Rebels looking strong for promotion bid

WORTHING Football Club manager Chris White believes his side are in a strong position to make an assault on promotion ahead of their Ryman League Division 1 South kick-off on Saturday.

Rebels travel to Folkestone for the season opener and White is relishing his attacking options as he looks towards a play-off chase.

The Woodside Road outfit have ended pre-season positively with a 5-1 thumping of Mile Oak on Tuesday evening, having drawn 2-2 at Bognor on Friday night – as new-loan signing Matt Reece impressed.

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The attacking player has joined on a month’s loan from Sutton, initially as cover for the injured Scott Tipper who was originally ruled out for six weeks, but his 10-minute cameo and goal against Mile Oak has put him in the hat for a surprise inclusion on Saturday.

White said: “Matt has played his part in Sutton’s pre-season where he is thought of very highly.

“Initially, we have him on a month’s loan but it may become more if it works out. He played very well against Bognor on Friday and is a very, very good player.

“He scored 20 goals in 20 games for Sutton reserves last year, he’s a good size and mobile, so we have plenty of attacking options at the moment.

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“We have ended pre-season well, we were good at Bognor and got a few goals on Tuesday, which was nice.

“The play-offs have got to be the aim – we fell short last season and it would be good to put that right and go that little extra and get there.

“We have only lost two and added a few more faces than last year, so I think we’re stronger than before.”

A late Scott Kirkwood penalty levelled against Bognor on Friday, after Rebels had taken the lead when Chris O’Flaherty’s cross was turned in by a defender. On Tuesday, braces from Matt Daniel and Jamie Brotherton, along with a Tipper goal, gave them a comfortable win over Mile Oak.

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White is now hoping they hit the ground running when they start with the long trip to Folkestone on Saturday.

He said: “You’ve got to play them at some stage, doing it now gives us a decent opportunity to start well against a strong side.”

Rebels host their first home game of the season on Tuesday evening against league new-boys Three Bridges.