FOOTBALL: Colbran targets revenge against Burgess Hill

Rebels were unable to have an immediate chance to get back on the winning trail when their match on Tuesday with Horsham YMCA, who beat Eastbourne Town 9-0 on Boxing Day, was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch.

Town manager Ady Colwell resigned following the match and former Rebels boss Danny Bloor has taken over there.

The loss at Hillians was Rebels' second successive 3-1 reverse and Colbran was disappointed with his side in the closing stages. He said: "We just seemed to give up in the last 20 minutes.

"In that time, we could have scored a goal then gone on to get a draw or even win the game and it's the first time I've been disappointed in the players.

"They just threw the towel in and you can't have that.

"Even at 4-0 down, I'd expect them to keep going '” keep trying and working hard '” especially with the play-off situation and goal difference. A goal here or there might be the difference between playing at home or away.

"Apart from Folkestone, it was good that results went our way on Boxing Day. Now we've got to kick on and bounce back on Saturday.

"Whoever we were playing, I'd be looking at the game to bounce back from a defeat.

"It just so happens we're playing Burgess Hill again, so we know what they're all about.

"We've got to show that bit more desire and passion, like they showed on Boxing Day, and then, hopefully, we'll come through it."

On Boxing Day, Worthing started the better and could have been 2-0 up in the opening 11 minutes, reports Chris Francis.

Ben Johnson put wide of an open goal and then more slack play from the home back line led to Ben Williamson pulling an excellent save from Joe Adams.

But clearly this was Hillians' day, as confirmed by the opening goal on 18 minutes. Steve Harper's cross was only half-cleared and when Matt Piper struck a low shot from 35 yards, it went through a crowded area and past static keeper Alan Mansfield.

If that was a bit of a soft one, however, the second eight minutes later was superbly struck by Harper, whose half-volley from 30 yards was a goal from the moment it left his foot.

Harper's spirited battling posed Worthing more problems but the match looked full of goals at either end and it was no surprise when Rebels struck back with another superbly taken goal on 36 minutes. Jamie Brotherton pulled the ball back from the right and Evan Archibald's finish was unerring.

Archibald missed a few chances after that but Hillians took greater control with each passing minute. They did have a vital let-off four minutes into the second half when Williamson failed to make contact when the chance was laid on a plate by Archibald, but from that moment on it started to get ever more comfortable for Hillians.

Danny Curd got the third with a superb diving header before Archibald missed a good heading chance. After that, Hillians could have gone on to make it even more embarrassing for Rebels.

Worthing's last two defeats have both come since Karl Akehurst has been out with a broken ankle, although Colbran is unlikely to bring anyone else in. He said: "We've not got the budget.

"I could go out and get 100 players at the same level as what we've got but what's the point in that.

"We'll just work with the squad we've got as they're more than capable and are good enough."

Akehurst could now be back in action earlier than expected, at the beginning of April, while fellow midfielder, Ryan Woodford, should return at the end of January.

WORTHING: Mansfield; Farmer, Woodburn, Axten, Groves; Brotherton, Patton, Simpson, Johnson; Archibald, Williamson. Subs: Clarke (Farmer 66), Gordon (Archibald 74), Mitchell (Brotherton 81), Whitehead, Fernandez.

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