FOOTBALL: Colbran upbeat with praise despite Croydon defeat

On his return from injury, after missing the previous six games, Kennett saw red for two bookings in the space of four minutes in the second half.

In an entertaining game, Rebels had the better opportunities in the first half but Croydon went ahead on 49 minutes when Scott Forrester brilliantly volleyed home Chris Bourne's corner, although Worthing felt there was a push on Glen Woodburn, prior to former Rebels striker Forrester scoring.

Kennett was then booked for a foul on Tom Bolarinwa before Croydon doubled their lead on 53 minutes when debutant Tom Davis, who is on loan from Dover, drilled home from 20 yards.

Kennett, who scored the only goal when Rebels won at Croydon in the FA Cup in September, received his second booking four minutes later for a foul on Danny Waldren, which left Rebels up against it.

Manager Simon Colbran introduced Jamie Groves, for his debut, and Matt Simpson, for his first appearance since re-joining from Horsham YMCA, and Rebels, spear-headed by the excellent Ben Williamson, always looked dangerous as an attacking force.

They made it 2-1 on 66 minutes when Williamson, three yards out, turned to fire home his seventh goal of the season after Simpson headed Ben Johnson's corner goalwards.

Within four minutes though, Croydon had broken away and, from Forrester's pass, Waldren brilliantly fired home from 20 yards to end any hopes Worthing had of getting a result.

In the first half, Evan Archibald had two clear openings but failed to hit the target, and Ben Johnson had a couple of chances, while at the other end Forrester and Davis both forced Rebels keeper Alan Mansfield into decent stops.

Colbran said: "Kenno's first yellow was definitely a booking and the second was 50-50, but there was always a chance of another booking.

"I thought we could easily have been 2-0 up at half-time but, for their first goal, I've never seen such a blatant push.

"The referee was standing right there and I don't know how he missed it.

"They took all their goals well and Alan Mansfield, who was excellent, didn't have a chance with any of them.

"I've got nothing but praise for our players. They all gave 100 per cent and, although I hate losing, the effort was there and it just wasn't our day."

On Groves and Simpson, Colbran said: "It was their first game and they came on in a difficult situation against an experienced team, but they both did very well."

The game on Saturday marked the halfway stage in Rebels' league programme and Colbran has been delighted to take 43 points from his first 21 matches.

He said: "If you'd offered me that at the start of the season, I'd definitely have taken it.

"After four games, people were talking about us getting relegated. And now, halfway through the season, we've got enough points to guarantee we'll be staying up.

"We've proved some critics wrong and now we need to prove wrong the people who thought we would be a mid-table team as well.

"I think we'll need 75 points to get into the play-offs, so we need another 32 more. If we can get a play-off spot, it will have been a fantastic season, although we'll still have our sights on leaders Folkestone.

"They've had a few breaks recently (last-minute winner at home to Walton & Hersham on Saturday] but they've still got to play us and the other top teams.There's still a long way to go."

WORTHING: Mansfield; Denton, Axten, Woodburn, Farmer; Brotherton, Kennett, Patton, Johnson; Archibald, Williamson. Subs: Groves, Simpson (Farmer, Archibald 61), Gordon (Brotherton 81), Mitchell, Fernandez. Att: 244.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]