STEVE Bircham scored a goal in each half as Worthing tumbled to their first away league defeat for five months in a 4-1 hiding at Wealdstone.

Rebels, who had lost only one of their previous 13 games in Division One, had the perfect start when leading scorer Marc Rice fired home in the third minute following a long throw from Paul Kennett.

But Wealdstone were rewarded for their aggressive approach when Mick Swaysland levelled on the half-hour with a powerful header at the near post from a cross by Brian Jones.

The hosts effectively dashed Worthing's hopes by scoring two goals within a minute just before the break through Bircham and Chris Walton.

Bircham gave keeper Phil Reid little chance with a shot from 20 yards before Walton capped some good individual play by driving into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.

Midfielder Bircham sentenced Rebels to their heaviest defeat since going down 5-0 at Hitchin at the end of August by grabbing the fourth on 69 minutes. He scored with a far post header which eluded Reid following a cross from the left by Lewis Reid.

Worthing's dismal night was compounded by having five players booked, including Reid and Rice who were cautioned in the first two minutes after the interval. Danny Smith and Mark Knee also had their names taken in the second half, while Damian Webber was booked before the break.

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