Frome Town vs Worthing

Frome stunned Worthing inside the opening two minutes. Zak Drew's delivery from the right found Ferris at the back post, who slotted home from close range to give the hosts a 1-0 lead with barely 100 seconds on the clock, per Worthing's official match report.

Worthing responded quickly. Hutchinson, a summer signing making his debut, was fouled 20 yards from goal and curled the subsequent free-kick around a four-man Frome wall and into the net, with goalkeeper Kyle Phillips rooted to the spot. The equaliser arrived in the 13th minute.

Manager Adam Hinshelwood split his squad into two separate elevens to ensure minutes for all players, making eight changes at half-time. Worthing dominated the second half — Ollie Godziemski fizzed an effort wide, George Cox fired over, and Brad Dolaghan tested Phillips from distance — but could not find a winner. Frome rarely threatened after the break, with a speculative free-kick the only effort on Worthing replacement goalkeeper Taylor Seymour.

Hutchinson's 13th-minute free-kick was the moment that shifted momentum. After Frome's lightning start had put Worthing on the back foot, the summer signing's individual brilliance restored parity and settled the visitors, who controlled the remainder of the half and most of the second period.

Dom Hutchinson (Worthing) — Scored on his debut with a beautifully curled free-kick from 20 yards. The former Wealdstone man was "instrumental in ensuring the Reds preserved the pressure in the final third, with multiple intricate flicks and tricks," per the club's match report.

Archie Ferris (Frome Town) — Gave Frome the dream start with a well-taken close-range finish inside two minutes, causing problems for the Worthing defence throughout.

Harrison Foulkes (Worthing) — The new signing from Dorking Wanderers made his debut in goal, denied a clean sheet by the early goal but otherwise steady.

Player of the match: Dom Hutchinson (Worthing)

"Pre-season is all about growing cohesion on the pitch," Hutchinson told Worthing's media after the match. "I back myself. I haven't always been on set pieces, but yeah, I back myself to strike the ball well and it was a good finish, to be fair."

Frome scored inside two minutes, Worthing equalised by the 13th — the first 15 minutes produced both goals. The 1-1 half-time scoreline reflected Worthing's recovery after a shaky start. The second half saw Worthing dominate territorially but create only half-chances; the pitch conditions and a lack of final-third synergy thwarted a winner. Worthing made eight half-time changes, disrupting their rhythm but allowing squad-wide minutes.

Worthing extended their unbeaten start to pre-season preparations as they build towards the 2026/27 National League campaign — their first season at that level after winning the National League South title. New signings Hutchinson, Foulkes and Ashley Nathaniel-George all featured. Frome, of the seventh-tier Southern League Premier South, gained a creditable result against significantly higher-level opposition. Worthing next host Queens Park Rangers U21s on Tuesday night.

A fair result in a pre-season contest that offered both sides positives. Frome's early goal showed their threat, while Hutchinson's quality finish demonstrated why Worthing signed him. The National League South champions will want more cutting edge in the final third as pre-season progresses.