Whites Edge Nine Goal Thriller Against Top of the Table Worthing

Josh Hedges ensured all three points stayed in Wiltshire, scoring the odd goal in a nine-goal thriller at the Ray Mac against top of the table Worthing.

In a ding-dong game, where both teams led at different points on a very cold but dry Saturday afternoon, and eight different players got their names on the score sheet. 

Mo Dabre forced the first save of the game in the 11th minute, Salisbury breaking quickly against Worthing, and Tommy Willard set up the chance for Dabre to try and curl one from the edge of the box. Josh Jeffries in the Worthing goal did well to get down and turn it behind. 

Will Buse was forced into action for the first time in the 15th minute in the Salisbury goal. He got down really well to push away a low effort from Ollie Godziemski and turn it behind for a corner. 

Worthing took the lead in the 25th minute after seeing more than their fair share of the ball, when Teddy Jenks slotted into the bottom corner after Salisbury failed to clear an attack that came down the right. 

The lead only lasted a couple of minutes. Noah Coppin sliding home after a great low cross from the right by Ollie Morgan in the 28th minute. 

Image: Harry Phillips/Salisbury FC

Salisbury had the chance to take the lead after Jeffries brought down Josh Hedges in the box. Hedges' first touch let him down a little, but he clashed with Jeffries as he nudged the ball away from the Worthing keeper in the 31st minute. 

However, Noah Coppin was unable to convert from the spot after a fantastic double save from Jenkins. Jenkins saved the penalty and again at the feet of Coppin on the rebound. 

Salisbury continued to press and was a whisker away from taking the lead, but no one could get a telling touch as the ball was whipped across the goal. 

The homeside took the lead in the 36th minute; the ball found its way to Tommy Willard after buildup play involving Mo Dabre and Noah Coppin. Willard struck the ball beyond Jeffries to give Salisbury the lead against his former side. 

Worthing struck back just three minutes later when the visitors went route one: the ball forward found Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, who lifted the ball over Will Buse from 25 yards out to square things up. 

There were big shouts for a Salisbury penalty in the 41st minute, when Noah Coppin went down as he got in behind Toby Byron, but referee Adam Merchant waved away the appeals. 

The end of the half ended with Salisbury on the front foot, but they were unable to take any chances, and the sides went in level at the break 

The second period got off to a fast start, with Worthing creating chances, but it was the homeside who took the lead with just 5 minutes of the second half played. 

Noah Coppin finished really well after being teed up by Josh Hedges, who had beaten the offside trap to get in behind down the right. He put the ball across for Coppin to lift the ball over Jeffries in the 50th minute. 

Once again, the lead didn't last long, Jack Spong levelling from the spot in the 53rd minute after Camron Gbadebo was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box.

Josh Keeya restored the White's lead with an absolute beauty from 30 yards in the 62nd minute. The Salisbury midfielder picked up the ball after it was punched clear by Jeffries. Keeya then curled the ball into the top corner in front of the home supporters. 

Image: Harry Phillips/Salisbury FC

Worthing applied pressure as they looked to get back into the game. Will Buse didn't have a huge amount to do, but had to react well as the ball was nudged goalwards in the 72nd minute. The Salisbury keeper pounced on the ball to temporarily alleviate the pressure. 

However, just a minute later, the away team were level. Bradley Dolaghan finished well from near the edge of the box after being put through on goal. 

Will Buse produced the same of the game in the 81st minute. He got down really well to turn Dolaghan's effort behind for a corner. There were numerous chances for Worthing from the resulting corner. Salisbury defenders were throwing themselves in front of shots before Buse produced another fantastic stop to turn an effort over the bar. 

Worthing came within the width of the bar of taking the lead in the 85th minute. Substitute Shoiloh Remy failed to convert from just a couple of yards out, his effort flicking behind off the crossbar. 

Josh Hedges sent the home end into pandemonium in the third minute of additional time when he finished well after being tee'd up by Ollie Bray. Bray did well in midfield and galloped away from the Worthing defence before squaring for Hedges to put the ball beyond Jeffries to make it 5-4 in favour of Salisbury. 

Image: Harry Phillips/Salisbury FC