Worthing came from behind to defeat Select Soccer in emphatic fashion and clinch the Sussex John Davey Cup (Under-16) at Culver Road on Sunday.

Harry Margeson’s hat-trick and a goal from captain Danny Howick fired the Mackerelmen to victory after Gabriel Ebede’s first-half opener for Select.

The former was brilliant throughout, constantly getting into goalscoring positions and testing Select’s defence whenever possible.

He found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the tenth minute having darted through the Select defence with a mazy dribble, but his low effort was well-parried by Ethan Doidge.

Five minutes later Hayden Beaconsfield came close to a leveller down the other end, his sweetly-struck volley calling Johnny Woods into action who saved magnificently from close range.

Margeson was making a nuisance of himself up top for The Mackerel Men, and tested Doidge again midway through the first period but his effort was once again kept out, with Alfie Hall blazing the rebound high and wide.

But it was Select that drew first blood with 24 minutes on the clock. Beaconsfield’s corner was swung in beautifully and dropped at the feet of winger Ebede, who converted the simplest of tap-ins.

Worthing nearly responded with an immediate equaliser through danger man Margeson, but Cobi Fuller slid in bravely to deny him and keep his side in front.

They continued to push, and with four minutes until the break they were awarded a dangerous-looking free-kick 25 yards from goal, with Maxwell Bartlett inches from scoring as his left-footed strike dipped behind the crossbar.

The leveller eventually came in the 38th minute courtesy of Margeson, who latched onto Howick’s fantastic cross to poke the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net, leaving the match finely poised at half-time.

Worthing had been the better side in the opening period, dominating possession and chances, but were still allowing Select to cause them problems on the counter.

However, in the 57th minute, Worthing completed their comeback. It was Margeson’s second of the afternoon, turning home Bartlett’s low cross from inside the six-yard box to hand the Mackerelmen the lead.

Their third arrived less than 60 seconds later, again through Margeson who smashed the ball into the back of the net from close range, completing his hat-trick and putting Worthing firmly in the driving seat in a matter of moments.

Select, stunned into submission, continued to allow their opponents to open them up time and time again. Howick was denied by a strong save from Doidge with sixteen minutes remaining, but found the net two minutes later when he lashed home after picking up the ball in space on the edge of the area, putting the result beyond any doubt.

Jamie Smith could have added a fifth for Worthing with two minutes to go, but substitute goalkeeper Thomas Vesnaver got down well to parry his effort wide.

Worthing manager Andy Alman spoke proudly of his side after the final whistle.

“This is the culmination of all the effort, all the development that they’ve done, so it’s lovely to see all their hard work pay off in a final like this.”

(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: (Select Soccer-Worthing)
Goals: 1-4; Shots: 7-20; Shots-on-target: 3-9; Corners: 3-12; Offsides: 0-2; Fouls: 5-9; Yellow cards: 0-0; Red cards: 0-0

Select Soccer: Doidge, Harris, Rand, Beaconsfield, Payton, Connolly, Fuller, West (c), Page, Ebede, Mumford.
Subs: Parker, Lindsay, Horstmann, Berry, Vesnaver.

Worthing: Woods, Rye, Howick (c), Spicer, Worsdell, Mthunzi, Alman, Bartlett, Perry, Hall, Margeson.
Subs: Goff, Stacey, Smith, Tanev, Clarke.

Match report by Archie Griggs