Tuesday, September 2. National League South. Worthing 2. Salisbury 0.

A 2-0 away defeat in west Sussex has left the Whites without a win in their first seven games of their season.

The home side were the first to ask questions, as inside two minutes a dangerous ball was sent into the box from a free kick which was eventually cleared by Noah Coppin.

In the eighth minute, Josh Hedges used his body to draw a foul in a dangerous position. The wide man took the set piece and forced a palmed save out of Sebastian Stacey.

Tommy Lee-Higgs and Hedges combined well in the 14th minute, however Higgs’ threatening low-driven cross was dealt with by Stacey to prevent anyone getting onto the end of it.

Minutes later, Tom Davies made an important interception to deny Joel Colbran’s dangerous looking ball into the box.

In the 18th minute, Lee-Higgs struck a venomous effort that was kept out by a full stretched Stacey.

That save provided the Whites with a flurry of corners, which also saw Josh Keeya gain possession just outside the Worthing box, his effort was tipped over the bar by the busy Stacey in the Worthing net.

Five minutes later, Joe Cook was guilty of missing a sitter after his header was glanced wide of Will Buse’s post. The chance had been set up on a plate by a delicious ball from Sam Packham.

Just after the half hour mark, Matthew Burgess was able to swivel and shoot for the hosts, however the midfielder’s effort didn’t trouble Buse.

In the 38th minute, Keeya arrived at the back post and greeted skipper Josh Sommerton’s cross with his head, but the effort went over the bar.

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The chance came after a quick transition and some incredible footwork in the centre circle by Jordan Ngalo.

The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute when Joe Cook got on the end of a sweetly struck corner, as the defender bulleted his header past Buse to give the hosts the lead.

In the third minute of stoppage time, the ball fell for Lee-Higgs to hit just outside the box. The striker’s attempt went just high of the frame.

A minute later, Rebels captain Colbran punished Salisbury. The fullback reacted fastest to the ball into the six-yard box and doubled his sides’ lead.

Salisbury went into the interval two goals down despite their energetic first half display.

In the 49th minute, Sommerton managed to block Razzaq De-Graft’s effort as the Worthing wide man cut inside onto his weak foot and fired the ball towards goal.

Minutes later, the Rebels rushed forward menacingly after Hayden Muller was caught out in possession on the halfway line. The home side worked the ball to Nicky Wheeler whose effort just went wide of the far post.

Just before the hour mark, substitute Temilou Babalola nodded a headed effort inches over the woodwork from De-Graft’s cross.

In the 67th minute, Ollie Bray benefitted from some exceptional work done by Dom Revan.

The fullback won the ball back and drove into the Rebels’ half, he then released it to Bray, who showed a good turn of pace to get in behind but eventually his cross was cleared.

After a small period where neither side created any chances, Muller eventually had a half-opening. The centre back stepped forward in possession and bent an effort which went wide of the far post.

A minute from the end of normal time, Bray got in behind and managed to force a good stop out of Stacey.

After four additional minutes were played, the ref sounded the final whistle to confirm defeat for the Whites.

Thoughts from the manager

Speaking about the defeat following the match, manager Brian Dutton praised the “well drilled” opposition, and was thankful to his players for applying pressure for the first 35 minutes.

On the result, he said: “It’s just the way it is a little bit at the moment. We had the opportunity to go one-nil up and the game play would have worked perfectly, but we missed that opportunity and they’ve gone up the other end and scored a flash goal and then managed to get a second just before half time, which the lads didn’t deserve really.

“But that’s what happens if you switch off for a moment. This team (Worthing) were fighting for the title last season. I’m gutted for the boys as they left it all out there on the pitch for us and it just wasn’t to be unfortuntaley, but I’m really pleased with their application.”

The Whites host Tonbridge Angels at the Raymac on Saturday (September 6).