Late winner puts Rebels through

Andy Alexander nodded down a deep cross and Brotherton fired the ball past Whyteleafe keeper Robert Tolfrey from six yards to give Worthing the 1,000 prize money.

Whyteleafe pushed for an equaliser but Ben Andrews headed clear Michael Riley's cross-shot which beat Rebels keeper Rikki Banks, and Andrews and Stuart Axten combined to stop Sam Clayton.

Rebels had almost taken a fifth-minute lead but Ben Johnson's 25-yarder hit the outside of a post.

But, 14 minutes later, Worthing did go ahead. Sam Tucknott out-paced Whyteleafe left-back Luke Basford and pulled the ball back for Sam Gargan to tap home his seventh goal of the season.

Basford was immediately replaced by Graham Tydeman, whose first involvement in the game was a late tackle on Paul Rogers, which saw him booked.

Gargan was denied a second by Adam Broomhead's block on 35 minutes before Whyteleafe, with their first shot on target, equalised three minutes before half-time.

Robert Smith's miss-hit shot fell to Daniel Platel, who held off a challenge from Stuart Axten, to fire home from six yards.

Worthing almost regained their lead three minutes into the second half but Andrews' 20-yarder hit a post and Gargan failed to head the rebound past Tolfrey.

At the other end, Banks saved from Alhajie Jabbie and Clayton, although the game appeared to be heading for a replay until Brotherton's late winner.

Worthing joint-manager Alan Pook said: "It was difficult again for us We were forced into making changes. Sam Francis, who has a dead leg, could have played, but then he would have been unavailable next week.

"And, we knew we could get half-an-hour out of Andy Alexander but not a full game.

"We've put Jamie Brotherton on the bench to try to shake him up a bit.

"Before today, he'd only scored two goals in 60 games, whereas Matt Phelan's scored five in eight games and Ben Johnson's got five in eight.

"Jamie got into an area where he could score and I'm really pleased for him."

WORTHING: Banks; R.Pook, Axten, Andrews, Rowlands; Tucknott, Johnson, Rogers, Akehurst, Phelan; Gargan. Subs: Alexander (Johnson 73), Brotherton (Phelan 80), Francis.