Worthing won this FA Trophy 1st round qualifying replay 4 – 2 in a game which had everything – 6 goals, 2 penalties, 3 red cards and several yellow cards – and will play Didcot at Woodside Road a week Saturday.  Paul Kennett missed out for the Rebels with a recurrence of his buttock problem and was replaced by Luke Gedling whilst the Bash had goalkeeper Joe Prodomo and striker James Stokoe back after missing the first game through suspension.

Jamie Brotherton had an opportunity to give the Rebels the perfect start when his cross was adjudged to have been handled in the penalty area but unfortunately for the reds he blasted his shot well over the cross bar.

Bashley had a couple of free kicks around the Rebels box but these resulted in comfortable saves by Dean Ruddy or were wide of the goal.  The heavy rain shower just before kick-off had freshened up the pitch and resulted in the ball being zipped around by both sides but they both still lacked a bit of quality.  Bashley opened the scoring in the 37th minute when a long ball over the Rebels high line resulted in Stokoe charging forward and smashing the ball into the top of the net from a fairly tight angle.

During the half, Referee Webb produced a number of yellow cards with Bashley’s Matt Finlay (foul), Mark Gamble (kicking the ball away) and Ian Oliver for an altercation with Rebels Ryan McBride who also received a booking.

The Bash pressed the Rebels all over the pitch and at half time, possibly had shaded the first half, although there was a feeling that they might not be able to keep the pressure up for the whole game.

HT 0 - 1

The Rebels players were given a bit of a roasting at half time by manager Chris White but for the first 10 minutes or so of the second half, it didn’t appear to have had the desired effect.

Tom Manton had been pushed forward just behind Ryan McBride and eventually got into the game with great effect.  First he turned well in the box and got a good right foot shot off which Prodomo did really well to save before on 68 minutes firing in a left foot shot into the goal following an assist from McBride.  The Rebels were in the middle of a purple patch with Prodomo saving well from a couple of McBride shots and a Manton header and seeing Tom Lawley’s shot come back off the post.

John Lansdale replaced Darren Budd and quickly got in on the action with a free kick from the edge of the box which brought an excellent double save from the kick and Jamie Brotherton’s follow up by Prodomo.

It was therefore against the run of play when Lansdale mis-placed a pass and Stokoe hit a good strike from the edge of the box to give Bashley the lead with just 3 minutes left.  Fortunately the Rebels were able to reply just 60 seconds later when a long ball was mis-headed by one of the yellows central defenders and Manton was able to level the scores.

FT 2 - 2

Extra time started with Luke Gedling being replaced by Mark Pulling.  The Rebels got their second penalty of the game when McBride was impeded by Gary Middleton who received a booking and the kick was comfortably despatched by this seasons penalty taker John Lansdale to give the Rebels the lead for the first time in this game.  Bashley almost got back on level terms within 2 minutes when Ruddy was forced to make a great save.

ET HT 3 – 2

At this stage of the game no-one could have foreseen what would have happened in the final 8 minutes of the match.  Mark Gamble received a second yellow for saying something to the assistant referee when the official didn’t flag for a possible handball and 2 minutes later Luke Whitley saw red for an elbow on Steve Metcalfe.

Bashley pressed on for the equaliser with their 9 players and some of the home fans were perhaps thinking the worst.  However, Brotherton had a smashing run down the left wing and was able to cross to Lansdale to tap in.
With a minute to go a rash challenge by Bashley substitute Tom Hill on Matt Hurley saw another red card produced and the yellows finished the game with just 8 players.

FT 4 – 2 aet