Tonight’s match is our fourth and final home game in succession, and everyone of a Worthing persuasion will be hoping the outcome of the encounter is a repeat of the previous three games at Woodside Road.
In recent weeks, the Reds have comfortably overcome Dover Athletic, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Hemel Hempstead Town to make it five league wins from five under the stewardship of Adam Hinshelwood.
On the weekend, the confident hosts scored four without reply against a defensively-resolute Hemel Hempstead. Brad Dolaghan reached double figures for the season as he netted his ninth and tenth goal of the campaign in the first half, before captain Joel Colbran and Cheltenham Town loanee Tom King added the gloss to the scoreline with two finishes from close-range.
Another three points this evening would see the Rebels overtake AFC Totton in the National League South standings and also displace them in the play-off places. A victory would also extend our winning run to six matches – our longest run since the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign.
THE OPPOSITION
Since earning promotion into the sixth tier for the first time in their history last season, the Stags have proven they belong at this level of the Non-League pyramid.
After almost a third of the season, the Stags lie in fifth position, having triumphed in nine of their 15 matches. They have surprised and swept aside some of the leagues best clubs, including beating Weston-super-Mare, Hemel Hempstead and Chelmsford City.
However, recently they have fallen into a inconsistent period, with the congested schedule largely contributing to their shortcomings.
They crashed out of the FA Cup at the First Round stage after shipping six away to National League North side Macclesfield in a 6-3 loss on a long and tiring away trip, while also falling to defeats to Bath City and Ebbsfleet United.
The weekend’s home defeat against the latter was largely in part to their numerical disadvantage for the majority of the match, as Ashley Clarke was given his marching orders in just the 27th minute.
AFC Totton have had mixed success on the road, with their six outings being split by three wins and three defeats.
As previously mentioned, this is Jimmy Ball’s side first season at this level in their history. The Stags edged out Gloucester City in the Southern Premier Division South Play-off Final to earn promotion back in May.
THE GAFFER
Since taking over, in March 2022, Jimmy Ball has transformed AFC Totton and guided them to unchartered territory. After a positive introduction, the club handed Ball a five-year contact – a clear sign of the belief they had in the then budding tactician.
The faith was certainly repaid. In his first full season in charge, the 50-year-old masterminded a title win to earn them promotion into Step 3, as they lifted the Southern League Division 1 South.
The two seasons that followed resulted in consecutive second place finishes, with last season’s climax being a second promotion during his reign after winning the play-offs.
His role at the Snows Stadium is his first permanent First-Team manager spell in senior football. Previously, Ball was the Assistant Manager at Stevenage after managing Forest Green Rovers U18’s. While with the Gloucestershire-based side, he had a brief spell as caretaker manager for the final portion of the 2020/21 campaign.
ONE TO WATCH
Christie Ward is starting to build a habit of scoring winning goals for the Stags, having netted the decisive goal in AFC Totton’s last two victories.
The attacking midfielder, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Sunday, netted at the Snows Stadium against both Chelmsford City and Maidenhead United to help his side collect three points.
Ward is beginning to find his feet at his new home after signing in the summer following the expiration of his contact at Wycombe Wanderers.
As a teenager, the number 19 was one of Non-League’s hottest prospects while at Hamworthy and Brockenhurst, which convinced Wycombe to snap up his services.
Ward has plenty of experience at this level though, having been sent out on loan to Slough Town, Tonbridge Angels, Braintree Town and Weymouth FC.
Form
Worthing FC | W8 D3 L4 GD: +13 | Pos: 8th
League Form: WWWWW
MD11: Chelmsford City 1-2 Worthing | Scorers: Joel Colbran & Harry Ransom
MD12: Chesham United 1-2 Worthing | Scorers: Jack Spong x2
MD13: Worthing 3-1 Dover Athletic | Scorers: Joe Cook, Razzaq Coleman De-Graft & Brad Dolaghan
MD14: Worthing 3-0 Hampton & Richmond | Scorers: Brad Dolaghan, Teddy Jenks & Joel Colbran
MD15: Worthing 4-0 Hemel Hempstead Town | Scorers: Brad Dolaghan x2, Joel Colbran & Tom King
AFC Totton | W9 D1 L5 | GD: +5 | Pos: 5th
League Form: LWWLW
MD11: AFC Totton 2-1 Hemel Hempstead | Scorers: Tyler Cordner & Ashley Clarke
MD12: Bath City 2-0 AFC Totton
MD13: AFC Totton 2-1 Chelmsford City | Scorers: Tony Lee & Christie Ward
MD14: AFC Totton 2-1 Maidenhead United Joe Oastler & Christie Ward
MD15: AFC Totton 0-2 Ebbsfleet United
PREVIOUS MEETING
Worthing have played AFC Totton only once before, on 17th September 1988 at Woodside Road. This
was an FA Cup 1st qualifying round tie, which we won 3-2, with two goals from Mark Searle and one
from Pat David. At the time, we were in the Isthmian League Division 1 and Totton were members of
the Wessex League.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate for tomorrow’s match, although supporters are advised to purchase their ticket in advance via the Fanbase app.
- Adults: £18
- Concession: £14
- Under-18: £8
- Under-12: £5
- Under-6: Free entry
HOW TO FOLLOW
If you can’t be at the game, you can follow the game via live updates from the club’s official X account.
You can also listen to live commentary via the club’s official commentary service.
