Weston AFC lost out to visitors Worthing FC this weekend after a last-minute penalty consigned them to a 4-3 defeat in their first game of the 2024/25 season.

In a true game of two halves Weston found themselves 3-0 up within 40 minutes after dominating the game only to concede four second half goals, including a penalty in the last kick of the game, recording a loss to start off the new campaign.

The Seagulls started well, giving Worthing no time to breathe with their high press, and were rewarded in just the fifth minute when captain Emlyn Lewis popped up at the far post to convert Luke Coulson’s corner and make it 1-0 early on.

Provider then turned scorer 20 minutes later as Coulson converted a penalty to make it 2-0 after a Worthing defender pulled James Dodd to ground.

Coulson would double his season tally in the 38th minute, a ball through from Ollie Chamberlain left the new signee one on one with the keeper and after his initial shot was blocked high into the sky by Worthing’s keeper Coulson was left with an open net to calmly head home.

Weston’s scintillating first half performance sent them into the break 3-0 up and looking comfortable but Worthing returned to the pitch looking to rebel.

The visitors started off much quicker than the first half and got their opener just eight minutes into the restart, a 53rd minute freekick from Spong sent Seagulls keeper William Buse the wrong way to make it 3-1.

Worthing were into their football now, finding themselves in the opposition half far more and getting chances on goal, a theme that forced Weston manager Scott Bartlett to bring on Dylan Kadji and Jordan Bastin to shore up the defence in the 70th minute.

However, the defensive changes invited the Rebels to attack and within minutes they scored their second, an attack down the right flank found Cashman with space in the box and he calmly found the bottom right to make it 3-2.

Worthing then levelled the game in the 80th, a foul just outside the box allowed Spong to dispatch his second freekick of the day into the top right of the Weston goal and set the stage for a nervy finish.

Weston created a few chances of their own through Bastin and Bailey Kempster in the last 10 minutes but couldn’t find the decisive finish whilst Worthing continued their march forwards.

The game stayed level as both teams desperately tried to secure a winner and it looked like the points would be shared until goal scorer Lewis was deemed to have fouled Cashman in the penalty box.

With the game on the line and just seconds left to play Cashman stepped up and calmly slotted home to give Worthing an unbelievable 4-3 win considering the state of play at half time.

Weston will certainly see it as points lost after a performance that looked so comfortable at the start but can take positives, especially from such a dominant first half performance, that was only overturned in the final 20 minutes.

Scott Bartlett and his men now sit 15th in the National Conference League South after the first weekend of fixtures and go on to play 19th placed Enfield Town away on August 17th.