FOOTBALL: Colbran distraught for injured Rebel Akehurst

Akehurst, who has started every league game this season, broke an ankle at work on Sunday, which left Rebels manager Simon Colbran distraught.

He said: "I'm absolutely gutted. I received a phone call at 10.30pm on Sunday and it still feels like a dream.

"Karl needs a plate put in his ankle and won't walk for four months, so is out for the season. I'm just gobsmacked.

"Karl's been brilliant for us this season and what a miss he is going to be,

"Karl is one of those players who is always 100 per cent committed '” from the moment he turns up in the changing room.

"He has the same attitude every game, always giving 100 per cent, and there's not many players like that.

"He'll always give his all and all the players have to match that now, otherwise they'll be letting him down.

"I'll near-enough now be saying to the boys to go and win the league for Karl '” after all he has given and for all he has done.

"We've got Paul Kennett and Brett Patton, who has been brilliant, who can play in the middle. Matt Simpson can play there, we've also got Terry Gacias, who is at Hassocks, and John Piercy will be fit to play soon."

Rebels welcomed skipper Kennett, after an ankle injury, back into the squad for Saturday's 1-0 win at Chatham, but striker Ross Treleaven will miss the next two weeks after picking up an ankle injury.

Colbran said: "I can't believe our luck. Kenno's back but Ross is now out for two weeks.

"It just seems to be injury after injury. I signed Ryan Woodford last month and he did his knee on his debut and hasn't played since.

"But we've got to get over these things. It will make us stronger and we've still got to do what we've got to do."

Jamie Brotherton's 23rd-minute goal gave Rebels all three points at Chatham on Saturday. The victory closed the gap on leaders Folkestone to a point after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Horsham YMCA.

Worthing had an opportunity on 10 minutes when Evan Archibald stretched to get a boot on Treleaven's cross but Dean Ruddy easily saved.

Archibald then had a close-range effort saved from Brotherton's free kick on 18 minutes before Rebels took the lead five minutes later.

Treleaven passed to Brotherton, who fired home with his left foot from 12 yards for his 13th goal of the season.

In the second half, Chatham's Steffan Galfie had a snap-shot saved by Worthing keeper Alan Mansfield on 60 minutes.

At the other end, Rebels substitute Ben Williamson shot wide from 10 yards on 71 minutes and Stuart Axten headed Ben Johnson's free kick wide two minutes later.

Galfie had a shot from 20 yards saved by Mansfield with two minutes left as Worthing held on to all three points.

Colbran said: "It was a really professional job. The back four were all excellent and Karl was brilliant. Chatham are a physical, hard-working team and I think they are in a false position in the league."

Worthing have signed left-back Jamie Groves from County League Shoreham and he will go into the squad for Saturday's match at Croydon Athletic.

Groves played a couple of matches for Rebels in their pre-season friendlies, and Colbran said: "He's a brilliant player and I've been trying to get him for a while. He'll be a massive asset to the squad."

WORTHING: Mansfield; Denton, Axten, Woodburn, Farmer; Brotherton, Akehurst, Patton, Johnson; Archibald, Treleaven. Subs: Williamson (Treleaven 53), Gordon (Archibald 70), Kennett, Simpson, Whitehead. Att: 172.

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