Post by dbbn on Feb 22, 2024 12:24:13 GMT
Match Preview
Saturday 24 February 2024
Vanarama National League South
Worthing F C v Braintree Town
Saturday sees the Iron travel to the Sussex coast to take on second placed Worthing FC in a repeat of last season’s play-off qualifier head to head.
I don’t think that the Rebels have been out of the top places all season, so this will be a real test of the Iron’s credentials. Manager Adam Hinshelwood is now in his ninth season, in two spells as Worthing boss. Having won the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2021/22, they made a good fist of a second successive promotion last season, but lost their second play-off game to eventually promoted Oxford City.
They finished fourth last season in the VNLS and were second highest scorers with ninety two goals scored, but in going for all-out attack, they also conceded seventy two goals, but it no doubt kept the Rebels fans entertained.
There has been no let-up in their attacking philosophy again this season and are the leading scorers in the VNLS with a record of P 34 W 19 D 5 L 10 GF 77 GA 53 Points 62. On their own patch they have P 17 W 9 D 4 L 4 GF 44 GA 27 Points 31. Only six sides have conceded more goals than them, four of which are in the relegation places!
The four teams to win at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium are Aveley (1-2), Yeovil Town (1-2), Dartford (3-4) and Chelmsford City (2-3).
In this season’s F A Cup they reached the First Round proper starting off with a one-nil away win at Eastbourne Borough, two home wins against Whitehawk (2-1) and Bath City (2-0) before going down two-nil at Alfreton Town. In the F A Trophy they went out at the first hurdle away to Frome Town, the game ended two-two with the hosts winning the penalty shoot-out four-three.
Leading scorer for the Rebels is Ollie Pearce who has netted a staggering 34 goals already which is three more than the whole Taunton Town team and the same as the Dover Athletic team. He scored twenty seven last season and already this season has three hat-tricks and a four goal haul in their last ten goal thriller at home to Dover. Behind him on eleven goals each are Ricky Aguiar who was on loan and has now returned to his parent club Swindon Town and Danny Cashman.
When the two sided met at the Rare Breed Meat Company Stadium on 2 September 2023, the Rebels were top of the League and were swept away by a buoyant attacking display from the Iron. The host went in at half time three goals to the good from Joe Grimwood, Aaron Blair and a Tom Blackwell penalty. Will Davies netted the fourth on seventy two minutes to complete the rout. Highlights here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCY_ylfM2UM
The League meeting at Worthing last season on 15 April 2023 ended two-one to the home side, Zac Bradshaw gave the Iron a sixteenth minute lead, but Josh Chambers levelled on thirty seven minutes, before Reece Meekums netted the winner in the seventy first minute.
Braintree can travel knowing that they will get chances as they look to make it six wins on the bounce, but most of those games were settled by one goal. With a free scoring Rebels side, we may need a few more!
Saturday 24 February 2024
Vanarama National League South
Worthing F C v Braintree Town
Saturday sees the Iron travel to the Sussex coast to take on second placed Worthing FC in a repeat of last season’s play-off qualifier head to head.
I don’t think that the Rebels have been out of the top places all season, so this will be a real test of the Iron’s credentials. Manager Adam Hinshelwood is now in his ninth season, in two spells as Worthing boss. Having won the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2021/22, they made a good fist of a second successive promotion last season, but lost their second play-off game to eventually promoted Oxford City.
They finished fourth last season in the VNLS and were second highest scorers with ninety two goals scored, but in going for all-out attack, they also conceded seventy two goals, but it no doubt kept the Rebels fans entertained.
There has been no let-up in their attacking philosophy again this season and are the leading scorers in the VNLS with a record of P 34 W 19 D 5 L 10 GF 77 GA 53 Points 62. On their own patch they have P 17 W 9 D 4 L 4 GF 44 GA 27 Points 31. Only six sides have conceded more goals than them, four of which are in the relegation places!
The four teams to win at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium are Aveley (1-2), Yeovil Town (1-2), Dartford (3-4) and Chelmsford City (2-3).
In this season’s F A Cup they reached the First Round proper starting off with a one-nil away win at Eastbourne Borough, two home wins against Whitehawk (2-1) and Bath City (2-0) before going down two-nil at Alfreton Town. In the F A Trophy they went out at the first hurdle away to Frome Town, the game ended two-two with the hosts winning the penalty shoot-out four-three.
Leading scorer for the Rebels is Ollie Pearce who has netted a staggering 34 goals already which is three more than the whole Taunton Town team and the same as the Dover Athletic team. He scored twenty seven last season and already this season has three hat-tricks and a four goal haul in their last ten goal thriller at home to Dover. Behind him on eleven goals each are Ricky Aguiar who was on loan and has now returned to his parent club Swindon Town and Danny Cashman.
When the two sided met at the Rare Breed Meat Company Stadium on 2 September 2023, the Rebels were top of the League and were swept away by a buoyant attacking display from the Iron. The host went in at half time three goals to the good from Joe Grimwood, Aaron Blair and a Tom Blackwell penalty. Will Davies netted the fourth on seventy two minutes to complete the rout. Highlights here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCY_ylfM2UM
The League meeting at Worthing last season on 15 April 2023 ended two-one to the home side, Zac Bradshaw gave the Iron a sixteenth minute lead, but Josh Chambers levelled on thirty seven minutes, before Reece Meekums netted the winner in the seventy first minute.
Braintree can travel knowing that they will get chances as they look to make it six wins on the bounce, but most of those games were settled by one goal. With a free scoring Rebels side, we may need a few more!