ADAM HINSHELWOOD was left to rue missed chances as Worthing suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to fellow title challengers Folkestone Invicta at Woodside Road.

On-loan Albion goalkeeper Carl Rushworth pulled off a tremendous save in the first half to deny the visitors a lead but Ira Jackson’s 20th goal of the season in the 87th minute was enough to move the visitors just two points behind the Rebels at the top of the table.

Rushworth’s save was caught on camera and a big hit on social media yesterday with Albion’s Maty Ryan retweeting it and calling it a ‘worldie’.

But it was at the other end that boss Hinshelwood felt his side came up short as the visiting keeper Tim Roberts had a relatively quiet afternoon.

Hinshelwood said: “It was a great save in the first half, but he was the busiest of the two of the keepers as their one had nothing to do despite us having 70% of possession. That showed we did not work him enough.”

He added: “It was quite disappointing for us.

“We couldn’t take our chances which left ourselves a bit vulnerable to that happening.

“We wanted to try and keep taking the game to them hence with the substitutions they were all attacking players.”

 

It was Folkestone’s top scorer who did the damage towards the end with his only chance of the game and Hinshelwood says that is all the top players need.

He said: “He didn’t get a sniff all game and then he struck with his only chance, but that is what the top players do in this league - take their chances. We needed more chances.”

Rushworth was forced to make a terrific save when Scott Heard’s free-kick was met by Michael Everitt, whose effort was acrobatically tipped onto the roof of the net.

Worthing’s Ricky Aguiar then went close when his free-kick flew inches wide of a post.

The Rebels were lucky not to go behind when Aarran Racine’s backpass went straight to Jerson Dos Santos, who was one on one with Rushworth and went round the keeper but took a heavy touch in the process and could only put his effort into the side netting.

Folkestone almost took the lead early in the second half when Jackson slotted a ball through for Dos Santos but his powerful effort was well held by Rushworth.

Jackson found the side netting when Dos Santos played the ball to him.

Reece Meekums tried to break the deadlock with an effort from distance which failed to hit the target.

The 1,410 in attendance thought the game was heading for a draw until in the 87th minute Jackson found space for a shot and his effort hit a hand of Rushworth and went in off the inside of the post.

Rebels substitute Kieron Pamment volleyed inches wide late on after a ball into the box was headed away to him.

Jackson then had another sniff of goal in injury time, but this time Rushworth was able to keep it out.

Worthing: Rushworth, Colbran, Barker, Racine, Young, Parsons (Pamment 76), Aguiar, Myles-Meekums (Armstrong 55), Hunte (Dawes 55), Pearce, Stevens. Unused subs: Budd, Pattenden.

Attendance: 1,410.