Worthing shock Carlisle in fairytale National League bow

Worthing's first afternoon among the National League elite could hardly have gone any better - even after they'd made things needlessly hard for themselves.

Adam Hinshelwood handed full debuts to five new signings at Brunton Park, with loanees Cory Adjetey-Brew and Jayden Moore starting in defence in front of Harrison Foulkes. Pre-season favourites Carlisle, under new boss Rob Elliot, looked to be cruising through what many had pencilled in as a gentle opening fixture, and Georgie Kelly's header three minutes before the break gave the hosts a deserved lead.

Whatever Hinshelwood said at half-time worked. Dom Hutchinson became Worthing's first-ever fifth-tier goalscorer in the 67th minute, twisting his way into the box before rifling home, and the Rebels never looked back from there. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft put them ahead in the 82nd minute and Ricky Aguiar made it 3-1 four minutes later, before Kelly's second gave the scoreline a respectability it didn't really deserve. 3-2 to Worthing, and Carlisle's title-favourites tag looks a little premature.

For a club that spent years knocking on the door of this level, this was about as good a way to announce yourself as there is - away from home, against one of the pre-season title picks, coming from behind. Hinshelwood won't get carried away, and nor should anyone else off the back of one result. But if Worthing can find that same second-half switch on a regular basis, this division is going to have to take notice of them fast.