A dominant Worthing performance saw the Rebels record their biggest win of the season in an emphatic 5-0 demolition of high-flying Hythe Town.
The south coast side were eager to bounce back from an awful outing last Saturday away at Crawley Down, and a sixth minute Tom Manton tap- in set the Reds well on their way to what was to be a comfortable afternoon at Woodside Road.
Hythe, in truth, never really looked threatening throughout the game’s entirety and after falling behind to Manton’s goal early on, the Kent side rarely tested opposition goalkeeper Alan Mansfield.
With the wind well and truly in the Rebels’ sails, a brace inside five minutes from winger Tom Lawley, the first a delicate lob over the Town keeper, effectively killed the game as a contest.
Lawley’s second goal would have delighted manager Chris White as pacy midfielder Jamie Brotherton skipped past two challenges and played a delightful through ball with the outside of his right boot into the path of Lawley, who was fortunate to beat Egan in the Hythe goal but nevertheless saw his shot nestle in the bottom corner from eight yards.
Hythe finally settled into the match just before half-time, with midfielder Ronnie Dolan hitting a superb rebound volley after his original free-kick had cannoned back of the wall, but his long-range effort clipped the outside of the post and went behind for a goal kick.
The team from Shepway had shown little of the form that had seen them win their last three league encounters, and Worthing capitalised on yet more poor defending in the 65th minute as an unmarked Mike Huckett headed home a teasing delivery from a Brotherton free-kick.
The deflation in the Town side was clear for all to see and just a minute after Worthing had extended their lead to four, Huckett turned provider as his low cross was tapped home by striker Ryan McBride, via a deflection off Hythe defender Aaron Lacy, for number five.
Despite the relative ease of the encounter for the Rebels, there was still time for controversy as a strong John Lansdale tackle on Hythe striker Craig Thompson provoked a furious response from a number of the Town players and a mass twenty- two man brawl ensued, with Worthing captain Paul Kennett receiving a yellow card for his part, a player who will also incur a suspension following his fifth booking of the season.
It took Hythe nearly 75 minutes to fashion a real clear-cut opportunity, though, and it fell to substitute Richard Sinden but he fired wide from ten yards after a neat first touch.
Ronnie Dolan then had two chances in the space of six minutes; the first another well controlled half volley from the edge of the area tipped past the post by ever-present goalkeeper Alan Mansfield, and then Dolan’s clever cross was headed fortunately on to his own crossbar by Worthing centre-half Glen Woodburn, but it was to no avail as Hythe were humbled by a rampant Rebels side.
Final score: Worthing 5-0 Hythe Town Attendance: 213
