Start of Worthing's season hit by pitch worries

Further work is needed to get the artificial surface at Woodside Road in good order after a long-running dispute with the pitch contractors.

It is about to take place and the Rebels have already switched their first two planned home games – against Folkestone and Potters Bar – to the other team’s ground.

And manager Adam Hinshelwood said he had been told it was possible work on the the pitch could continue throughout October.

The manager said it would have been nice for the work to have been done earlier, but he was just looking forward to the day when the pitch was perfect.

“It’s something that causes the club a lot of stress every year. For the investment that was made, everyone just wants it to be right and hopefully it soon will be. It’s not ideal having to start with a run of away games but we will get on with it.”

Worthing’s latest pre-season friendly ended in a 0-0 draw at Three Bridges on Saturday and they are set to fit in an extra pre-season game – away to Met Police – this weekend.

The team’s form in pre-season has pleased Hinshelwood, although he said the Three Bridges game showed they somtimes needed to be cleverer in breaking teams down.

But injuries are a concern, with eight players currently injured and four of them touch and go to make the first league match, at Folkestone, on Saturday week.

Hinshelwood said Danny Barker, Cam Tutt, Alfie Young and Dayshonne Golding were the four who might not be fit for the opener – but any who missed that game should be back a week or so later.

Hinshelwood has used plenty of players in pre-season and is pleased with the options at his disposal.

He is also delighted to see the quick progress being made by players not longer at the club.

For example, Fin Stevens was on the bench for Brentford for their Carabao Cup tie with Wycombe on Saturday, while keeper Carl Rushworth started for a young Brighton side in their EFL Trophy clash with Leyton Orient.

Hinshelwood said: “We want to be a club that gives opportunities to good young players and gets a reputation for it.”