Selsey vs Worthing

Worthing, fresh off lifting the National League South title in April, showed no signs of a summer hangover. They needed just seven minutes to open the scoring when Ignas Azuolaitis found the net to put the Rebels ahead.

Two minutes later, Brean Plaku doubled the advantage with a composed finish, and before Selsey could catch their breath, Charlie Davidson made it 3-0 in the 11th minute — all three goals arriving in a devastating four-minute spell.

With the game effectively won inside the opening quarter of an hour, the second half was largely a controlled exercise for Worthing, who managed the game without needing to extend their lead. Selsey, to their credit, kept the scoreline respectable and avoided further damage.

Davidson's goal in the 11th minute effectively ended the contest as a competitive fixture. At 3-0 down inside a quarter of an hour against a side two divisions higher, Selsey faced an impossible task. Worthing's intensity in those early minutes — and their willingness to trust young players — set the tone for the entire afternoon.

Ignas Azuolaitis opened the scoring with a well-taken strike in the 7th minute, setting Worthing on their way. Charlie Davidson capped the scoring with a clinical finish in the 11th minute. Between them, Brean Plaku added the second in the 9th minute. All three are academy products given first-team minutes in this pre-season fixture — a clear signal of the club's intent to integrate youth talent ahead of the National League campaign.

Player of the Match: Ignas Azuolaitis — his early goal broke the deadlock and triggered the flurry that decided the game.

The provider payload records three first-half goals and a 0-3 final scoreline, with no second-half action of note. The fact that all three goals were scored within a four-minute window (7' to 11') illustrates the gulf in sharpness between a National League South side in early pre-season and a lower-league opponent. Worthing's academy-heavy XI still held their discipline after scoring, keeping a clean sheet against a Selsey side that rarely threatened.

This was Worthing's opening friendly of the 2026/27 pre-season as they prepare for their first-ever season in the National League (fifth tier) after winning the National League South title in April 2026 with a 2-0 victory over Ebbsfleet United. Six more friendlies remain on their schedule before the competitive campaign begins.

For Selsey, who compete in the Southern Combination Football League Division One (step 7 of the English pyramid), this was a valuable test against a side playing at a significantly higher level — the kind of fixture that provides a genuine gauge of fitness and organisation regardless of the scoreline.

A perfect start to pre-season for Worthing: three goals inside 11 minutes, a clean sheet, and valuable minutes for academy players. The scoreline realistically reflects the gap between the two sides, but the manner of the performance — particularly the sharpness in front of goal so early in pre-season — is a promising sign for the Rebels' step up to the National League.