Substitute Ben Carrington was at the centre of a storm as Worthing somehow salvaged a point from this cracker of a West Sussex derby.

Carrington came off the bench with Rebels trailing 3-1 and in tatters against the inventive attacking work of brothers Michael and David Birmingham.

He did not get on the scoresheet, but the big striker ruffled plenty of feathers in the Rocks backline and supplied the pass for Simon Funnell's spectacular 40 yard equaliser.

Carrington and goalkeeper Will Packham then clashed as they went to retrieve the ball from the net and were subsequently booked.

But there was heftier punishment for Guy Rutherford, whose involvement in the ensuing goalmouth scuffle earnt him a red card.

Bognor boss Jack Pearce declared himself pleased with a point but was less enamoured by the Worthing substitute, whom he confronted after the final whistle.

Pearce said: "Mr Carrington, who I've got nothing against, often causes pandemonium, not always through skill.

"He laughed in our goalkeeper's face after the third goal and I find that unacceptable.

"Guy was not without blame in the incident. He should not run 35 yards to get involved in something that's got nothing to do with him but I thought cautions would have done for everybody."

There is no doubt Carrington likes to put himself about, but he is a firm favourite with the Woodside fans and home boss Sammy Donnelly also enjoyed his performance.

Donnelly said: "Ben's a handful, even when he doesn't play well. He's a character. I decided to put him on as an extra striker and it paid dividends.

"We've been looking quite solid playing 4-4-2 but we had to take a gamble and I thought Ben made an impact when he came on."

Until that stunning comeback, the impact had all come from the Birmingham brothers as they transformed Bognor's 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead in the space of seven dramatic minutes.

Peter Brackley's volleyed finish after a Jody Rowlands mistake on 15 minutes was all that divided the sides at the break, though Funnell had an effort ruled out for offside soon after.

But Rocks were worthy of parity and they got it three minutes after the re-start when David Birmingham moved onto Guy Rutherford's pass and beat Matthew May with the help of a slight deflection.

A minute later they were ahead as Jamie Howell's ball forward was laid off by Adie Miles for Michael Birmingham to shoot low past May.

Gary Green almost levelled with a volley which dipped just past the far post but Packham turned provider on 55 minutes when his long clearance bounced all the way through for David Birmingham to finish in style.

The contest would have been all over six minutes later but for a last ditch challenge from Paul Kennett which deflected Michael Birmingham's shot into the side netting.

It proved a key turning point. Just two minutes later, Brackley crossed deep from the right and Green's textbook downward header revived Worthing's hopes.

Sixty more seconds and Carrington sent Funnell away to chip an inch perfect finish over Packham's ill advised charge from his area.

Jay Pickering's withdrawal with a knee injury then stacked the odds further in Worthing's favour.

But the busy Marc Rice saw a fierce blast parried by Packham and then Carrington returned to centre stage, failing to get proper contact on an unchallenged header with glory beckoning.

Quite what Pearce would have made of a goal there is anyone's guess.

But no one could complain about a point apiece.