The Rebels travelled to Poole Town for their penultimate pre-season friendly. Chris Agutter named a rotated starting eleven which meant starts for summer recruits Tyrese Owen and Ollie Black.

In the hot conditions at Dorset, the Rebels made a slow start and found themselves two goals behind in the opening 20 minutes.

Toby Holmes opened the scoring in the 11th minute as the hosts were rewarded for their bright start. Holmes latched onto a loose pass at the back from Joe Cook before finishing comfortably past Chris Haigh.

Less than ten minutes later, Poole’s lead was doubled through Harvey Slade. It was all a bit easy for the forward having been laid on a plate by his teammate Tyrique Clark before finishing nicely into the bottom left corner.

Worthing’s first chance came 24 minutes in when Trialist A whipped in an in-swinging corner that found Tyrese Owen but he headed wide of the upright.

The Dolphins very nearly added a third soon after the players returned from a drinks break midway through the half. Holmes had a chance at a second after capitalising on another defensive mistake, but this time he fired wide.

Trialist A had the final opportunity of the half, but saw his shot kept out well at the near post to conclude a disappointing first period for Agutter’s rotated squad.

The boss, undoubtedly frustrated by the team’s first half performance, made four changes at the break as he introduced Glen Rea, Danny Cashman, Jack Spong and Ollie Starkey in place of Owen, Trialist A, Finlay Chadwick and Nicky Wheeler.

The changes brought a better intensity and tempo to Worthing’s play in the second half, Cashman almost created a chance for Sam Beard just three minutes in, but his low cross was cleared away before Beard could get there. Soon after, it was Starkey providing Tommy Willard in a similar position, but this time, the forward couldn’t get enough power on his shot and it was saved easily.

In the humid second half conditions, another water break was taken halfway through and Agutter took the opportunity to make another couple of changes. Alfie Young and Trialist B replaced Kane Wills and Jake Hutchinson.

It was Trialist B who had the Rebels’ best chance of the match after he was laid on a plate on 86 minutes after a mesmerising run from Cashman, but the trialist’s shot was saved brilliantly by the Poole keeper.

The Dolphins’ shot-stopper was at it again moments later to deny Beard at the near post after the wingback’s darting run.

Despite the late pressure and a much improved second half performance, the Rebels fell to their second pre-season defeat.

The Rebels close out the pre-season campaign this weekend as they travel to rivals Bognor Regis Town on Sunday at 2pm.