Paul Rogers grabbed a dramatic stoppage time winner for Worthing last night, just when they thought they had been done up like kippers.

Referee Eric Mackrell disallowed a Sam Francis strike and waved away two clear penalties in a bewildering 12 minute spell before Rogers' booming header clinched a precious 1-0 success at Leatherhead.

Rebels deserved the points against a side who had opened the season with three home wins but it seemed they would be frustrated until their inspirational skipper got on the end of a Gavin Geddes cross to settle the contest with 91 minutes on the clock.

Boss Alan Pook admitted his side had been given a thorough test but declared: "That's the best we've played this year.

"We knew we had to step up in the second half and we did just that."

It was not Francis' night in front of goal, especially when his clean looking 69th header from Wes Lopez's corner was ruled out for a push.

Penalty appeals were ignored when Francis was pulled back by Danny Lavender, then Lopez was given a free-kick just outside the box after Jamie Beer had clipped him clearly a foot inside.

Given all that, Worthing deserved to win, though Pook was right to acknowledge the part played by Leatherhead in an enjoyable contest.

Ross Standen was twice forced into sharp saves diving to his left in the first half, the best of them seeing him hold a low drive from Marc Charles-Smith.

The visiting defence, aided by Rogers, passed a stern ten minute test after the break but then it was back on the attack with the skipper and Francis again going close in the dying stages before that overdue clincher finally arrived.

Leatherhead: J. Gray; Joseph, A. Gray, Ekoku, Lavender, Hendry, Harford, Harlow, Harrison (Beer 76), Charles-Smith (Terry 82), Ruggles. Unused subs: Tavares, Oliver, Webb.

Worthing: Standen; Dicker, Grice, Davies, Beech (Hibberd 60), Lopez, Carrington, Rogers, Francis, Geddes, Hill. Unused subs: Martin, Pulling, Moore, Knee.

Man-of-the-match: Paul Rogers.