Hallsy's Academy Report - A positive step into the unknown...

With the additional sessions in the August heat and pre season intensity behind us the Worthing College Football Development Programme took its first steps into the unknown, where no Worthing College side had ever been before, the ECFA Premier League 1. This season will test all who put on the midnight blue jersey and wear the Academy of Sport shield with pride. Players were in buoyant mood as they took to the road for their first test, Boreham Wood (Cohenel College).

Many were making their debuts, James Binfield, Harlem Eubank, Shaun Cook, Dave O’Callaghan, Hayden Hunter and special mention to Jon “Big Jon” Watkins, whose performances in pre season as well as the 2nd XI last year have propelled him into his first national league start. Could he and his fellow team mates “cut the mustard”?? All will be revealed...

The philosophy of the football programme is “if you are good enough you will play”, which especially rung true with the bench, as Sam Gill, Matt Hardman, Toko Moyo and sub goalkeeper Jack Fagan are all first years, ready to produce the goods if called upon.

Worthing’s opponents were not new to last seasons squad. Boreham Wood were the side that knocked Worthing out of the ECFA National Cup and went onto win that competition, so preparation as ever was thorough and a hard start to the season was expected.

All that hard work and preparation almost went to waste as Boreham Wood started positively and almost broke the deadlock within the first ten seconds. The pacy number 9 raced onto a long through pass, only to be denied by the feet of stopper James Binfield. During the first twenty minutes Worthing looked nervy, passes going astray and players getting used to each other combined to ensure that Boreham Wood stayed on top.

Even with this pressure the home side didn’t produce too many clear cut chances. This was mainly down to the persistence of the back four of Lewis Jenkins, Matt Chester, Dan Heward and Harlem Eubank keeping them at bay.

As the half grew on Worthing began to gain confidence and their passing style was beginning to show, with debutant Dave O’Callaghan being the catalyst for this, showing a fine range of long and short passing. O’Callaghan right boot set up the games opening goal. The emphasis is pre season was set piece work and the training ground was transferred onto match day, with O’Callaghan finding Heward, who finished excellently with a free header. 1-0.

Worthing like to use the widths and this season will be no different with Hayden Hunter and Olly Setchell providing the “gas” in this encounter and with the range of passing on show Hunter and Setchell were really giving their full backs a torrid time.

As the half grew to a close it was again the set piece that should have doubled the lead. Another O’Callaghan delivery was met by Chester, who unfortunately did his best defender impression in the attacking penalty area and head high, wide and handsome. Half Time 1-0.

The chat at half time was that the job was only half complete, however we know that we can all perform better, especially as the nerves are surely gone. Coaches Hall & Cullip were sure that Boreham Wood would come out and attack, which they certainly did and put Worthing under pressure for another 25 minute period. A turning point of the match was when Worthing were stretched at the back and were thankful to Eubank who produced a fantastic block to keep the score at 1-0.

O’Callaghan left the field early in the second half as a precaution and was replaced by flying winger Sam Gill, which led to Hall and Cullip shuffling the pack. The tenacious Joe Warner, who is this seasons captain dropped into midfield from his central striking birth, Setchell moved centrally and Gill took his place on the left.

Worthing began to again grow in confidence and this was evident with their high tempo pressing of the opposition, which saw Boreham Wood beginning to make errors in their own defensive third of the pitch. It was one of these errors, which doubled the visitors lead. Hayden Hunter robbed his full back, drove towards goal and side footed his effort early into the far corner of the goal. 2-0. Surely the first 3 national league points in the bag??

Again Worthing were forced to make a change with Setchell leaving the field of play with a thigh injury. He was replaced with another debutant, Toko Moyo, who took his place on the right wing with Hunter moving centrally. Moyo almost stamped his mark on proceedings by taking a fantastic Joe Warner pass into his path and squaring for Hunter, who strike was well blocked.

As the referee blew the final whistle all squad members were extremely happy with their days work and more importantly the fact that they are off the mark in terms of league points. A very satisfying away day result, however Hall and Cullip feel that there is more to come as well as greater challenges on the way, starting next week with the visit of AFC Wimbledon to Mill Road.

Onwards & Upwards,

Hallsy