ERNIE Howe admitted his side "got out of jail" to camouflage a poor overall display thanks to three goals in five second-half minutes that turned a vibrant FA Cup clash on its head in favour of his Town side.
Trailing 2-1 and seemingly dead and buried with Worthing in the ascendancy, Lewis Cook's free kick and Mark Peters' brace completed a remarkable turn-around.
Town's south-coast hosts were left shell-shocked and, afterwards, home officials disputed the decision to award the vital dead-ball kick from which Cook equalised on 73 minutes.
Under the attentions of Worthing's Marc Cable, Martin Whiddett tumbled just outside the Worthing box and, when Cook placed the ball, Town boss Howe knew what to expect.
He said: "Martin used his experience to win the free kick and Lewis had already given their goalkeeper a warning with a previous one that only just went wide so, when we saw where the wall and 'keeper were positioned, I had a feeling Lewis would take the opportunity."
So it proved, as Cook whipped home, to the delight of the superb travelling support, who had gone quiet during the previous 20 minutes, as Worthing went 2-1 up in the 51st minute.
Howe's men then ran amok - thanks to Peters.
The 22-year-old top scorer took his tally to seven for the season with his double, the first of which was a tremendous solo goal.
Beating two defenders in the inside-left channel with skill and a fine turn, Peters, on the edge of the box, saw the white of the goal and hit a wonderful curling shot over Mark Ormerod into the top right corner.
Then, three minutes later, he was celebrating again. Cook, revitalised by his goal and a second-half switch to the right wing, charged down a clearance by Mark Knee to beat the full-back and Cable for pace over 30 yards.
On the byline, Cook crossed to the near post where Peters, ahead of Marc Pullan, then lofted a shot over Ormerod's despairing dive forward to try to smother.
It was a goal he enjoyed as much as the fans, who mobbed the centre-forward before his team-mates could, while Howe and the Town bench charged around in glee.
The Town manager praised all his goal-scorers: "They were fantastic. Even if we didn't play well, that quality of finishing cannot be disputed - but that's what class players can do," he said.
Howe acknowledged his side's fortune in the tie - where at least half-a-dozen of his players distinctly had off-days.
On an afternoon when Sergio Torres came down to support his former team-mates and the club he left six weeks ago to join Wycombe, Town's performance mirrored the struggling period of games in the aftermath of the Argentinian's departure.
That was especially so in midfield. Swindon Town's Justyn McKay may only have had four games for the Camrose Blues on work experience, but he was badly missed.
Of more concern, though, was the lack of battling spirit shown against a strong, direct side - only Whiddett and Scott Smith seemed to have it in the first half.
So it was only fitting that Whiddett should open the scoring on 29 minutes - and what a goal it was.
Uwa Ogbodo, for once taking up the right-wing position, collected Wayne Heath's pass and shimmied to beat Knee and create space.
Delivering an excellent left-footed cross into Whiddett - who earlier clashed heads with Cable - the striker came across to meet it.
Despite moving away from goal, the 34-year-old still leapt up and got the power to direct a bullet header from 12 yards into the top-right corner.
However, Stafford Browne equalised on 37 minutes after Steve Hemmings failed to head a high ball away effectively, the Worthing man curling home from 22 yards.
And then, only six minutes after the restart, Town were stunned when they went 2-1 down.
Rob Bullivant failed to come for a cross he could've taken. Bristow, expecting him to claim it, left it and, not knowing Danny Davis was behind him, watched in horror as he centred for Cable to steer home.
Worthing could and should have gone further ahead, yet Bullivant made good, close-range blocks from Sam Francis and Richard Pacquette as Town became inept.
But the sting in the tail hit Worthing and it is Town who go into the hat for the fourth qualifying round draw. |
