REBELS IN BUSINESS AGAIN ON THE ROAD

Collins got Worthing off to the perfect start within 90 seconds. He ran onto a pass over the defence before chipping Folkestone keeper Tony Kessell.

Things almost got better for Rebels on three minutes but Matt Russell had an effort ruled out for offside. Then, on 18 minutes, Mark Pulling headed wide from a Collins cross after Russell had played him in down the right.

Folkestone came more into the game as the half wore on and twice almost equalised. James Dryden fired over from Simon Glover's pass and then Rebels keeper Mark Ormerod had to be quick off his line to deny Glover.

The equaliser came three minutes into injury-time at the end of the first half when Dryden '” who caused Rebels problems all afternoon '” headed home Paul Lamb's corner at the near post.

Folkestone had a strong wind behind them in the second half, and changed formation to put three men up front. But Rebels remained the more threatening.

Kessell denied Russell from Mark Knee's pass three minutes into the second half, and Collins was just off target on 65 minutes before he scored the winner with 12 minutes left. Substitute Matt Geard slotted Collins through, and he beat Kessell with ease for his fourth goal in four games since joining from Kingstonian.

Geard and fellow sub Tom Smith should have wrapped up the points for Worthing. Smith chipped Kessell but his effort came back off the outside of the post.

It was Rebels first away win in five attempts, having lost their previous four on the bounce away from Woodside Road. The victory lifts Worthing to fourth in the table.

Worthing boss Alan Pook said: "We played with a lot of resilience. And we spoke before the game that we might have to sacrifice the performance for the result. At Harrow, Staines, and Hampton we played like the home team and came away with nothing because we got hit by sucker punches.

"We played an extra defender at Folkestone, and let them have more of the ball than we normally would so they would have to come and have a go at us.

"Liam got a superb goal early on, but we should have been 2-0 up five minutes later. Matt Russell was adjudged offside, but it's the kind of decision you get when you are on the road.

"Decisions always seem to favour the home team as everyone knows, just look at the Man United versus Arsenal game on Sunday. You just expect decisions to go against you. If it had stood, it would have been the end of the game.

"In the second half, Folkestone really went for it and as a team we defended very well. It was a difficult game for Jay Head to come into and he had a good second half.

"We deserved the three points and they are long overdue on the road. I've been a bit disappointed with away games, but we've still got 10 points from nine games. I would have been happy with nine draws away from home, though, so in that respect we are a point better off.

"With the players we have out, we are getting some good results. Sam Francis, Nko Ekoku, Shaun Grice, and Owen Hill are all still out. Owen is a big loss and it looks like he will be out for another month or so after he was on the end of that wicked challenge against Salisbury.

"I'm looking to try and bring a forward to the club because we don't know how long Sam will be out for. We still have to regard Matt Russell as a Bognor player, but at the moment he is doing us a favour, and we are doing him and Bognor a favour by giving him games."

Worthing do not have a game this Saturday. Pook hopes to have a friendly against either Littlehampton or Worthing United next Tuesday.

WORTHING: Ormerod; Lutwyche, Pullan, Lamont, Knee; Pulling, Rogers, Head, Holmes; Russell, Collins. Subs: Geard (Pulling 64), Smith (Russell 83), Dicker.