A first-half strike from Steven Hale proved enough to sentence Worthing to their fourth consecutive league and cup defeat at home to division one high-flyers Northwood.

Rebels, whose grim run comes after they gained three straight victories with Barry Lloyd in charge, came up against strong and resolute opponents.

Worthing kept Northwood in check in the second half but were unable to mount a period of sustained pressure and never looked like scoring.

Wesley Lopez should have put Rebels ahead from a good cross by Ben Carrington before Hale pounced to hit the only goal ten minutes before the break.

Worthing, who have now dropped below mid-table, were without key midfielder Mark Burt because of flu.

They were fortunate to survive just before Hale's goal when Ryan Ashe fired wastefully over after goalkeeper James Wastell failed to gather a shot from Lawrence Yaku.

Hale was twice off target in the opening exchanges as Northwood took the game to Worthing and Wastell was also forced to save a right-foot shot from Dave Nolan.

Carrington drew a save from Andy Felton just after the break and Paul Kennett headed narrowly wide late on from a corner by Lopez, but Worthing ran out of ideas.

Horsham's division two championship campaign stuttered as they were held to a goalless draw at Hungerford Town.

To make matters worse, striker Jamie Taylor, the division's leading scorer, was whisked off to hospital in an ambulance after a heavy challenge on the stroke of half-time.

Manager John Maggs said: "Jamie took some studs in his chest. He had an irregular heartbeat so went to hospital as a precaution. I don't think it's too serious. He also hurt his ankle."

He added: "We lacked ideas. We didn't create much and didn't test their keeper at all. It's two points lost."

The loss of Taylorblunted a Horsham attack that had rarely shown its teeth in the opening period despite controlling much of the play.

Lee Carney spotted home goalkeeper Elliot Jackson off his line in the 25th minute, but his long- range effort was held at full stretch.

Eight minutes later Luke Gedling fired a 30-yard free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.

Hungerford's best chance of the game came two minutes before the interval when an angled drive by Andy Philpott was saved by Ian Chatfield.

Hungerford failed to get a single effort on target in the second half and Horsham did little better.

Marcel Dennis looped the ball over in the 55th minute after a Carney run had caused chaos in the penalty area, and Jackson required extensive treatment after diving to save Steve Payne's close-range strike after 63 minutes.