A soft penalty five minutes from time ended Worthing's hopes of a come-back as they crashed to defeat at Bracknell in division one south.
Rebels trailed 3-0 with 14 minutes remaining before two goals in the space of two minutes from Mark Knee and substitute Clinton Moore put the hosts under pressure.
But, disastrously for Worthing, goalkeeper Ross Standen allowed a throw-in from Chris Dicker to go through his hands, and from the resulting corner by James Glynn, Andrew Beech handled allowing Gavin Smith to score from the spot.
Glynn headed Bracknell in front on 19 minutes from a cross by Neil Selby and Ben Edwards doubled the advantage seven minutes before the break.
Bracknell looked to be cruising when Adam Crittenden beat Standen in a one-on-one from eight yards, but Knee replied within two minutes with a left foot shot into the top right hand corner and Moore made it 3-2 with his first touch.
Worthing, who had only conceded six goals in the league before this game, had to do without defender Glen Davies through illness and Tom Graves was called up for his first start of the season.
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