The Rebels concluded their pre-season on a sunny Sunday afternoon at rivals Bognor Regis Town.

Chris Agutter named a 19-man squad, including three trialists who all started on the bench. Joel Colbran returned to the starting eleven after missing the midweek trip to Poole.

Worthing started with a far better intensity and tempo to their play in contrast to midweek at Poole and looked a threat early on when Colbran delivered a dangerous cross in that evaded everyone in the box on its way out at the far post.

Despite their bright start, the Rebels were under the cosh soon after. Sam Beard, Alfie Young and Chris Haigh were all called into action to prevent the Rocks from taking the lead.

The Rebels regained control of the contest some 20 minutes in and began to find joy playing out from the back, beating the Bognor press. A move on 22 minutes that started at the feet of Haigh ended with Beard whipping in a dangerous ball in from the left that again evaded everyone on its way out at the far post.

On 34 minutes, the Rebels found the breakthrough. Tommy Willard saw his shot from the left side of the area saved well by Rocks keeper Joe Beasent, but he parried it straight into the path of Jake Hutchinson who made no mistake from close range for his first goal in his new colours.

The forward had an opportunity to double his tally a few moments later after Kane Wills played a ball over the top to send him through. After taking a touch to set himself, he couldn’t keep his shot down as it went way over the bar.

Into the second half, it turned into a quieter affair that was largely played in midfield areas and broken up by substitutions and breaks in play. A shot from outside the box from the hosts’ Matt Burgess and Worthing’s Beard were all the sides created midway through the half.

Agutter made his first change on 63 minutes when he replaced Willard with Nicky Wheeler. Willard had been down for some time receiving treatment for a bloody lip he’d acquired from a flailing arm of a Rooks defender.

With about quarter of an hour left on the clock, the game opened up and both sides enjoyed a flurry of chances. First, the home side went close to levelling things up when Tommy-Lee Higgs went through on goal. Haigh made himself big to deny the forward but hadn’t totally cleared the danger as the ball bounced towards the goal where Young had to clear off the line.

Next, it was Worthing who threatened. The Rebels were awarded a dubious corner that they almost took full advantage of as Spong floated the ball into Joe Cook who couldn’t quite direct it on target.

Cashman was picked out with a low cross by Colbran on 81 minutes but his effort was kept out by a good save from Beasent diving low to his left.

Destiny Ojo had two chances in the space of a minute for the hosts. He was the provider of the first, floating in a cross to Finn Evans who headed wide from point-blank range and less than a minute later, he curled a shot wide of the upright himself.

Ollie Starkey replaced Jake Hutchinson on 84 minutes as the Rebels held on for victory in their final pre-season match.

It all starts next week for Agutter’s side who begin their National League South campaign on the road at Weston-super-Mare.

Worthing XI: Chris Haigh, Glen Rea, Joe Cook, Alfie Young, Kane Wills, Jack Spong, Danny Cashman, Tommy Willard, Joel Colbran, Jake Hutchinson, Sam Beard.

Subs: Tyrese Owen, Nicky Wheeler (63′), Freddie Chester, Ollie Black, Ollie Starkey (84′), Trialist GK, Trialist A, Trialist B.