Chichester made a few changes to the starting XI that lined up against Christchurch mid-week. The unavailable Kieran Magee was replaced in between the sticks but Rob Hutchings and Ryan Davidson started at left and right back respectively with Jamie Horncastle and Curtis Da Costa in the middle of the back four. Lloyd Rowlatt was accompanied in centre midfield by Joe Clarke alongside Dean Cox, Mo Jammeh and Josh Clack with Jimmy Wild up top.
A lovely cross from Hutchings as early as the third minute picked out Clack whose header cannoned off the underside of the bar and out to safety.
60 seconds later a mistake by the visitors saw Jammeh tackled, perhaps unfairly, in the box. The ref wasn’t interested though in Chi penalty appeals.
The hosts then pressed again with a neat flick between Cox and Clack for a delivery that was cut out.
Worthing took a free kick quickly at the other end but fired wide of the mark and then cut inside only for Horncastle to make a timely intervention on 11 minutes.
Chi’s No1 got out to intercept moments later and a clever back heel as Rowlatt and Jammed hooked up almost came off.
Next, the home side broke after clearing another Worthing corner and Cox nearly played Jammeh in only for the Worthing keeper to send the ball out for a throw.
Emmett Dunn replaced Horncastle before Worthing took a quick corner which Clarke cleared easily enough.
Rowlatt tried his luck from distance on 21 and Cox steered a cross away from the Rebels’ No10.
Nice football from Clarke, Jammeh and Hutchings eventually fizzled out before Dunn cleverly cut a pass out intended for the Worthing striker.
Rowlatt had an attempt blocked after linking up with Cox and Clack and then the visitors broke down the right with their skipper sending over an inviting cross for the No9.
Nothing came of another Worthing move as the ball got blasted over and Wild slipped after good work from Jammeh.
Cox found Clack once more but the Chi player was fouled on the edge of the penalty area and Hutchings’ subsequent set-piece was cut out and cleared.
Dunn tidied up; Clarke got in well to concede a throw; and a Worthing attack ended in a Chi goal kick.
A minute before the break Hutchings earned another goal kick up against the No9 and then flashed past the Worthing captain and won a free kick which came to nothing.
Both teams rang the changes at half time and Chi subs Joe Moore and Ethan Prichard combined for a good cross from the right before Davidson similarly broke down the same side.
A lovely volley from Danny Cashman on 49 gave the visitors the lead.
Davidson and Isaac Bello combined for a delivery that no one reached.
Chichester had a number of corners to defend but Clarke and Davidson managed to clear these and Da Costa dealt with a probing Worthing cross as well.
Another from the other side might have got Worthing in again but the player couldn’t get his shot off this time.
Play swung this way and that as we entered the last 15.
A super pass from Joe Clarke fell to the Chi trialist whose touch and finish was crisp as you like to level things up in the 83rd minute.
It wasn’t 1-1 for long though as another trialist, for Worthing this time, wrapped things up from close range with three to go.
Chi welcome AFC Portchester to Oaklands on Tuesday 16th July (Kick Off 7:45pm).
