A glimmer of sun encouraged me to stay on the south coast today for an intriguing National League South tie between Worthing FC and Maidstone United.

In the past ten years, living in Maidstone, I have been a regular visitor the Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium while living there and have seen the side under manager George Elokobi shape themselves to the point where in 2023 they reached the 5th round of the FA Cup and in 2024 made the National League South play-off final. This season they have started brightly with two wins and three draws from their opening five fixtures, leaving them in a healthy sixth place. Deon Moore, signed this year, and a Guyanese international, has started with two goals this season and adds firepower to balance the talents of players, like the creative Jamie Yila, signed from Chatham Town and experienced midfielder and Stones’ captain, Sam Corne.

Worthing FC have had a mixed start to the season, with a fine 3-4 away win at Horsham being followed with two defeats at Chippenham Town and Far borough, both by a single goal. One goal scored in total from four of their league matches is going to worry manager Chris Agutter and he will have hoped striker Jack Spong could rediscover his scoring form today. Today’s match against the side that beat them in the play-off eliminator in May, would have presented a real test, which both managers would have relished. Worthing FC’s manager made a plea, in the programme, to Rebels fans to get behind his team, showing emotional maturity and vulnerability that may well connect if the team can get on a decent run.

The Woodside Road Stadium has large areas of covered standing behind both goals and along one side of the pitch. There is also a large grandstand on one side overlooking the modern 3G pitch, which was laid in 2021 to replace the problematic first artificial service laid by the club. There are good refreshment stands, toilet facilities and a decent club shop. Crowds this season have ranged from 1788 to 2028, guaranteeing a decent atmosphere for the Rebels, which is Worthing FC’s nickname. The ground has capacity for 3000.

The game opened with Maidstone United looking the more positive. An error in Worthing FC’s back line in the eleventh minute gave the visitors the lead, with the pacy Dajon Golding finishing easily.

Worthing found some form in response and went close themselves with an overhead Jack Spong effort on 20 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Rebels a minute later a late challenge in the area clipping the heels of Jephte Tanga led to a penalty for the visitors. T J Bramble stepped up to score putting Maidstone United 0-2 ahead.

Immediately Worthing FC’s Nathan Odokonyero was through on goal at the other end and somehow managed having beaten the keeper, to fail to score. The home crowd stayed positive and gradually saw their team began to claw its way back into the game.

In the 45th minute, a free kick for Worthing FC, from the left hand wing, was eventually headed home by Harry Ransom, to pull the home side back into the game, to trail by just the one goal at the half time break.

The second half saw Worthing FC begin to dominate possession as they sought the equaliser.

With just six minutes left on the clock Worthing FC’s Coleman De-Graft found space and squeezed a ball across which Nicky Wheeler finished to tie the game at 2-2, sending the home crowd wild.

There was still much drama to come! In the 94th minute Maidstone broke and Josh Redfearn slammed the ball into the net from close range to send the away fans wild and it seemed, surely win his team the three points.

In the 95th minute however, the giant stature of the Worthing substitute Temi Babalola managed to find himself on the end of a cross (which I narrowly missed filming!) to score an unlikely equaliser and seal a point from nowhere for the Rebels!

At the full time whistle, as the heavens opened, the crowd, of 1864, went away knowing they had seen a hard fought and entertaining match today. Both sides showed as last season, they will very much be contenders in this league again. What a game!