Hinshelwood hails Worthing spirit as four points come from Kidderminster and Southend clashes
Adam Hinshelwood hailed Worthing’s fighting spirit after they overcome half-time deficits into a win and and a draw to extend their National League unbeaten run to 10 games.
Second-half goals by Razz Coleman De-Graft and Cory Adjetey-Brew clinched a 2-1 win at Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday evening.
Then despite Southend leading 2-0 at the break and 3-2 late on at Woodside Road on Tuesday night, strikes by Dom Johnson-Fisher, Adjetey-Brew again and Jordan Young clinched a creditable 3-3 draw in the thrilling fourth v third clash in front of 3,404 fans.
The Rebels are fifth ahead of Saturday’s visit from ex-Worthing manager Chris Agutter’s Sutton.
Hinshelwood is delighted by league form which has seen the Reds unbeaten since August 31 and said after the Southend draw: “We didn’t really turn up first half and didn’t get the press right. And when we got in the final third, we were quite wasteful.
"But it was a great response second half. We were pleased with the changes.
"All three lads who came on after half-time will have been disappointed not to have started and that’s the response you want from them.”
Hinshelwood said both sides could be disappointed not to have won – in Worthing’s case because they had a great late chance to nick it 4-3.
He added: “It was a great game with both teams going for the win. The fans were unbelievable – they really got behind us second half and gave us that edge.
"To come back from two down and respond again from 3-2 shows there must be a togetherness in the group.
"We’re young – our average age is 22 - and we do show naivety at times but the flip side is we play with confidence.”
Hinshelwood was similarly delighted with the fightback at Kidderminster, saying it was up there with their best results of the season. He again hailed the large away following who made the long trip for a teatime game.
"Six years ago we were going to East Thurrock and now we’re going to places like this with such big numbers,” he said.
"The players really dug in. We were missing a few. Everyone played their part.
"We started well but then started giving too many passes away and losing too many duels. We looked like an under-21 development team.
"Then we took the game by the scruff of the neck and got the goals. And I must say the goalkeeper (Taylor Seymour) won us the three points.”
Now the Rebels hope for another crowd of well over 3,000 as Sutton come to town.