Worthing secured a late 3-2 victory over Carlisle in a closely contested match on Saturday, held at Worthing’s home ground. After a goalless first half marked by defensive solidity from both sides, Carlisle initially gained the upper hand early in the second period but ultimately fell to two decisive late goals from their opponents.

The visitors, known as the Rebels, found their rhythm shortly after the break and put Worthing under pressure, with Ramell Carter forcing an early chance over the bar. Carlisle’s persistence paid off midway through the second half when Dominic Hutchinson, who was playing for Worthing, capitalized on a well-executed pass from Cory Adjetey-Brew to score an equalizer. His composed right-footed finish brought the match level and intensified the contest.

Despite Carlisle creating several opportunities to regain the lead, including a close free-kick that forced a diving save from Worthing’s goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes, they struggled to convert their dominance into goals. Linney missed multiple chances, frustrating Carlisle’s supporters as the match progressed.

The turning point came in the 82nd minute when Worthing’s winger Coleman De-Graft broke the deadlock with an impressive goal, controlling a knockdown before finishing sharply on the turn. Four minutes later, Aguiar extended Worthing’s advantage with a precise finish past Carlisle’s goalkeeper Archie Mair. Although Carlisle responded immediately with a goal from Kelly, reducing the deficit, this proved only to be a consolation as time ran out.

Carlisle manager Rob Elliot expressed his disappointment following the defeat, remarking on the team’s inability to maintain their early second-half momentum. “It’s really disappointing,” he said. “We started brilliantly, but second half we were disjointed and we didn’t stick to what we did.”

Worthing’s performance was bolstered by key contributions from Hutchinson, who was named star player of the match, and the well-timed substitutions that helped maintain pressure in the closing stages. The final whistle confirmed Worthing’s victory in front of an attendance of 8,394 spectators, highlighting the competitive nature of the fixture.

The line-ups reflected tactical adjustments during the game, with Worthing making substitutions in the 78th and 90th minutes and Carlisle introducing changes later in the match, but it was Worthing’s resilience in the final moments that ultimately decided the outcome. Referee Scott Jackson officiated the match without major incident.