CLINICAL WORTHING BEAT VARNDEAN TO WIN COUNTY CUP

Worthing College beat Varndean College in an emphatic 3-0 victory at Culver Road. Goals from Joe Alman, Ezra Roeg, and Destiny Ojo saw Worthing win the County Cup for the 7th consecutive year.

Despite a mediocre first-half performance, Worthing managed to win the County Cup final. Varndean had a number of chances to go in front, but couldn't find the finishing touch to take the lead.

Joe Alman gave Worthing the lead as the interval approached, a well-guided header past Oscar Beard. Ezra Roeg made it two with a great strike, thumping it goalward. Destiny Ojo finished the job in the closing moments, beating Beard one-on-one. A great show for the many fans that came to watch, and an end of the season that everyone at Worthing had wished for.

Varndean opener ruled offside

In the opening moments of the game, Worthing were let off by the linesman who deemed Herbie Rogers offside. Worthing lost the ball in midfield to Oliver Davies who burst forward before slotting Rogers through on goal.

Rogers' sliding effort to reach the ball was successful as he put it past Finley Jenkins, although the Varndean forward’s celebrations were cut short when the linesman raised his flag as the ball trickled over the line.

Ojo strikes the crossbar

Worthing’s first key chance of many fell to Destiny Ojo shortly after Varndean’s goal was disallowed. Ojo received the ball from Levi Martin on the left flank, spinning past Varndean full back Louie Pubuck.

After gliding past Pubuck, Ojo drove towards the goal with purpose. He dinked the ball at goal; attempting to catch out Oscar Beard. Varndean’s goalkeeper watched the shot all the way and managed to get a fingertip to Ojo’s strike to turn the ball onto the crossbar and over for a corner kick.

Strong save from Jenkins

Alfie Mitchell swung in the corner won by Ojo, looking to find Charlie Robinson at the front post however Worthing weren’t able to make anything of it.

Varndean cleared but gave the ball straight back to Ojo waiting on the edge of the 18-yard box. His cross to the back post found Martin however the header fell straight into the grateful hands of Beard.

Beard hoofed the ball up field, his kick reached the left wing where JJ Minty received it from a flick on. Minty flew past Worthing’s back line - thankfully for them, Jenkins was quick to come off his line and take the ball away from Minty with an outstretched right leg.

Danny Jones picked it up and ensured the danger was averted as teammates applauded Jenkins for his courageous stop.

Varndean can't convert from goalmouth scramble

Varndean were gifted a free kick when Robinson conceded a foul on the edge of the box. Minty fired the free kick under the wall, resulting in Jenkins not seeing it until late. The Worthing keeper stopped the shot however could hold onto the ball, spilling it back out into the 6-yard box.

Ojo attempted to clear but was beaten to the ball by Baptiste P’Abadie; the central defender played it across the face of the goal to Herbie Rogers. The striker lunged in to turn the ball goalward, although Joe Alman intervened and cleared it away.

Rogers stayed down in the box, feeling he had been fouled by Alman, despite this, the referee did not award a penalty.

Louie Pubuck drags it wide

Varndean passed the ball around nicely, slowly but surely making the way forward. Herbie Rogers lost possession when his attempt to switch play to the other wing went wayward.

Varndean gained possession back instantly though thanks to a disappointing clearance from Robinson. The ball fell to the feet of Louie Pubuck, the full back’s drilled effort towards the far post skewed just wide.

Alman puts Worthing ahead

Another Alfie Mitchell corner was swung into the box, this time being cleared off the line by Varndean. It fell back out to Robinson who held off two Varndean defenders well before playing inside to Kiko Tanev. Worthing’s number 10 set up Ojo who once again went past Pubuck with ease.

Ojo’s powerful left boot sent in an effortless cross towards Joe Alman. The central defender nodded it across goal to Charlie Robinson, who returned it in the same fashion. Alman this time directed it towards goal, putting his side into the lead 10 minutes before the interval.

Worthing players and substitutes jumped into the crowd of fans, who were cheering in delight at the one-goal advantage they now possessed.

Davies squanders the chance to equalise

In the final action of the half, Oliver Davies wastes a golden opportunity to equalise. JJ Minty whipped the ball into the box where Davies was waiting unmarked at the back post.

Davies attempted a glancing header towards the near post, however, couldn’t get enough connection on the ball to put it past Jenkins. The Varndean striker had his head in his hands as the whistle blew for half time, fully aware of how key that miss could turn out to be.

Roeg doubles the lead

Shortly after the second half got underway, Ezra Roeg doubled Worthing’s lead with an emphatic finish.

Mitchell chested the ball down in the middle of the park before drilling a pass out to Roeg on the right-hand side. Roeg dropped a shoulder to shift past Kean Zoutman and then struck the ball superbly into the back of the net. A helpless Oscar Beard could do nothing except watch the shot fly into the roof of the net.

Jenkins denies Parker-Williams

Varndean were awarded a free kick well inside their own half, Cadaman took it, knocking the ball towards the opposing penalty area.

Minty won it in the air with a delicate flick on to Oliver Parker-Williams, the substitute looked set to score but Jenkins again with the outstretched right leg stopped the net from bulging.

Another tremendous close-range save from Jenkins prevented Varndean from halving the deficit towards the end of the game.

Ojo seals the victory

In the 12th minute of an additional 14, Destiny Ojo put the game to bed. A failed long throw attempt and a miss hit volley from Varndean allowed Worthing to punish on the counter attack.

Jack Picket’s sliced shot landed straight at the feet of Ojo, ahead of him: acres of space. Ojo headed down the other end of the field with blistering pace, Noah Amoo also raced forward to overload a stranded Oscar Beard.

Ojo opted to go alone, dummying Beard and tucking it away. It was a long sprint from one end of the pitch to the other, however, Ojo remained composed to guarantee the win.

Worthing secure the silverware

The referee blew his whistle for full time after 14 minutes of additional time, confirming that Dave Hall’s side had won the County Cup Final for the 7th year in a row.

Varndean had some great chances in the opening 45 but weren’t able to take them. The offside goal hurt them and from that point, they just couldn’t convert. Worthing, on the other hand, were a little shaky but managed to do the most important thing and put the ball in the back of the net.

Two very contrasting goals in the second half, one blasted into the roof of the net, the other a cool, calm and collected finish. Goalscorer number two Ezra Roeg claimed the Man of the Match, not only for his goal but for a stunning display of football overall.

A perfect end to the season for Worthing College, who will be hoping for more silverware next season.

What's Next?

Next match report = Frankfurt vs Rangers

Wednesday 18th May 8pm

MOTM: Ezra Roeg

Line-ups:

Worthing - Jenkins, Howick, Martin, Alman (Hack 75’), Robinson, Jones, Mitchell (Barnes 90+2’), Ojo, Margeson (Fatuda 82’), Tanev (Roeg 90+12’), Roeg (Amoo 67’)

Bookings - Ojo, Barnes, Margeson, Hack, Mitchell

Scorers - Joe Alman (39‘), Ezra Roeg (57’), Destiny Ojo (90+12‘)

Varndean - Beard, Pubuck, Zoutman, P’Abadie (Picket 90+4’), Cadaman, Bresciani, Chotois (Lauteri 67’), Woollard, Minty, Davies (Parker Williams 54’)

Bookings - Chotois

Scorers - N/A

Written by Isabelle Newnham