Worthing came from behind to record a deserved win over Wingate & Finchley and ease their Bostik Premier relegation fears.

The first half was end to end, with both keepers in fine form and making a handful of excellent saves as fluid attacking ripped through the respective defences.

Joseph Claridge had an early effort from distance heading for the bottom right corner, which Shane Gore tipped wide.

At the other end Sean Cronin sent a volley arrowing towards the bottom right corner, but an even better save denied him by the Worthing keeper Lucas Cavagnari.

Then Afolabi Obafemi fed Reece Beckles but his low drive was parried by the in-form home keeper.

Worthing’s Sparks squared a deep cross back in to Starkey but his first-time effort was stopped by the well-positioned Gore down low to his right.

Beckles had the next great chance for the Blues after Afolabi set him free, but he was again charged down by the alert keeper.

Afolabi also wanted a one-on-one situation but Cavagnari was brave in winning the ball.

The first half ended controversially as the Blues were awarded a soft penalty when Charles-Smith was brought down, though it appeared the defender won the ball first.

Cronin was not in a charitable mood and slotted home the spot kick.

The second half was less open, but the scores were levelled on the hour mark as Worthing’s Kieron Pamment was played through at the end of a counter attack and Gore tipped his effort onto the post. From the resulting corner Worthing levelled with a free header by Pamment.

The home side took the lead with 10 minutes remaining as Isaac Newton latched on to a long clearance, as Vilcu and Gore miscommunicated, and rolled the ball into an empty net.

The controversy resumed when Jake Eales was dismissed in stoppage time for a professional foul despite being in the Worthing half, before Ahmet Rifat was also sent off for a high challenge, ending a bad half for the Blues.

Wingate: Gore, Eales, Mavila, Vilcu, Cronin, Rifat, Ifil (Monville 85), Laney (Tejan-Sie 65), Charles-Smith (Pattie 72), Beckles, Obafemi. Unused subs: Williams, Barker.

Attendance: 606,