It was another disappointing day on the road for Maidstone United as they were thumped by Worthing. The Stones have now shipped 12 goals in their last three away matches.

The first half was a miserable affair for the visitors. Maidstone went in at the break, three goals down and with ten men after Bivesh Gurung was shown a red card for a lunge on Odei Sorondo.

With 11 minutes gone, Maidstone lost possession from a free-kick. Chi Ezennolim couldn’t stop Joseph Felix from getting the ball and he quickly found Ricky Aguiar who didn’t connect properly with his shot which went straight at Lucas Covolan.

Four minutes later, Worthing took the lead. A ball over the top drew Covolan from his line and he got caught by the bounce allowing Ollie Pearce the opportunity to guide the ball into an empty net.

The Stones briefly rallied. A cross from Sam Corne came close to being sliced into his own net by Joel Colbran. From the corner, it looked as though Tim Abraham was going to score from close range but Pearce deflected it over. Then from the next corner, Reece Greenidge’s header caused a scramble and it looked like the ball hit the bar but the Stones couldn’t force it over the line.

It wasn’t long before Worthing were putting Maidstone under pressure. Covolan did well to push Odei Sorondo’s drive onto the post and it bounced back into his arms.

However, once Gurung saw red on 33 minutes, the Rebels seized their opportunity. Two minutes later, Pearce thumped the ball in from close range just as Maidstone were preparing to replace Ezennolim with Sol Wanjau-Smith.

Covolan then did well to beat away Nicky Wheeler’s effort before Felix crossed for Danny Cashman who put away Worthing’s third.

With the game in first half stoppage time, the ball fell to George Fowler. Fowler was a good 25 yards from goal and he drew a decent save from Rocco Rees.

Maidstone improved after the break. Substitute Lamar Reynolds who had replaced Tim Abraham at half time found Wanju-Smith who put an inviting low ball across the box which Matt Rush just couldn’t reach.

Gavin Hoyte sent a deep cross to the back post which was met by Harry Kyprianou and his header was going in until Rees tipped it over. Then on 61 minutes, Reynolds put a good cross into the box and it was scrambled in by Rush.

But any faint hopes the Stones had of getting something from the game were dashed on 70 minutes. Covolan couldn’t claim Aguiar’s corner giving Pearce the chance to complete his hat-trick.

Then two minutes into stoppage time, Worthing added a fifth. The ball came into substitute Jake Robinson and he emphatically finished past Covolan.

Worthing: Ollie Pearce 15, 35, 70, Danny Cashman 44, Jake Robinson 90.

Maidstone United: Matt Rush 61.

Worthing: 1. Rocco Rees, 2. Joel Colbran, 4. Kane Wills, 6. Joseph Rye, 10. Ollie Pearce (9. Jake Robinson 86), 11. Nicky Wheeler, 14. Odei Sorondo, (8. Michael Klass 67), 19. Finlay Chadwick (7. Greg Luer 67), 20. Ricky Aguiar, 23. Joseph Felix, 28. Danny Cashman. Subs not used: 15. Reuben Livesey-Austin, 21. Juan Luque.

Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 2. Gavin Hoyte, 3.Chi Ezennolim (9. Sol Wanju-Smith 36), 4. Reece Greenidge, 5. George Fowler, 14. Harry Kyprianou, 18. Bivesh Gurung, 19. Michael Petrasso (16. Liam Sole 80), 8. Sam Corne, 20. Matt Rush, 17. Timmy Abraham (10. Lamar Reynolds 45). Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 6. Raphe Brown.