Worthing won’t panic – but want to entertain fans again

A late Farnborough goal condemned the Rebels to a 2-1 Woodside Road loss on Satuday – their first league reverse in their 11th game. It came a week after Worthing lost by the same score at home to Eastbourne Borough in the FA Cup.

Worthing v Garnboro’ in pictures by Mike Gunn.

Javaun Splatt had given Worthing a first-half lead only for Farnborough to come from behind to win after the break.

It leaves Worthing fifth, 11 points off top spot, ahead of this Saturday’s trip to eighth-placed Braintree.

Hinshelwood is concerned his team have twice gone off the boil in the second half in front of their own fans – and 1,000-plus crowds at that.

He said: “The first half on Saturday was end to end – it could have been 3-3 or 4-4 at half-time.

"We got ahead but didn’t get going in the second half. They pressed higher and the ball didn’t stick for us. There wasn’t enough quality into the forwards.

"It's the level we’re at – it’s fine margins. There have been similar games that we’ve won 2-1, this time we lost.

"But I’m disappointed we didn’t give our fans anything to cheer in the second half. It was similar in the Eastbourne cup game.

"I was frustrated watching us play and I’m sure the fans were too. I want us to be better over 90 minutes and give them more excitement.”

Hinshelwood said the defeat gave them plenty to learn and to work on, and he did not feel big changes to the team were needed to get results back on track.

"We have hard-working players and they know what’s required,” Hinshelwood said. “We have to cope with teams who come to press us and have to defend better from long throws, which cost us Saturday’s winner, and keep our concentration."

The Reds have scored only one goal in each of their past four and with star striker Jake Robinson out long-term Hinshelwood admitted he was still looking for new blood up front. They have also been hit by the loss of defender Joel Colbran, out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury.