Worthing are top of the form table coming into this one having won five and drawn one of their last six. Their 6-4 win in the crazy encounter with Dover was their third successive win following previous victories against Torquay United and Aveley.

Ollie Pearce’s rich vein of form continued as he fired the Rebels to victory with four goals in the chaotic win. The striker has scored in every match in 2024, netting 14 times in eight matches since the turn of the year. He sits comfortably at the top of the scoring charts, with almost double the goals of the league’s second-top scorer, Shaun Jeffers.

The victory was marred by the injury to goalkeeper Josh Jeffries who was stretchered off the field with an ankle injury midway through the first half. The extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed with Jeffries due to meet the surgeon on Monday.

Jeffries’ fellow Southampton shot-stopper Ollie Wright has joined the club on loan and is in line to make his Rebels debut as they make the trip to Weymouth tomorrow.

As for the league standings, the Rebels extended the gap to third place to five points with their win and with Maidstone dropping points last time out. Chelmsford City now occupy third place with 54 points, while the Rebels in second have 59.

The Opposition

Weymouth went on an impressive run themselves of late. Before their defeat against high-flying Chelmsford last time out, the Terras won four straight matches to help them climb to 14th place in the league table. They sit 9 points off the playoff places with 14 matches to play.

Striker Brandon Goodship has been firing up top and his form has been a catalyst to the Terras’ upturn in results. The striker has scored six goals in seven appearances in 2024.

Form
10/2 – Chelmsford City (A) – Lost 1-0
3/2 – Hemel Hempstead Town (H) – Won 4-3
27/1 – Dartford (A) – Won 0-1
23/1 – Taunton Town (A) – Won 0-2
13/1 – Slough Town (H) – Won 3-0
6/1 – Tonbridge Angels (A) – Lost 2-1

Previous Meetings

The Rebels won the reverse fixture this season with goals from Sonny Fish and Ricky Aguiar netting in a 2-0 victory.

The sides faced off three times last season after being paired together in the Isuzu FA Trophy. The Rebels won that cup encounter and their away league match at the Bob Lucas Stadium, but it was the Terras who won the league match at Woodside with a 3-1 win.

Team News

Defender Joe Rye is available for selection having recovered from a slight hamstring injury that he picked up in the Rebels’ 1-0 win away at Tonbridge Angels.

Greg Luer is slightly further away from a return to action as he recovers from a groin injury, but the forward is back in full training and could be available next week.

Adam Hinshelwood confirmed that Nicky Wheeler is “progressing nicely” but is still “probably a couple of weeks away at best” as he nurses a groin injury.