Mark O'Mahony on target as under-21s lose narrowly to Worthing

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Irish striker scored in a 2-1 pre-season defeat on Tuesday

Nick Szczepanik

2026-07-28T21:35+01:00

Mark O'Mahony was on target in the first half against Worthing. 📷Jeff Mood

Two different Albion under-21 teams battled well but went down 2-1 to Worthing in a friendly at the Sussex transport Community Stadium on Tuesday.

Worthing, preparing for their debut in the National League after promotion last season, led after 13 minutes following a defensive mix-up before Mark O’Mahony levelled in the 30th minute.

Dom Hutchinson restored the home side’s lead three minutes later and they held on against a completely altered Seagulls team in the final half hour.

Albion could have gone ahead early on when Caylan Vickers was put through only to be foiled by Hutchinson’s last-ditch tackle.

But they had a narrow escape after ten minutes when Worthing’s Ramell Carter was played through and the assistant’s flag stayed down. Fortunately for Albion, goalkeeper Michael Dike was quickly out at the striker’s feet to save.

Goalkeeper Michael Dike made some important saves against Worthing. 📷Jeff Mood

Carter, though, was not to be denied and when Dike failed to deal with a backpass after 13 minutes, Razzaq Coleman De-Graft cut the ball back for Carter to hit the ball home despite Ben Barclay’s attempt to clear off the line.

Albion were level just short of the half hour when skipper Josh Robertson stole possession from Coleman De-Graft and found O’Mahony, who hit a low right-foot shot across goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes and into the far corner. It was a confident finish from the Irishman, fit again after a knee injury curtailed his loan at Reading last season.

However, Albion’s lead did not last long, and a clever diagonal pass from former Albion youngster Teddy Jenks found Hutchinson free on the right-hand side of the penalty area to drive the ball past Dike.

It looked as though Albion must go 3-1 down when a defensive error left Coleman De-Graft had only Dike to beat, but the goalkeeper stretched out a hand to grab the ball as the Worthing man tried to go round him.

Wholesale changes on the hour gave Albion a completely different look. But although the 20 fresh legs in Albion colours tested Rebels, they could not find an equaliser, George Munday going closest when he just failed to get his head to a teasing cross from Kofi Shaw.