FOOTBALL: Rebels beat YM for third successive win

It was not as plain sailing as the result suggests, even though Rebels had dominated the first half and should have been ahead at the break.

Worthing got the lead and a man advantage nine minutes into the second half. After Paul Kennett's drive was deflected onto the bar, Evan Archibald's follow-up header was handled on the line by defender Steve Metcalf, who was shown a red card.

Archibald stepped up and netted the resulting penalty to former Rebels stopper Tony Di Bernardo's right to score for the fourth successive game. Di Bernardo did get a strong hand to it, though, and would have been disappointed not to have kept it out.

Despite being a man down, YM raised their game and had a couple of half-chances before they got a penalty of their own with 20 minutes left.

After a skilful run by Tom Manton, Matt Geard was tripped by Rebels keeper Alan Mansfield, who was booked. But Mansfield made amends by saving Terry Dodd's spot-kick with his legs and he also comfortably gathered Mike Huckett's headed rebound.

Still YM looked dangerous and a Neil Watts volley on 87 minutes was pushed away by Mansfield before Nigel Brake headed over.

With YM pushing forward, gaps appeared in their defence, and Worthing substitute Chamal Fenelon scored twice in the space of 60 seconds in injury-time to net his first goals for the club and give the scoreline a slightly flattering look.

Rebels assistant manager Simon McMenemy said: "Overall, I think the scoreline reflected our dominance of the game. If we'd put away our chances in the first half, it would have been even more comfortable.

"Being a local derby, it was always going to be a scrap but the boys were fired up for it.

"There's a really good atmosphere in the changing rooms and the confidence is up.

"Alan Mansfield is a diamond and keeps making saves that he shouldn't be able to. He's just a rock and it was good for Chamal to score. He'd been worrying himself because he hadn't scored but this will give him confidence."

Folkestone's 10-point deduction was confirmed by the league last week but they still returned to the top of the table on Tuesday, when they won 1-0 at Dulwich.

WORTHING: Mansfield; Denton, Axten, Woodburn, Groves; Greenfield, Patton, Kennett, Johnson; Williamson, Archibald. Subs: Fenelon (Archibald 73), Clarke (Groves 78), Bowra (Greenfield 86), Brown, Brotherton. Att: 214.

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