The sun shone on a mild and bright November afternoon as I made the short trip to my local non-league club to watch this Southern Combination Football League Division 1 fixture between Worthing United and East Preston FC.

Worthing United play at Lyons Way, a warm and welcoming ground which boasts a clubhouse, refreshment stand, as well as floodlighting and a decent covered grandstand with seating for 120. the grass pitch looks on one side directly onto the South Downs and the club has a really friendly feel. This was my first visit and aside from the cold, which Trevor Knell, from the SNLF, had mentioned to me, which comes off the South Downs, it was a really great experience.

The Mavericks, as Worthing United are known, are managed jointly by Mark Curram and Glenn Souter. They had made a promising start to the season, sitting third with nine wins, one draw and four defeats from their opening fourteen games. Their twenty seven goals had come largely from Ethan Roberts (8 goals), Danny Kingston (5 goals) and Liam Appleton (4 goals). Worthing United would have been very keen not to slip up this season, as they build on a positive yet ultimately unsuccessful season in 2024-25 when they finished seventh.

East Preston FC sat in seventh place, having won six, drawn four and lost four games from their opening fourteen games. Top scorer Zion McLeod has set the league alight this season with sixteen goals, supported by Ben Collins with three goals. Manager Kevin Raynor would have been hoping that his East Preston side would have been able to push back into play off contention, with an unexpected win against the high-flying home side.

The game was marked prior to the kick off, with a minute’s silence to signify the act of Remembrance. Both teams and the fans stood in silence and the game opened to applause for those who had fallen in conflict.

Within six minutes of the start, East Preston FC had set out their intent, with Jan Kusaua firing home when finding some space on the right hand side of the six yard box, to make it 0-1.

In the 22nd minute the visitors went 0-2 ahead when a Worthing United error allowed East Preston’s top scorer, Zion McLeod, through on goal, before he lobbed the keeper with ease to cement a well deserved lead.

Minutes later Worthing United’s Danny Kingston had an open goal chance, but blazed the chance over when it seemed easier to score. At the break the sides went in with the visitors holding onto their two goal lead.

In the 62nd minute Worthing United were back in the game when Tom Butler slammed the ball into the East Preston net, after a corner, to reinvigorate hopes for the Mavericks.

Two minutes later and the scores were level with a headed finish again by Tom Butler, after a Dean Sherwood free kick was crossed in beautifully. Worthing United had begun to look like they wanted all three points, while East Preston had lost their composure and were clearly rattled.

Both sides settled and the final third of the match saw both teams go close to securing all three points. However at full time it was still dead-locked at 2-2 and the points were shared. With Jarvis Brook holding leaders Godalming Town, to a draw, Worthing would have felt they missed a chance today. Equally, East Preston knew that at 0-2 they had all three points in their hands and they would have been frustrated at letting the lead slip.