Rebels causing a stir

Those who read this blog regularly and follow me on Facebook or Twitter will know it's doing rather well. I count myself as fortunate to be able to interview two National League managers this season with follow ups due to happen throughout and two more at least on my list.

I still get amazed to see the atlas I can almost create from the countries it's viewed in, it's very humbling, I mean here we are on the 1st day of December and before I've written something this month, 24 people have visited the blog! So, there I was sitting there minding my own business this afternoon reading the Non-League Paper (standard Sunday) and something caught my eye, something that has crept up on me and I almost missed it.

Worthing FC have slowly and quietly moved into the BetVictor Isthmian Premier Division title race. I say slowly, but really it's been gathering pace over the past two months and now the Rebels are into third place after the weekend games. Just three defeats in 18 league games tells it's own story, consistency, one thing boss Adam Hinshelwood cried out for constantly last season seems to be on the table week in, week out this time around.

The Rebels last league defeat came nearly two months ago and they're currently enjoying a nine match unbeaten run which has left them just two points behind Horsham and Folkestone Invicta, the latter however do have a game in hand. Behind them competition is harsh, both Hornchurch and Enfield Town have games in hand which means Hinshelwood's side must keep winning.

In that run there aren't a great deal of clean sheets, but Worthing do score at almost two goals per game so they are confident of outscoring their opponents. Goals are being shared around the team which is always a good sign of a side that are able to mount a title challenge, no reliance on one man to hit the target.

Both on-loan goalkeepers in Carl Rushworth and Roco Rees have both ably filled the gap left by Lucas Covolan, now plying his trade in the National League. The return of Lloyd Dawes and Reece Myles-Meekums have provided guile and pace to the front line to compliment Ollie Pearce and Callum Kealy.

The shrewd signings of Marvin Armstrong, Joe Tennant and Cameron Tutt have strengthened other areas of the squad and it appears that whoever Hinshelwood selects as a starting eleven there seems more of a belief and ability to push Worthing onto the next level.

Hinshelwood hasn't and never is shy to include those from the youth set up should he feel they are ready, Fin Stevens and Dylan Jelley being just two examples recently stepping up to play.

With three of the top ten to play before the end of the year all at Woodside Road, the Rebels could be in a very strong position as we head towards 2020. As always support levels remain close to the 1000 mark through the turnstiles keeping the club as the best supported in the division although local rivals Horsham are also enjoying some good gates at their new stadium.

With so many things going on this year I've yet to watch the team in action this season, something I hope will change very soon if I can squeeze a game in, the advantage of a 3G pitch while the rest of the country plays catch up, Worthing are well up on games played. A town the size of Worthing deserves a club in the National League, something George Dowell and Hinshelwood are doing their best to achieve, watch this space...………………...