Why Worthing FC boss knows his Isthmian title chasers won't rest on laurels

Worthing FC manager Adam Hinshelwood has toasted the competition for places that’s keeping his whole squad on their toes.
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After another winning week for the Mackerel Men, Hinshelwood said the strength of the squad was helping keep regular starters sharp and knowing they needed to maintain high standards.

Worthing are in the last 16 of the Velocity Trophy after a 1-0 win at Kingstonian last Wednesday and, more importantly, still two points clear at the top of the Isthmian premier after walloping Wingate and Finchley 6-0 in front of 1,129 fans at Woodside Road on Saturday.

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Owen Wordsell got a late winner in the trophy tie for a team containing a number of the club’s under-18s while an Ollie Pearce hat-trick (taking his league tally to 30 this season) and strikes from Calum Kealy, Aarran Racine and Jasper Pattenden saw off Wingate.

Worthing celebrate Jasper Pattenden's goal against Wingate / Picture: Marcus HoareWorthing celebrate Jasper Pattenden's goal against Wingate / Picture: Marcus Hoare
Worthing celebrate Jasper Pattenden's goal against Wingate / Picture: Marcus Hoare

But this is a relentless campaign and Worthing need to keep on firing – with league games to come at Merstham on Saturday and at home to Kingstonian on Tuesday.

Hinshelwood said: “It’s been a good week for us. It was great to play well and win at Kingstonian and all the under-18s we asked to step up did well.

“We visit Haywards Heath in the next round (on February 22) and it’s a competition that gives us a chance to rotate the squad and give youngsters a chance.

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“Against Wingate it was an excellent performance and we were clinical – although we did miss chances to score even more than the six.

“It was 2-0 at the break and wasn’t over at that point.

“If they’d got the next goal it would have been a different game but we went on to win it comfortably. We have set ourselves high standards and the depth of the squad means players know that if they’re starting, they’ve got to perform. If they don’t there’ll be someone on the bench to replace them.

“It’s all about keeping the standards and the levels up now.

“Merstham will be another difficult game and then we play Kingstonian again and they’ve got lots and lots of quality, we know them well.”

Danny Barker has one more game of three-match ban to sit out but otherwise Hinshelwood is selecting from virtually a full squad.

Latest: worthingherald.co.uk