TWO red cards and two penalties – one of them missed and one scored – saw the game slip away from Tonbridge Angels as Worthing got back to winning ways in the Bostik League Premier.
Joe Turner should have put Tonbridge ahead on the quarter-hour but the Worthing goalkeeper Kleton Pentreou did well to smother the shot.
Pentreou produced more heroics after Worthing’s James Crane brought down Jared Small in the penalty area in the 25th minute, the keeper saving well from Alex Read’s spot-kick.
Eventually the Angels took the lead two minutes before half-time. A flowing move involving Tom Beere and and Michael West saw Turner apply the finishing touch.
The game was turned on its head in the 50th minute when James Folkes was adjudged to have handled in the area and controversially given a straight red card.
Crane stepped up to take the penalty and beat Jonny Henly with a low shot to his left to put the Rebels on level terms.
With the man advantage, the visitors were always going to enjoy more of the play and their substitute Callum Healey put Worthing ahead with a glancing header in the 78th minute.
Having scored the winner, Healey was then sent off for a second bookable offence late in the game. The Angels rallied but couldn’t break through the Worthing defence.
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “Of course I’m very frustrated, but I cannot fault my players for their display.
“We have been victim of decisions that have gone against us and there is only one person responsible for that.”
The Angels have no Bostik League Premier fixture this weekend.
The club has arranged a friendly against Dartford from the National South league on Saturday [December 15, kick-off 3pm].
