Mussels fight back from 2-0 down

SHOREHAM Football Club clawed their way back from two goals down to all but extinguish any lingering relegation fears on Tuesday night.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Apr 2007, 16:36 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 23:44 BST

Set-piece specialist Richard Carter denied Worthing United their first away win since January with a controversial 82nd-minute penalty to earn Mussels a 2-2 draw.

With time running out, Darren Annis drew a foul inside the box from United centre-back Steve Pickles. Referee Ashley Slaughter deemed the contact from Pickles heavy enough to award a penalty. Carter, cool as ever, stepped up to send Sam Figg the wrong way for the equaliser.

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The goal stretched Mussels' unbeaten run to five league games, having taken 11 points from a possible 15.

United, on the other hand, face an uphill struggle if they are to stand any chance of beating the drop. They are now seven points adrift of safety, with just seven games left.

Although United possess the leakiest defence in the division, neither side could be proud of their efforts at the back.

On an admittedly bumpy playing surface, Shoreham skipper Dan Jordan mis-kicked a straightforward clearance in the 37th minute. The energetic Richard Ghent pounced and played through Gavin Geddes to slot coolly past Ronan Callaghan for the opener.

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Midway through the second-half, Callaghan fell victim to the Paul Robinson clanger. Chris Hibberd's back-pass bobbled over the keeper's right foot as he raced to clear. Dan Azimi rolled the ball into an empty net for one of the easiest goals he will score all year.

But United's joy of a two-goal lead was cut short, as Shoreham struck a minute later. Jon Spragg's persistence down the right flank enabled him to whip in a dangerous cross from the by-line. Eamonn Searle missed the chance to clear, allowing Chris Georgiou to find the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Geddes almost grabbed his second of the game shortly afterwards, when Jordan again mis-kicked a clearance. This time, however, Geddes saw his effort for a 3-1 lead skip across the face of goal and carry on past the far post.

SHOREHAM: R.Callaghan; Dorrington, Burt, Jordan, Simmons; Boddy, Carter, Georgiou, Hibberd; Smith, Annis. Subs: Spragg (Smith 45), Wallace (Hibberd 85), Goatcher, Wickham.

Report by Sam Satchell