ARE REBELS INTO A ROLL?

THE RAINBOW which appeared over the South Downs in the dying minutes on Saturday prompted thoughts of a possible play-offs pot of gold. Goals from Lee Charles and Ronnie Green had just given Worthing four league wins on the bounce '” their best run since late September'” which by Saturday night had lifted Worthing eight places to seventh.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Feb 2005, 10:15 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:58 BST

Weather conditions ruined any chance of a free-flowing game and both sides struggled to find any rhythm in a dour first half.

But a Sam Francis header at point-blank range in the 15th minute was palmed away after Chris Dicker had sent in a swirling cross from a Green short corner. And Green's long corner caused panic in the Borough defence and Clinton Lamb headed against his own post.

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Then Rebels keeper Mark Ormerod's kick landed straight at the feet of Abdulai Yoki whose wind-assisted 40-yard effort fizzed past the upright. Long shots seemed the order of the day and Ormerod tipped over Lamb's 30-yard drive.

The second period started in the same vein. Worthing struggled to build momentum but just as the vocal locals started to get restless they struck.

Lee Charles, Rebels' new 33-year-old former England semi-professional team striker, sprinted clear but lost control just as he looked to shoot. Luckily the ball landed at the feet of Shaun Grice. His 18-yard drive was parried into the path of Charles who gleefully snapped up his second bite of the cherry.

Yet all of Worthing's hard work was immediately undone. After the restart, with no apparent danger from a wide free kick, Worthing switched off and allowed substitute Naoki Mouri to steal in unmarked at the back post and sweep home an instep volley from six yards.

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The game then swung in the balance for the final minutes. With Worthing desperate for all three points their prayers were answered thanks to Ronnie The Razor 10 minutes from time. A great run from Liam Collins took him past two midfielders he rolled a wonderful slide-rule pass to Green who raced clear and slipped the ball past Borough keeper Keita Karamoko.

Late pressure from the visitors presented them with one last chance to level. The ball fell invitingly for Daniel Clarke but with his drive heading towards goal Worthing full-back Dicker produced a wonderful block.

A pleased stand-in boss for the day, Danny Bloor, said: "That's the type of game we would have lost before Christmas. We're a much more compact unit now. The lads were superb and kept going to the end. These are the type of victories, when you don't play so well, that really count."

WORTHING: Ormerod; Holmes, Pullan, Lutwyche, Dicker; Collins, Rogers, Grice, Green; Charles, Francis. Subs: Alexander (Green 82), Pook, Ekoku, Packham gk. Att: 405.

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Contrary to confused information given last week, Salisbury City fans collected 179 towards 2,100 required for Rebels player Owen Hill's ankle operation. Woodside fans on Saturday added 311.

With Rebels defence more settled, centre-back Jay Head has returned to Burgess Hill Town. Mark Pulling remains unavailable for the visit to Leyton on Saturday. Mark Knee remains on the injury list with Owen Hill and Des Guile.

Bloor reported this week: "Leyton are a very well-organised and disciplined outfit but we're really rocking and rolling now. Players are gelling at the right time, like they did last season, and there's a real feel good factor around the squad now."