A late tackle by number 8 Jimmy watson, which resulted in a caution - More pics below
Subs: B Ridgway, 14 L Woodley (on for D Ellis), 15 D Clarke (on for R Martin), 16 D Cruttenden, 17 J Saunders
Yellow Cards: S Cole, P Watson, J Watson, P Tuppenney
Red Cards: None
Rye United Goals: D Clarke 80mins
Worthing United Goals: Neil Harris 3mins, Julian Curnow 11mins, Adam Mitchell 45 & 65mins
Final Score: 4-1
Worthing United Win (Match report at bottom)
Worthing U 4-1 Rye U
(Above) Scott Ramsay floats another ball over the top of the Worthing defence.
(Above) Danny Leach on the attack after Rye conceded 2 goals in the first 11 mins.
(Below) Danny Leach before failing from the Penalty spot.
Rye managed somehow to give Worthing every chance of winning the title on their last game of the season. It all started in the very first minute when Rye headed out a ball for a what appeared to be a needless corner.
The corner duly converted and thumped home by an unopposed header, such was the circumstances that not even the Worthing fans made any noise – what a start a goal in the first minute. However they didnt have to wait long to celebrate when 4 minutes later Lofts intervention on a Worthing player in the box had the ref pointing to the spot. Worthing slotted the penalty home but even then you thought Rye could still get a couple of goals back in the next 85 or so minutes.
Unfortunately there wasnt much football to comment on but from a Rye corner Ellis's cross was headed tamely for the keeper to easily catch. Followed by another Ellis cross that went harmlessly across goal. So now Rye had woken up a bit and 6 minutes later on 18 mins Leach had the best chance of the half to reduce the deficit when he turned and shot, the keeper tipping the ball over the angle for a corner.
On 28 mins Worthing took a low FK that struck the wall and out for a corner. Rye seemed to be finishing the half strongly and Radleys cross was headed by Ramsey but was off target. The turning point of the match was a few minutes from the half time whistle when worthing got the ball up field and wide. Although boxed in the player managed to get a low cross over that reached the lone striker and he cleverly dummied his marker and on the turn shot high into the net.
Now Rye were 3 – 0 down and surprisingly the efforts at goal was only 4 a piece. Second half and we were hoping for some kind of reaction from the Rye players and on 50 mins P Watson fired a FK way over the bar. Rye managed to bring the home keeper into action saving with his legs but play was brought back for off side. Worthing were still looking for more action and Rye seemed willing partners another worthing corner was headed by their unmarked captain this time it went over the bar.
At the same end Gardner made a fine point blank save when Worthing should have added to the tally but it was just delaying the inevitable and on 68 mins Worthing did make it 4 – 0 when they manged to get behind the defence and a simple square ball was tapped in by a player running in. 5 mins later and Rye were awarded a penalty when Ellis was tripped in the area running with the ball.
Leach stepped up to take and fired over the bar. Rye then amazingly had quite a good spell with Lofts header being tipped over again for a corner and Clarke getting on the end of some balls into the area and one of these he converted on 80 mins to make a scoreline of 4 - 1. Now Rye were chasing the game and as usual it was too late, not being able to reduce the precious goal difference the closest was when P Watson came close with a curling FK just before the final whistle.
Shots Rye 10
Worthing 6