Rebels back in contention for play-offs

Against the Isthmian League Cup semi-finalists, Jamie Brotherton's third goal in three games gave Rebsls a third straight victory, all at home, took them to sixth place. They are now two points behind fifth-placed Sittingbourne, the last in aplay-off spot, who lost 2-0 at home to strugglers Horsham YMCA in the shock of the night.

See the Herald for Terry Burstow's match report.

Worthing have an interesting run-in. Of those above them, only Dover Athletic are left to play and must come to Woodside on March 29.

Their five rivals below, and snapping at their heels, are Kingstonian (Rebels go there on March 15), Walton & Hersham (Worthing do not meet them now), Dulwich Hamlet (here on March 21, Good Friday), Whyteleafe (Rebels go there on April 5), and Burgess Hill (Worthing do not meet them either).

On Saturday, Worthing must beat Chipstead away to ensure the promoted Surrey club do not join the five hounds on their tail.

Rebels will complete their season at home to lower mid-table Ashford Town on April 26 but before then will have several matches easier on paper but not necessarily in practice.

These are against the teams currently clear of the bottom two but who could become embroiled in relegation issues if second-bottm Horsham YMCA can string some more results together.

In this category are Chatham, who come to Woodside on March 8; Eastbourne Town, where Rebels go on Easter Monday; Corinthian-Casuals, here on April 11, and Walton Casuals, where Rebels must go on the penultimate Saturday, April 19.

That's it.

Above them, Dover are 10 points clear at the top, Tooting are second, then Cray Wanderers and Metropolitan Police who both have games in hand over Worthing. These are all six points or more clear of Sittingbourne, who must now be the target for Rebels.

Whether Rebels are ready to go up is a question hardly needing an answer. It has got to be no - in view of their modest budgeting and their inexperience out on the pitch.

But could they actually do so? Should they make the fourth play-off spot, they will have grown up a tremendous amount together as a team and individual performers in an astonishingly short time. Who knows of what they could be capable as the underdogs?