Belief growing fast as Worthing show they can live with National League’s big clubs
Worthing boss Adam Hinshelwood says he can see his players’ self-belief growing as they rack up the National League wins he believes their efforts deserve.
The Rebels moved up to 11th in the table – just a point off the final play-off place – with a superb 3-1 win at Hartlepool on Saturday.
Cory Adjetey-Brew, Ricky Aguiar and Jose Marquez scored to secure their second away win of their first campaign at this level – just four days after they’d seen off Hornchurch 1-0 at home.
The six-point week gave the table a much healthier look – after a haul of eights points from the first seven that had Hinshelwood concerned they should have picked up more for some good performances.
As he oversees more changes to the squad – see the story on the right – he told the Herald he was delighted to see his side winning at places like Hartlepool.
“We’re a club in transition in terms of getting the squad in place that can compete at this tough level,” he said.
“We’ve had good performances but these two wins make our points tally more reflective of what we’ve done so far.
“It’s a shift in mindset. We don’t want to go into games just wanting to compete. We want to compete and pick up points – you have to do that.
“Some of the lads have not played at this level before and probably had doubts about whether they could at the start of the season. But every positive result brings greater belief.”
The visit to the north-east for the lunchtime game included a stop at Chesterfield, where they trained, and Hinshelwood said he could sense a ‘good vibe’ on the trip among a squad taking new challenges in their stride.
And he admitted the display at Victoria Park was far from perfect.
“It was nowhere near as good as we have been in some games,” he said. “I guess it’s a positive sign that you can win when that is the case.
“It’s a constant challenge trying to find your level of performance and maintaining it and improving it.”
Hinshelwood warned that the stiff tests would keep coming every week – with the next seven days a great example, bringing the visit of FC Halifax to Woodside on Saturday followed by the Reds going to Yeovil on Tuesday night. “That’s another two big clubs we’re taking on and we will have to be at our best,” he said.
As the club try to bring in reinforcements following departures, Hinshelwood said George Cox and Bailey Smith would be available on Saturday but keeper Harrison Foulkes was another week or so away from fitness.
…
SQUAD EVOLVES FAST
The Worthing squad continues to evolve quickly – and three departures will be followed by more arrivals.
The line-up has not been as settled as Adam Hinshelwood would have liked since the start of the season – partly because Rebels players are showing their talents and in demand by others.
The latest departutes have seen Ramell Carter and Jose Marquez return to repsecitve parent clubs Hull City and Forest Green Rovers.
In Carter’s case, the return is so his parent club can monitor medical issues. He has impressed in six appearances for Worthing.
But Marquez has effectively gone back to FGR because they feel the forward – who’s scored three in nine games for Worthing – can boost their team. It follows the likes of Teddy Jenks and Brad Dolaghan being snapped up by other clubs.
Meanwhile striker Wiktor Makowski has signed for Dagenham & Redbridge.
With another duo – Dom Hutchison and Ashley Nathaniel-George – on international duty, Hinshelwoof said the Rebels were looking to bring in two new faces before Saturday, one loan and one permanent.