The Rebels continued their preparations for the new season in East Sussex as they took on Isthmian Premier Division outfit Lewes at The Dripping Pan.

Boss Chris Agutter took a squad of 20 with him to take on the Rooks in humid conditions at the start of the afternoon.

The Rebels made a bright start, playing at a high intensity early on and creating a few openings. But, it was Lewes who had the first real chance of the afternoon on the counter-attack. The Rooks broke down the right flank and it ended up falling nicely for their forward, but he blazed his shot well over the bar.

Lewes grew into the contest from there and arguably had the better of the next ten minutes, again looking lively on the break. Their left winger found an opportunity to cut inside onto his right foot on 17 minutes, but his shot hit the side netting at the near post.

Danny Cashman led the charge as the Rebels swung momentum back in their favour. With a dipping shot from distance, he forced a good save from the Rooks’ keeper on 20 minutes. He was at the heart of the action two minutes later too, after some neat link-up play between himself and Jack Spong led to the latter firing from distance, but it was over the bar.

It was on the half-hour mark that the Rebels found the breakthrough. Tommy Willard danced past his defender in the area and was subsequently swiped out, with the referee wasting no time in pointing to the spot. Willard stepped up to take the penalty himself and fired into the bottom left corner.

The Rebels had a golden chance to double their lead just before the interval when Ollie Starkey won the ball back pressing high and fired a shot that was saved well. Glen Rea was racing to get on the end of the rebound for a certain goal, but he was beaten to it and it was cleared for a corner and it remained just a one-goal lead into the break.

The second half began much how the first half ended, with Worthing looking lively. Jake Hutchinson struck the post just two minutes in and Starkey had a clear-cut chance moments later that was saved. Cashman followed up with an acrobatic effort that went wide.

Chris Haigh was called into action on the hour mark, making a good save at his near post in stopping a long-range effort.

Agutter made a triple change five minutes later as Trialist A, Stan Berry and Tyrese Owen all entered the fray in place of Willard, Spong and Hutchinson.

Sam Beard was given a great chance soon after as he was slotted in by Cashman. The Lewes keeper closed down the angle well to make the save.

On 74 minutes, the Rebels made their fourth switch as Rocco Gamblin came on for Starkey.

Haigh’s final touch of the match was an incredible one as he made an unbelievable reflex save to tip over a header from point-blank range. He was subbed for the trialist goalkeeper with 10 minutes to go.

The trialist shot-stopper was soon into action too as Lewes looked a threat in the late moments. He made a good save to parry wide a powerful low effort from the right.

The Rebels remained firm, keeping their first clean sheet of pre-season to earn their second victory in succession. Again, more valuable minutes for the squad who are building to be ready for their first league encounter on 10 August at Weston-super-Mare.

Next up in pre-season is another local Sussex trip to Whitehawk next Saturday (27 July) at The Enclosed Ground.

Worthing XI: Chris Haigh, Joel Colbran (C), Alfie Young, Ollie Black, Jack Spong, Glen Rea, Tommy Willard, Danny Cashman, Ollie Starkey, Jake Hutchinson, Sam Beard.

SUBS: Evan Hoarty, Tyrese Owen (65′), Arthur Gregory, Trialist GK (80′), Rocco Gamblin (74′), Stan Berry (65′), Trialist A (65′)