Worthing secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Hartlepool United at Victoria Park, with goals from Cory Adjetey-Brew, Ricky Aguiar and Jose Marquez earning the visitors all three points. Will Harris gave Hartlepool hope during the closing stages, but Worthing struck again in stoppage time to make sure of the victory.
The opening stages were closely contested, with Hartlepool looking to respond after consecutive defeats against Scunthorpe United and Altrincham. Both sides had opportunities as the first half developed, but neither was able to find an early breakthrough.
Worthing eventually opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Aguiar was involved in the build-up before Adjetey-Brew found the net to put the visitors 1-0 ahead. Hartlepool suffered a further setback shortly afterwards when Liam Gibson was forced off through injury, with Charlie Penman introduced in his place before the interval.
Pools looked for a response, but Worthing carried their advantage into half-time and then doubled it in the 59th minute. Aguiar, having provided the assist for the opening goal, got on the scoresheet himself to give the visitors a 2-0 lead and leave Hartlepool with a considerable task during the final half-hour.
Hartlepool refused to allow the contest to drift away and began to apply greater pressure as the second half progressed. Their persistence was rewarded in the 77th minute when Harris found the net to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and give the home side renewed hope of taking something from the match.
The goal changed the complexion of the closing stages, with Hartlepool pushing forward in search of an equaliser while Worthing attempted to protect their narrow advantage. Pools committed players forward and created pressure around the visitors’ penalty area, but Worthing held firm as the contest moved into stoppage time.
With Hartlepool still chasing the game, Worthing took advantage of the additional space to settle the contest. In the 92nd minute, Adjetey-Brew turned provider and supplied substitute Marquez, who found the net to restore the visitors’ two-goal advantage and extinguish Hartlepool’s hopes of a late comeback.
The final whistle confirmed a 3-1 victory for Worthing, with their clinical finishing proving decisive in a contest that became increasingly competitive after Hartlepool pulled a goal back. Adjetey-Brew played a particularly influential role, scoring the opener before providing the assist for the stoppage-time goal that secured the points.
The victory lifted Worthing to ninth place in the completed Saturday National League table with 14 points from nine matches. Hartlepool United finished the day 18th with nine points from nine games after suffering their third successive league defeat.
