Another Away day took Worthing rebels to Felpham to play 2nd place Felpham U18's. 3 points would see Rebels rise up the table with only 4 points in between them in 6th and at the start of the day table toppers Littlehampton Town. Players unable to attend included Ga'al, Oli, Mike and Sam, who's recent scan results on a knee injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, saw Davis short on players with only Ryan Borg available on the bench to refresh the squad.
A scrappy start saw rebels having to deal with a few small flurrys of attacks. Felpham had the better of the possession for the first 15 minutes in what seemed a sloppy physical battle with passes few and far between. After a shakey start Rebels got punished for being unable to create their swift passing flow as they saw the ball being tapped into their goal after a Felpham break.
Heads stayed up as Rebels rose to the occasion and started bringing the game to Felpham. passes started to flow, Francisco got back on his bike and seemed to make it a personal game to see how many times he could make Felphams right sided players look stupid. Calmness started from the back with Perry and Rawlings looking to pass the ball out after regaining possesion and Adam bursting into space showing good motivation to change the game. Within 15 minutes of conceeding Francisco nets the equaliser with a fantastic diving header at the back post off of Sine's crosses from the right after some great quick link up play with Ashley Hodzi. Sine Sibanda showing his importance to the squad and how effective he can be in this Rebels team played a superb range of short and long passes over the top to Semdin and Franco in space which helped switch the play and create space, as well as along the floor to CM partners and RM Hodzi, on many occasions working the ball all the way into the box after some great 1 2's and quick play which was clearly pressurising Felpham forcing them to retreat attacking players back to defend.
-Half Time-
Goal. Felpham again hit Rebels net to take the lead within 5 minutes of starting the second half, a run from centre midfield that wasnt tracked by the any of the 3 rebels players with central midfield duties broke open a gap, enough to play Felphams striker in for a clear goal scoring opportunity, which he converted.
Goal. On another break Felpham score a 3rd leaving rebels just over half hour to find 2 goals just to draw level. Rebels were lacking in decent chances to score but not ability as shown by Turan with an array of arial shots by way of headers and spectacular volleys, one of which hit the bar after a perfectly uted bicycle kick from the Felpham 18 yard line!
Ryan Borg was brought on for Hodzi for another opportunity to fight for a starting place in the squad. After a great performance last week Borg was clearly not lacking in effort, diving straight into the action trying to beat his opposites down the flank. unfortunately space was tight and Felpham did a good job at preventing crosses coming into the box. Chances still lacked showing the importance of earlier efforts that 'shoulda woulda coulda' been taken better.
final score
Felpham 3 - 1 Worthing Rebels
