Casuals looked dangerous from the first whistle and took the lead in just the fourth minute when Emmanuel Akokhia slotted past goalkeeper Rikki Banks.

Akokhia added his second just before the half hour mark when a Gary Elphick misjudged header allowed him to steal in, round Banks and roll into an empty net.

Worthing improved defensively during the second half but were unable to stage a comeback, meaning they started their new Ryman Division One South campaign in defeat.

The Rebels fielded a somewhat patched up defence with Matt Piper starting at left-back and Corey Heath at right-back in the absence of Harvey Sparks, Steve Metcalf and Will Hendon.

Heath struggled to contain the lively Diego Maradona Petriaggi during the early stages with the winger setting up an early chance for Akokhia before his fourth minute opener.

Worthing were lucky not be two down within 20 minutes with Banks making a couple of good saves from Maradona, before tipping over a long range effort from Akokhia.

It was an uncharacteristic mistake from the experienced Elphick which gifted the Corinthian-Casuals striker the opportunity to make it 2-0 in the 27th minute though.

Maradona continued to wreak havoc on the left hand side, squaring to Kervant Serbony whose shot was blocked.

A late tackle by Josh Uzun on Omar Bugiel two minutes before half-time resulted in a heated confrontation between both teams, and yellow cards for Uzun and Brannon O’Neill.

The Rebels appeared to be building some momentum towards the end of the first half, and Ben Pope had a low drive saved after Bugiel came close from an O’Neill corner.

Two minutes into the second half Pope had another half chance, but volleyed well over from a Ryan Quirke corner.

Opportunities after the break were generally few and far between though with Corinthian-Casuals content to hold onto their lead and Worthing ensuring they didn’t concede again.

Another altercation involving Ryan Morey and Serbony saw the Casuals player booked in the 64th minute after a Bugiel header from an O’Neill free-kick was saved.

With 15 minutes to go O’Neill was replaced by Mark Goldson after going down injured, and with five minutes remaining the substitute’s corner was headed just wide by Bugiel.

Banks prevented Corinthian-Casuals from making it 3-0 deep into stoppage time, making a fine save from Sekou Kaba’s goal bound effort.

It was a comfortable win for the hosts in the end though, and could have been by more than 2-0 against a Worthing side that looked unrecognisable from their strong pre-season form.

Corinthian-Casuals: Bracken, Morgan, Hodges, Coleman, Murray, Johnson, Maradona Petriaggi, Serbony (Wright 86'), Akokhia (Okojie 83'), Kaba, Uzun (Spencer 90').

Subs Not Used: Defoe, Reece.

Goals: Akokhia 4' 27'.

Bookings: Uzun 44', Serbony 64'.

Worthing: Banks, Heath, Piper, Quirke (Axell 59'), Elphick, Hurley, Morey, O'Neill (Goldson 75'), Pope, Bugiel (c), Rance (Barnes 65').

Subs Not Used: Fagan, Dawes.

Bookings: O'Neill 44', Quirke 56'.

Attendance: 184

Photo by official club photographer Studio IV.