Burton no chance. Despite being a man down, Hailsham set about regaining the advantage, and almost did before half time, with Billy Crittenden’s mazy run ending in a superb low save, and Mwuaba earning another corner after a tenacious drive into the box.
The visitors took the lead early in the second half, with Dan Hills heading in from very close range after appeals for offside against Ayato Tetsuka had been waved away, and his cross presented the perfect opportunity. With a sense of injustice amongst the home support, not helped by a series of very soft decisions going against the home side, Hailsham again looked to get the ball forward – the superb Ryley McAndrew and Jack Baden a real threat on the right, before a Connor Townsend cross from the left was headed over by Connor Martin at the far post on 63.
A minute later, Hailsham should have had a penalty, when a clear handball in the box was missed, despite the ball rolling down the defender’s arm. Still Hailsham came forward, with the visitors rarely troubling Burton, and Kane Edwards and Charlie Playford both seeing half chances go over. The visitors would see one hacked off the line on 74, with an offside flag coming to Hailsham’s aid.
Worthing United then saw a long beat Burton, only for Sammy Townsend to coolly bring the ball down and clear to safety, whilst with injury time looming, a last Hailsham push saw Martin efforts twice blocked on the edge of the box, before an injury time header was gathered by the ‘keeper.
Stringers; Berwick, S Townsend, Butler, McAndrew, Cooper (Burton 37), Kirkpatrick, C Townsend, Crittenden (Martin 58), Mwuaba (Edwards 58), Baden, Playford
Unused: Caicedo • Attendance: 67
