Worthing conceded two goals in first half stoppage time as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Whyteleafe.

Rebels had to play for nearly an hour with ten men after the sending off of Wesley Lopez for deliberate handball in the division one clash.

Lopez saw red when he instinctively saved a header by Danny Arkwright on the goalline following a corner by Paul McKay.

This gave former Worthing man Lee Cormack the chance to put the hosts ahead but his penalty was brilliantly saved by Matthew May diving to his right.

Whyteleafe finally broke the deadlock when Leion Dillon fired home and, with Worthing down to nine men with Gavin Geddes forced off injured, Cormack cashed in on defensive hesitancy to double the lead with a lofted shot over May.

Substitute Gavin Jones gave Worthing hope by converting a through ball by Mark Knee only seven minutes after the break but Rebels could not avoid a tenth defeat in 15 games.

Knee was narrowly off target with an overhead kick after Ben Carrington combined with Jones, and Jones was just off target with a neat shot two minutes from time.

Meanwhile, Lewes had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Berkhamsted Town in division two.

A point was enough to put Rooks back on top of the table but it was not the result manager Jimmy Quinn was hoping for. following their FA Vase disappointment at the weekend.

Chris Dicker had already gone close when Lewes took the lead on six minutes.

A long kick from goalkeeper Ross Standen was not read by the Berkhamsted defence and Germain Amanuel raced goalside to head the ball over the advancing Sean O'Connor.

Berkhamsted equalised five minutes into the second half when an unchallenged Marvin Morgan rose to head in a deep cross which went in off the opposite post.

Three minutes later the home side were unlucky not to retake the lead as impressive debutant Danny Fletcher saw his effort rebound off an upright with O'Connor beaten.

Lewes also gave a debut to former Albion midfielder Danny Davis.