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(This article was originally published in the WFC Programme in the 2001-02 season. It has not been changed, and may no longer be fully up-to date)
Paul Allison nominates a surprising choice for his favourite goal
One of the disadvantages of non-league football is, that when trying to remember and recall past events, there is no bank of video evidence to go back and review. As a result, memories can become a wee bit warped by the mists of time.
To the best of my memory, however, a number of goals stand out in my memory as being something special. Perhaps the most glamorous goal scored by any Worthing player in recent times is Tony Holden’s magnificent 20-yard half-volley in the dying minutes of extra-time at Dover in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying tie in 1999 from a visionary 60 yard pass from right-back Rutherford (or was that “desperate hoof”?), but who remembers Ben Carrington’s last minute equaliser from outside the box in the first match?
The other goals guaranteed to endear a Rebels player to the huddled masses on the terraces are strikes against Bognor. One player who has specialised in this of late, particularly on Boxing Day, is Simon Funnell. Boxing Day 2000 saw Simon Funnell score the sixth goal in the 3-3 draw from all of 45 yards, cheekily lobbing Will Packham in the Bognor goal just seconds after the restart from the previous Worthing goal. The previous year’s encounter saw Simon score twice at Nyewood Lane in a 3-1 win, including a sublime shot with the outside of his left boot that swerved wickedly at an angle of almost 90 degrees.
However, my choice for the best goal I have seen a Worthing player score goes to a surprising choice. Being a great fan of the unsung hero, I was half-minded to nominate Jamie Cole for his last-gasp winner at Ford United, set up by a 60-yard Ben Carrington, but no, my choice goal isn’t even a winner.
In my opinion, the best goal I have seen Worthing score was at Leatherhead last season. What was to us a meaningless end-of-season Thursday night encounter, yet to Leatherhead an increasingly important chance to grab some important points in their fight against relegation, was edging Leatherhead’s way, with them going in to the final minutes 1-0 up. Lee Weston received the ball on the right hand corner of the 18 yard box, controlled it superbly (drop that shoulder!) and jinked the ball down to the goal-line, beating a man on the way and at least another man (like I said, no video replays available!) on the goal-line itself, working his way towards the near post. As the keeper advanced Lee touched the ball past him, and a larger than usual travelling Worthing contingent held their breath behind the goal as the ball finally nestled just inside the far post
The nearest comparison I can find to this would be Diego “put your left hand in” Maradona’s second goal against England (you know, the one everyone overlooks) in the Mexico 1986 World Cup. Of course, some of those there at the time likened it more to a jammy toe poke you might see on Hill Barn Rec on a Sunday morning, aided by the bumpiness of the pitch and the incompetence of the goalie (and let’s face it, Leatherhead’s keeper wasn’t Shilton at his peak). But not me - I saw the poetry of the goal, the flash of brilliance that inspired Lee to take on the defence single-handedly and shoot us level in the dying seconds.
Postscript: Just to take the shone off of the Rebels snatching a draw, Leatherhead failed to get the points they needed to stave off relegation, going down with Romford and Barton, and allowing our old friends Wealdstone a late escape.
7th Feb 2004