The Milton Road faithful witnessed a third consecutive home defeat and a second consecutive cup exit as City crashed out of the FA Trophy, Sam Francis netting an extra time winner for visiting Ryman League Division One opponents Worthing, after the home side had conceded an equaliser with six minutes of the ninety remaining.

Danny Bloomfield returned from illness to partner Academy striker Michael Gash up-front, Shane Wardley and Jamie Godbold making way for what appeared, on paper, to be an attack minded City line-up in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the drab Woodside Road encounter on Saturday.

The early signs were good as City looked lively going forward, Gash forcing a right sided corner after a purposeful run and Bloomfield firing narrowly wide after a sharp turn away from Glenn Davies following a neat Rob Miller pass.

Lewis Baillie surges forward

As play switched briskly to the other end of the pitch Ben Carrington forced a corner off Alan Calton, Mark Knee’s resultant place kick breaking for Gavin Geddes who again forced the City ‘keeper into action.

Knee again turned provider on fourteen minutes floating in a right wing free kick, awarded when Lewis Baillie felled Carrington, which visiting skipper Paul Rogers headed narrowly over.

With the Rebels looking the more incisive of the two teams the alert Geddes made the most of the space created as the ball rebounded too him off Bloomfield by running at the heart of the City defence and again forcing Calton to parry the ball away from danger.

The deadlock was broken on twenty four minutes as the visitors capitalised on yet more of the untidy defending that has characterised recent City performances. Showing good anticipation Owen Hill charged down Lee Pluck’s clearance taking the ball wide on the Worthing left before cutting back a dangerous cross from a good deep position. The Lilywhites appeared to have recovered their shape however and James Quilter looked favourite to avert the danger by intercepting the ball at the near post. Unfortunately for City, a lack of composure saw the former Woking central defender slice his attempted clearance goalwards forcing Alan Calton to block at point blank range, only to divert the ball into the path of a grateful Carrington who had the simple task of sliding a far post shot into the unguarded net.

Despite this setback City were on level terms within five minutes. Gash showing good awareness nodded Craig Pope’s pass into the feet of Rob Miller wide on the right. Looking up and seeing the Danny Bloomfield bursting into the box the former Bedford midfielder swung in a first time cross which saw the Lilywhites leading scorer stretch to get between Glenn Davies and Ross Johnson before deflecting the ball wide of a statuesque Ross Standen and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

The game continued to be evenly matched for the remainder of the half. Ross Johnson’s long throw, a constant cause of concern for the City back line, picked out Sam Francis on the right, turning cleverly he wriggled clear of the attentions of both Baillie and Quilter before firing at Calton who saved comfortably.

Rob Nightingale managed to collect a yellow card, probably for an accumulation of fouls during the half, before good work by Robbie Simpson on the right won a corner, from which Rob Miller found Lee Pluck but his header was comfortably gathered in by Standen, referee Mr O’Keefe bringing the opening period to an end shortly afterwards.

The game continued to be tight and closely contested after the interval. Lewis Baillie became the second City player cautioned after fouling Carrington near to the half way line. As the Rebels probed down the right hand side a good cross by Rogers picked out Geddes on the near post but his header lacked direction when he was well placed to test Calton.

Worthing's Ross Standen punches clear under pressure from Stuart Niven

Just after the hour mark Carrington became the third player cautioned, presumably for dissent but at this stage Worthing looked the better side. After starting an attacking move from centre field by playing a probing ball out to the left, Sam Francis drifted into the box at the far post and collected a return pass from Mark Pulling but as he was shaping to shoot Lee Pluck made a good recovery tackle to deny him the opportunity.

With some twenty minutes remaining Gary Roberts introduced Carlin Itonga, not fit enough to play from the start apparently, at the expense of Michael Gash who had made a good, honest contribution characterised by a lot of selfless running. Within moments of entering the action the former Arsenal striker demonstrated the cutting edge that had been lacking from City’s play. Collecting Lewis Baillie’s pass wide on the left he showed good close control to cut inside, shield the ball from Andrew Beech and fire low to Standen’s right forcing the former Withdean custodian to ground in order to make the save.

