A Tyler Goatcher hat-trick helped ensure Newhaven got off to the best possible start under new management duo Lee Brace and Kieran Collins, as the Dockers put eight past a beleaguered Worthing United.

There were also debut goals for Conor Sidwell and Ryan Bradley, and one-a-piece for Lee Robinson and Ebou Jallow, as the home side ran riot against their lowly visitors.

In fact it took just five minutes for Sidwell to make his mark when he fired in from a corner, before Goatcher got his first late in the half.

But the floodgates opened in the second half as first Goatcher pounced on a defensive error to make it three, before a Robinson effort was sandwiched between Bradley’s first two goals for the club. Jallow notched a seventh and Goatcher completed his hat-trick with virtually the last kick of the game.

Brace and Collins introduced three new faces to a Newhaven team that hadn’t played since before Christmas. Shane Collins, Sidwell and Bradley were all making their debuts at left back, centre back and striker respectively.

The rest of the side had a familiar look with Jake Buss between the sticks, Daniel Murray at right back and Ryan Knight partnering Sidwell at centre half. Robinson, Sean Breach, captain Terry Gacias and Goatcher made up a midfield four and Craig Bunch was up front alongside Bradley.

The pitch required a bit of late forking and remarking but was passed fit to play by referee Michael Ryan, who was forced to abandon a game after just 18 minutes at Lancing the previous week.

In the reverse fixture, on the opening day of the season, Newhaven took an early lead against United before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat. 17 games later and the Mavericks sit bottom of Division One having picked up just one point since that victory.

The Dockers went ahead early in this game, but this time never looked back. A Goatcher corner was flicked in to Sidwell’s path by Robinson and the young defender finished well past Daryl Ashworth.

Bunch thought he had doubled the lead but his headed effort was ruled out for offside. Up the other end Buss had a couple of routine saves to make as the visitors enjoyed a bit of possession.

But with half-time approaching Bunch and Goatcher combined and the latter was sent through one-on-one with Ashworth. Goatcher kept composed and tucked away the chance to double the advantage.

The hosts made a change at the break, with Jallow replacing the unwell Bunch, and the second half was a lot more one-sided. Just a couple of minutes had been played when a misplaced pass in defence found Goatcher and he raced in on goal before firing past Ashworth at his near post.

Goatcher couldn’t be kept out of the action and a fourth goal arose when his shot was parried by Ashworth in to the path of Bradley, who made no mistake finishing from close range.

It was the same sort of story for number five. This time Goatcher rounded the goalkeeper and saw his effort hit the post, but Robinson was on hand to fire in the rebound.

Goatcher completed a hat-trick of ‘assists’ when another cross-shot found Bradley who again couldn’t miss.

Jason Goddard and Jayson Sowter were introduced, for Daniel Murray and Terry Gacias, and it was a searching Sowter pass that led to the seventh. Ashworth came out to clear but could only hit it straight at Jallow and the ball rolled over the line.

Sowter raced clear and saw his chipped effort hit the post, but the last word of the day went to Goatcher. Bradley spotted his run and played the ball in to his path and Goatcher finished in to the far corner to complete his hat-trick.

Newhaven: Jake Buss, Daniel Murray (Jason Goddard), Shane Collins, Terry Gacias (c) (Jayson Sowter), Conor Sidwell, Ryan Knight, Lee Robinson, Sean Breach, Craig Bunch (Ebou Jallow), Ryan Bradley, Tyler Goatcher. Unused Subs: Chris Geer, Tom Bradford.
Booked: None

Attendance: 59
Referee: Michael Ryan