Religation threat for the rebels

With the Rebels firmly entrenched in the Ryman Premier relegation zone and United rooted to the bottom of County League Division One, one wonders if there is any glimmer of hope?

In the case of Worthing, sadly non-football issues have seriously affected the club.

The one person who, I believe, could and would have made a difference has had far more important commitments away from Woodside Road.

Will the Rebels survive?

I hope so.

It will take one helluva turn around but with the crop of youngsters they have at the club, and the passion and commitment they have shown this season, do not write them off.

As for United, the Charles Dickens quote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" says it all.

The longest FA Cup run in the club's history culminated in defeat at Maidenhead.

But since that match in October, Paul Curtis must have felt like the captain of the Titanic.

Horrendous injury problems, in one game he had 15 first-choice players unavailable, have seen United's early season elation turn to despair.

Last week, just when it couldn't get any worse, it did. Littlehampton's victory saw them leapfrog over the Mavericks and United now prop up the table.

Like Danny Bloor at Worthing, Curtis remains defiant.

And with United legend, Graham Waller, joining the coaching set-up and plenty of points left on the board to play for, anything is possible.

Another good point for the Albion away at play-off chasing Blackpool last weekend.

And a realisation, walking around the northern seaside resort, that Worthing isn't that bad after all!

Back-to-back home games in the next couple of weeks should see the Albion secure the three points that will virtually guarantee mid-table security.

That will hopefully mean local keeper, John Sullivan Junior, will get his long awaited and thoroughly deserved chance between the posts for the first team.

A positive reaction to last week's column on the subject of football pitch extensions due to the adverse weather.

Within hours of the paper hitting the streets councillor Paul High was on the case.

He has secured extensions at various locations around the borough with Contential Landscapes, the contractors who maintain the pitches.

I hasten to add this will not affect local cricket in any way. But it will provide pitches for all age groups to deal with the fixture back log.

I actually met up, by chance, with Sir Laurie Claydon last week. He informs me that this will probably be the worst season for postponements in the recent history of the Worthing League.

He is checking records and thinks it might even surpass the winter of 1963.

Our featured runners for the London Marathon this week are husband and wife team Melvin and Tracy Colbourne.

They will run in the capital next month alongside Tracy's sister, Karen Pearcy, in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Apparently training has been going very well.

The trio join fellow Worthing Harriers runners in their preparation and anyone who would like to sponsor them, for this very worthy cause, please contact me on my email and I will forward your details.

There will be another featured runner or runners next week.

Anyone else who is taking part, who hasn't already been in touch with your details, please email me at [email protected]

Listen to the Fans' Phone-In With Harty on BBC Southern Counties Radio after every Albion match '” call him on 0845 9570057