A second change was soon to follow as Jamie Godbold replaced the tiring Stuart Niven. He too was to see early goalmouth action as Rogers’ mis-timed clearance went spiralling into the air, the former Lowestoft Town midfielder was first to react firing low to Standen’s left. The Rebels’ keeper was quick to turn defence into attack as a smart break down the right flank saw the ball worked into Francis on the edge of the area, but with space available the prolific former Withdean striker lifted his effort high of the target.

With 77 minutes on the clock City scored the goal that should have sealed victory. Lewis Baillie’s drilled through ball into the feet of Robbie Simpson, who had struggled to make a real impact playing in an unaccustomed role wide on the left, saw the Academy striker go outside Andrew Beech and cut back a superb centre onto the forehead of Rob Nightingale who angled a precise header into the top right hand corner of the Worthing net. A rare moment of quality which ought to have been enough to see off the visitors. Moments later in a further blow for the Rebels the influential Glenn Davies was forced to withdraw through injury to be replaced by Florian Mattheus.

It is unlikely that Davies would have been on hand to level the scores with six minutes remaining, his replacement however was. As City again surrendered possession in the centre of the park Mattheus collected the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area. He seemed to be well marshalled by Pluck but somehow worked himself enough space to fashion a cultured lob which cleared Alan Calton and looped into the top left hand corner of the City net.

Despite renewed urgency shown by the Lilywhites there was to be no late winner and the game entered extra time. As tiredness began to set in Rob Nightingale totally mis-placed a cross field pass giving Mark Pulling a clear run on goal with only Alan Calton to beat. Showing maturity beyond his years however, City’s teenage ‘keeper stood up long enough to force another of the former Withdean contingent to shoot which allowed the former Norwich City stopper to dive to his left and complete a fine save to keep the home side in the match. In an attempt to try and force victory Gary Roberts then made his final change, Luke Hughes replacing Robbie Simpson.

Worthing continued to carve out the goal scoring opportunities however, Carrington’s driven centre from the right arrived at the feet of Pulling but he was unable to apply a finish from his unmarked position near to the penalty spot.

Danny Bloomfield watches as his header flies narrowly wide

As the first period of extra time was drawing to a close the Rebels scored the goal that they had threatened for some time. Again, under no apparent pressure, City conceded possession. Mattheus seized on the loose ball and immediately fed Francis who surged unchallenged towards goal. This time even the heroic Calton was unable to stop the inevitable strike as, over exposed, he raced to the edge of his area only to see the striker change feet, drift right and steer the ball home.

This hammer blow sparked something of a mini-revival as Itonga showed superb battling qualities to retain possession under heavy challenge before working the ball wide to Godbold whose first time centre picked out Bloomfield who in turn flashed a header wide of the target.

As the game entered its final fifteen minutes Worthing spurned a very presentable chance to put the tie beyond doubt. Pulling played in Francis through the inside right channel but faced with the opportunity of doubling his tally for the evening the striker dragged his effort wide.

City hit back with a sweeping move that saw play switch from one flank to the other. Hughes, wide on the left laid the ball back inside to Pluck whose measured pass found Godbold tight against the right touchline. A first time ball into the feet of Bloomfield, who had found space on the edge of the area, saw the City marksman leaning back and firing high.

As Alan Pook tried to run down the clock he made two further substitutions, Gavin Geddes and Sam Francis making way for James Virgo and Tom Graves respectively. Sandwiched between those two changes came City’s last meaningful chance to level. Craig Pope, arguably the Lilywhites best outfield performer on the night, played a deep cross towards Hughes on the back post, the teenage winger firing back across Standen who parried before the ball was lashed to safety. There was time only for Pulling to collect a caution before Mr O’Keefe’s final whistle marked the end of City’s FA Trophy campaign.

With Hinckley the visitors to Milton Road for what is a crucial league game on Saturday Gary Roberts must find a way to lift a young side which appears to be totally bereft of the confidence which saw them put together an unbeaten run of seven matches only a few weeks ago.