Table Position: 8th
Top Scorer: Ollie Pearce (21)
Manager: Adam Hinshelwood
Nicknames: The Rebels, The Mackerel Men
2022/23 average attendance: 1,133
On Good Friday Concord Rangers are on the road for the fourth game on the spin as Rob Small's men make the trip to the South Coast to take on Worthing.
In midweek the Beach Boys made the mammoth journey down to Taunton to take on the Peacocks. Unfortunately for Rangers a first half Lee Lucas goal was enough to seal three points for the hosts and keep Concord rooted to the foot of the table.
As the end of the season nears even closer Concord really need to pick up some form as recently they've fell to five straight defeats in all competitions. As well as this it has been seven matches since the Beach Boys last managed to score two or more goals in a game.
Our hosts Worthing are enjoying a fine season in the Vanarama National League South following promotion as champions from the Isthmian Premier Division last term.
Currently the Rebels are sat just outside the playoffs in 8th place despite having won just once in their past six games; however they were victorious last time out, beating Havant and Waterlooville 3-2 a fortnight ago.
Whatever happens on Friday there is likely to be goals at Woodside Road. Worthing are the second highest scorers in the division but they also have the fourth leakiest defence. Furthermore the Mackerel Men have scored three or more goals in a home game on eight occasions this term, but they have also conceded two or more goals in each of their previous four games - including a 7-2 drubbing at Ebbsfleet United in March.
Leading on from this the Rebels have failed to score in just one of their past 15 games whilst Concord have picked up just one clean sheet in as many matches in the league.
The reverse fixture was played out back in September with a D'Sean Theobalds strike just past the hour mark cancelling out Ollie Pearce's first half opener to ensure a 1-1 draw at the Aspect Arena.
Concord boss Rob Small will know Worthing well having managed against the Rebels twice last season when in charge of Bowers & Pitsea. In the first meeting Worthing romped to a 4-1 home win before securing their promotion with a 2-0 win at the Len Salmon Stadium in April.
Key Player
Ollie Pearce
Worthing's top scorer Ollie Pearce has replicated his form from last season with the 27 year old having scored 21 goals so far in 2022/23.
The striker was the Isthmian Premier Division's leading marksman last term as Pearce bagged 35 goals for Worthing en route to promotion - with three of these coming against Small's Bowers side.
The former Bognor Regis attacker has been just as prolific at step two level and he also scored at the Aspect Arena when Worthing travelled to Concord in September.
Pearce is likely to be a threat for the Beach Boys defence once again as he comes into this game in red-hot form having netted four goals in three games.
They've played for both
Lewis White
The only current member of the Worthing squad to have previously played for Concord, winger Lewis White arrived in West Sussex from Carshalton Athletic in the summer.
11 goals in 32 appearances for the Robins last term was enough to convince Adam Hinshelwood to add White to the Rebels ranks and the 23 year old has since scored six times in 30 appearances.
White represented Concord in the second half of the 2018/19 season on loan from Millwall prior to joining Dulwich Hamlet in the summer following his exit from the Den.
Form
Worthing
L - 2-7 vs Ebbsfleet United (A)
L - 2-3 vs Bath City (H)
L - 2-4 vs Chelmsford City (A)
W - 3-2 vs Havant and Waterlooville (H)
Concord Rangers
L - 0-2 vs Braintree Town (N) - Essex Senior Cup
L - 0-3 vs Hemel Hempstead Town (A)
L - 1-2 vs Farnborough (A)
L - 0-1 vs Taunton Town (A)
Head-to-head
27/09/2022: Concord Rangers 1-1 Worthing
By Nathan Williams
This is brilliant
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