Worthing FC 1-4 Forest Green Rovers – Worthing FC

In Adam Hinshelwood's first game since returning as Worthing manager, goals from Harry Whitfield and Tom Knowles gave the visitors an early advantage.

Teddy Jenks equalized for the Rebels just before half-time, but second-half substitutes Harry Bunker and Jayden Clarke equalized for the Gloucestershire side.

Hinshelwood made three changes to the Worthing side who lost 1-0 away to Maidenhead United in our last league game; Captain Joel Colbran returned to the side in place of the suspended Harry Ransom, while Nathan Odokonyero and Toby Byron also came into the starting XI.

It was the Rebels who enjoyed the first rally better, with both Jenks and Jack Spong having their attempts saved in the penalty area after a quick start from the hosts.

Worthing had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the 12th minute after Temi Babalola's clever raid play allowed the striker to break through the visitors' defensive line with a one-two with Jenks.

Babalola had space to shoot from the corner and chose to balance the ball with the Rovers defense
able to clarify their lines.

From the next period onwards it was Robbie Savage's team that took the lead. After winning a free-kick shortly into Worthing half-time, the hosts' defense line was caught off guard by Whitwell's wild run, who held on to a thrown ball from behind before firing past Seb Stacey to give Forest Green the lead.

Ten minutes later the away team doubled their lead thanks to Knowles' close-range finish. After Worthing gave the ball away from a promising position in the final third, Jili Buyabu's quick pace allowed Forest Green to get their bodies forward.

With Worthing out of form, the ball eventually fell to the feet of Knowles, who finished low with his left foot past Stacey to make it 2-0 in the 22nd minute.

After mostly half chances for both sides in the last 20 minutes of the first half, Worthing halved the deficit with a decisive goal in the 45th minute.

Forest Green struggled to clear on the edge of their own penalty area and after Razzaq Coleman De-Graft tirelessly tried to get the ball back in the air, Jenks was on hand to fire a first attempt past Luke McNicholas from a central position near the edge of the penalty area.

Hinshelwoods Worthing made no changes at half-time and started the second half on offense. Clever play from Coleman De-Graft down the right touchline to set up a low throw gave Odokonyero the chance to pressure McNicholas in the six-yard area, but the Rovers keeper managed just enough to prevent the Rebels' No.9 from thumping home from close range.

The Rebels, who had dominated the first quarter of an hour after the break, suffered a major setback in their comeback when Forest Green scored their third goal in the 69th minute thanks to substitute Bunker.

Shortly after Bababola headed just over the bar from a corner, the away side took advantage of a poor pass from Spong to put pressure on the Worthing defensive line, with Bunker firing a first-time shot at Stacey's right-hand post.

Forest Green, who had relentlessly tried to make Worthing pay for their mistakes all night, scored their fourth goal in the 74th minute when another substitute Clarke shot home from the penalty spot after being fouled from behind in the box by Sam Packham.

Although Worthing continued to push forward to put Forest Green back in the lead, the away side retained their three-goal lead and set up a trip to Luton Town in the first round of the competition.