Preview: Worthing vs Braintree Town – Promotion Final

Worthing dramatically won their Play-Off Semi-Final as Ollie Pearce bagged a brace, including an 89th-minute winner, to beat Maidstone United.

The Rebels started the contest as the brighter of the two teams and were rewarded for their efforts midway through the first half when they were awarded a penalty after Brad Dolaghan was fouled in the box. The league’s top scorer Pearce stepped up from 12 yards and sent former Rebel Lucas Covolan the wrong way to give his side the advantage.

The Stones’ response to going behind was a good one, though, and they found the leveller before the break. Matt Bentley bundled in after Worthing failed to clear following a scramble in the box, and the sides were level going into the break.

It was backs to the wall for much of the second half for the Rebels and they were inches away from falling behind at the death when Matt Rush struck the bar from point-blank range. The Rebels went straight up the other end and Ollie Pearce found the back of the net after dancing past defenders and firing in at the near post to send the packed-out Sussex Transport Comunity Stadium into raptures.

The win has set up a Promotion Final date with Braintree Town, the only side to have kept two clean sheets against Worthing this season, and the only side to do the double against the Rebels.