With just two weeks until Worthing’s opening day trip to Weston-super-Mare, they continued their pre-season campaign at local Sussex rivals Whitehawk on a glorious day on the South Coast.

Chris Agutter named a squad of 19 for the encounter at the TerraPura Ground with his squad boosted by returns for Joe Cook who started, while Finlay Chadwick and Kane Wills were named on the bench.

Chris Haigh was the first of the two goalkeepers to be called into action. Manny Mensah broke in behind the Worthing defence less than five minutes in, but his shot from some 20 yards was kept out well by the Rebels’ shot-stopper.

At the other end, Danny Cashman had an opening after some lovely intricate play on the right flank. His shot from just inside the box was deflected wide for a corner.

From there, it turned into quite a combative affair with neither side shying away from any challenges in the first half which saw three yellow cards displayed. Chances were few and far between with the contest largely being played in midfield areas.

The Rebels threatened on the counter-attack midway through the first period when Cashman slotted in Tommy Willard. Forced out to the right, Willard opted to cut back inside onto his left foot but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Agutter’s side struck the post on 37 minutes after Nicky Wheeler floated in a dangerous cross to Jake Hutchinson. The forward got on the end of it but volleyed from a tight angle and could only manage to hit the upright.

The Hawks had a double chance towards the end of the first half, first Charlie Walker from close range couldn’t divert it on target and then, as the hosts recycled possession, Moe Shubbar saw his shot deflected wide and it remained goalless into the break.

Agutter made a double change at the break, replacing Joe Cook and Wheeler with Trialist A and Ollie Starkey.

The Rebels started the second half brightly, creating a couple of early chances. First, it was Willard who fired a shot from the right across the face of goal but it went narrowly wide. Then, Sam Beard floated a ball over the top to Hutchinson who latched onto it, beating the keeper in a race to the ball. He looked to lob the keeper but it went wide of the upright.

A third change was made on the hour mark when Kane Wills replaced Hutchinson.

Whitehawk created their best chance of the match with 20 minutes to go when Charlie Lambert darted down the right flank. Haigh came out to meet him but was beaten to the ball and Lambert looked to help it into the empty net, but Wills made a vital intervention to deflect it for a corner.

Moments later, Worthing had the lead. Starkey chased down a ball on the left flank and cut the ball back to Trialist A who wrong-footed the Hawks’ keeper and found the bottom left corner.

Agutter made another double change on 82 minutes, switching Alfie Young and Willard with Tyrese Owen and Finlay Chadwick.

The hosts threatened late on as chances fell for Lloyd Dawes and Lambert, but the Rebels remained firm and kept a second successive clean sheet to hold on to the win.

Next up for the Rebels is a Tuesday night trip to Poole Town.