Worthing won their second Sussex Dennis Probee Youth Cup (Under-18s) with a 3-0 win over Eastbourne Borough at Culver Road on Thursday night, lifting the trophy for the first time since 2008.

The two Isthmian Youth South teams were inseparable until Borough conceded a penalty on the stroke of half time, Worthing took their momentum into the second half, scoring two more to top off a memorable victory.

Both sides started the first half well, Jacob Minty’s first effort of the match was comfortably saved by Adam Nash. Eastbourne Borough had another chance shortly after, but Marcel Powell’s shot curled just wide of the post.

Powell had another opportunity to open the scoring but the wingers’ shot from ten yards out flew over the bar. He was involved in another chance, he attempted to pick out Fraser Middleton with a low driven cross, but the forward made his run too early to get on the end of it.

The best move of the half came from an over-the-top ball from Lewis Thorne into Worsdell, his left footed strike was tipped over the bar by Finlay Holter.

Worthing were awarded a penalty on the cusp of half time after Toby Brown blocked a shot with his arm, Finlay Chadwick stepped up and slotted it into the bottom corner, giving Worthing the lead at the break.

Chadwick nearly grabbed his brace as the second half began, he was played through into close range but his effort sailed over the crossbar.

Borough had an opportunity to equalise from a free kick, Hayden Beaconsfield’s effort forced Nash into a diving save which parried the ball back into danger but the rebound was blocked by Owen Spicer.

Worthing tried to hit back on the counterattack, but Rocco Gamblin missed the ball as it was squared to him. They got another chance to make it two and took it, Finlay Holter got a fingertip to Lewis Thorne’s first-time strike, but it was not enough to keep it out. Worthing led by two with half an hour to play.

Kyle O’Brien extended Worthing’s lead to three soon after, the left back got on the end of a through ball and struck it into the top corner.

Beaconsfield had a go from range with a strike that rattled the post and went wide, their only real chance of the second half. His effort summed up their frustration as they were keeping the ball well in Worthing’s half but could not breach their backline, Worthing ended the game with a clean sheet, but most importantly, the trophy!

Following the final whistle, Worthing Manager, Adam Kipling, praised his side for how they handled such a big occasion at their young age.

“Just be as calm as you can, in the right moments we want intensity as it’s a final, everyone is going to be pushing around but there are key moments you have got to be cool, calm and execute what you need to do properly and in the second half we got to see that.”

Kipling also made it clear that his players are good enough to make the jump to the first team if they continue to show the right mentality.

“The future is for them, they are all fantastic players, it’s difficult because the first team are progressing and looking to get promoted, but if these guys can maintain their enthusiasm and their dedication, they will get their chance.”

Eastbourne Borough manager, Matt Grainger, praised the way his side started, but admitted they were not close to Worthing in the second half.

“In the first half I thought we played pretty well, matched them, unlucky with the penalty and in the second half I think you’ve got to give it to Worthing, we did not really compete.”

(A selection of photographs can be found on Facebook - courtesy of Simon Roe Photography)
(Video highlights are available above and on YouTube - courtesy of Your Instant Replay)  

Stats: (Eastbourne Borough-Worthing): Goals (0-3), Shots (9-14), Shots on target (5-10), Corners (6-8), Fouls (2-6), Offsides (5-0), Yellow cards (0-0), Red cards (0-0)

Eastbourne Borough: Holter, Yeates, Bull, Taylor, Saumtally Lopez, Brown, De Freitas, Beaconsfield, Minty, Powell, Middleton.
Subs: Tarrant, Lambden, Macy, Nwanosike, D’Lurbe D’Abadie.

Worthing: Nash, Fuller, Spicer, Rye, Smith, O’Brien, Chadwick, Thorne, Perry, Gamblin, Worsdell.
Subs: Dolaghan, Starkey, Alman, Cheverton, Southgate.

Match Report by Jack Bryant