Subs: 12 D Clarke (on for Leach 67mins), 14 S Cole (on for Ellis 67), 15 S Kelly (on for Crutteden 80), 16 M Norris, 17 S Price
Yellow Cards: R Martin x2
Red Cards: M Gall 80mins, R Martin 82mins
Goals: D McArthur 21, 34 and 80mins
Final Score: 3-2
Worthing United Goals: Curnow 44mins, Reeder 52mins
..................................................
-Rye United Win-

Rye U 3 - 2 Worthing U

On this sunny afternoon Rye had the chance to prove that they are worthy leaders in this league by beating the then 2nd placed team. Rye started brightly in the first 10 mins but didnt really penetrate the opposition last third.

Rye had an early corner taken by McArthur which was cleared back to him but his near post shot was wide. On 8 mins Worthings first sight of goal was a ball over the top leading to a 1 on 1 between Darren Annis and goalkeeper John Gardner but the lobbed effort was over hit and went way over the bar into the carpark.

12 mins saw Danny Leach place a tame effort that was easily caught in the gloves but on 23 mins Leach was adjudged to have been pulled back by a worthing defender and McArthur slotted in the resulting penalty.

A few minutes later Marc gall was brought down in the Worthing half and McArthurs quickly taken Free kick again on target but lacked any fizz and was easy for the keeper to gather. On 35 mins Macca showed off his dance routine into their goal area , passing 3 players only to brought down from behind by the fourth, the worthing players furious over the decision with the referee pointing to the penalty spot. McArthur put this one away to double Rye's lead.

Rye had the upper hand and Worthing started to lose some discipline. With good work from Ricky Martin down the wing, also marc Gall in midfield and Shaun loft winning many challenges. Danny Ellis working hard and McArthur looking on form and shaking off injury, Rye looked set to cruise this clash of the titans.

However the next chance was Worthing's headed corner that brought a flying save from gardner to his left only to be followed on a few mins later on 39 mins by an exactly identical corner, header and save. Something Rye should have paid attention to as this move would cost dear when repeated 6 mins later.

The last 8 mins of the first half saw Worthing get more use from the ball when attacking and the Quarterboys were forced to give away a number of corners.

One was headed out by Rye only to fall to a worthing striker to let a shot lose which was blocked point blank by Loft and out for a worthing corner. The away players furious that a penalty wasnt awarded for the ball stricking his hand. However Worthing got celebrating when the resulting corner this time was not saved by the keeper and headed in at the far post.

Rye could have replied with a goal of their own when a rye corner was stabbed over the bar.
Half time score 2 1, with Worthing happier that the deficit was cut down to one.
2nd half Rye returned to Battle stations and a corner was converted into another over the bar job. Followed by Andy Garmans delightful cross causing panic in the Worthing goal area but needlessly as no Rye player was there to pick up the pieces.

A few more McArthur free kicks resulted in yet more corners with the keeper so far not having made a save all game. Ellis and Leach replaced by Clark and S Cole. On 65 mins Worthing had their first venture into the rye danger area and the ball after several blocks was passed along to waiting a man over at the far post who hit home.

Worthing were now looking at winning the game but Loftys header ,minutes later from yet another McArthur free kick , just went inches over the angle of bar and post. Worthings attack from the following Goal kick lead to a shot from 25 yds that whistled by Gardners far post as he stood rooted to the spot. on 82 mins Clark was gifted the ball by their keeper from a poor kick out wide of his goal, however Clark didn't shoot first time at an unattended goal and a defender got back to steal the ball.

Andy garman brought down on the wing gave duncan McArthur the chance to float another ball over but again the keeper untested saw Rye's effort go harmlessly wide. On 80 mins a Rye attack saw worthing back peddling and the ball put to McArthur's with a square pass in front of goal and 10 yds out saw him pull a few twists before letting fly at the goal. The keeper had no chance with the ball hitting the roof of the net .

Both the Rye fans and bench ecstatic as the points must surely be in the bag only for the celebrations to cut short by the referees whistle. Fearing the goal was dissallowed the crowd and players paused while a red card was shown to marc Gall for apparently using foul language. Worthings numerical advantage increased when Ricky Martin received his second yellow only a minute later.

Rye had 9 men for the last few minutes ( About 10 with added time) worthing now piled on the pressure but ,either over hit the ball or gave it away too easily.

Only one free kick that went out for a corner troubled the Rye defence. The final puff from the ref meant Rye were top and Worthing were to drop to 4th.

Worthing 6

Cards: Rye 2 Red and 1 yellow

The Robert Albon Memorial Ground,

 Beeches Avenue, Worthing

West Sussex BN14 9JF

1st XI Home Sky Blue & White Stripes, Navy Blue Socks and Shorts

1st Away Red & White, Red Socks and Shorts