Match 33. Worthing v Walton Casuals

Saturday 26^th March 2016 @3pm

Ryman League Division One South

WORTHING 1-2 WALTON CASUALS

Photronix Stadium, Woodside Road, Worthing BN14 7HQ

Admission: £8

Programme: £2 (32pp)

Attendance:  527

Refreshments: San Miguel 00, £2. Bovril, £1.

The first dry and sunny Saturday of the year and a family trip down to Worthing, where we had lunch at The Swiss Cottage in Shoreham before dropping me off at Woodside Road.  It has been over 10 years since my last visit and the ground has changed quite a bit in that time.  The bar is now under the Main stand and the old bar building looks unused.  Behind the near goal is covered standing and adjacent is the snack bar.  The main stand has standing in front of the raised seating, underneath is the clubhouse and changing rooms.  There are 2 other covered standing areas, one each behind the end goal and opposite the main stand.  They also have a 3G pitch with red surround inside the perimeter rail.

I spent the first half in the main stand before enjoying the sun in the second half on the terraces with a good size attendance.   The home side started the better side and soon went in front when a good cross from the right wing was headed in by Pope. This woke the visitors and they began to dominate the attacking play and created several chances with Worthing clinging on to their lead.  Inevitably Walton Casuals equalised after 20 minutes when a run down the left by Bamba was then curled into the area where Day was on hand to head past the keeper. The visitors then took the lead just before halftime when a free kick was lifted into the box where a header hit the crossbar before Rowe tapped in the rebound from close range.

The second half was evenly matched and the odds helped Worthing when Casuals were reduced to 10 men when Rhys Paul picked up a 2^nd yellow for a rash tackle in midfield. This allowed sustained pressure towards the Casuals goal until the final whistle but despite 2 late chances the visitors went home with a win.