United make quick return to Woodside Road
A month on from their FA Trophy defeat at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium, Paul Wotton’s side will be making a quick return to face Worthing, in a clash that sees two more of the National League South promotion chasers go head-to-head.
Who’s The Boss?
Manager Chris Agutter joined The Rebels from Hastings United in May 2024, taking of the reigns at Worthing following the brief managerial stint of former Torquay United loanee Aarran Racine.
Agutter took Hastings from relegation battlers to promotion contenders during his second spell in charge of the Us, after guiding them to the Isthmian Premier as South East Division Champions in his first spell.
Starting out at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he was youth team Manager more than a decade ago, he then joined Eastbourne Borough as Assistant Manager while also heading up their Academy. Returning to the Albion to resume his previous role in 2016, ‘Agi’ enjoyed his first spell at Hastings a year later, running their Academy programme too. An ambitious UEFA A Licence holder who soon secured a move into the Football League with Stevenage, working as Head Coach of their U18s and U21s, before moving up to become first team Assistant and Interim Boss at Broadhall Way.
Further spells at the Seagulls and the Pilot Field (Hastings) preceded his 2024 Summer elevation to Worthing.
How Have They Been Doing?
Worthing are well-placed to launch an assault on the NLS top spot, with the Rebels just one point behind leaders Dorking, whilst also boasting three games in hand.
After a relatively slow start to 2024/25 following last season’s Ply-Off heartache, their promotion credentials have been boosted in recent weeks following victories over Boreham Wood, Maidstone and Dorking – all sides that share similar fifth-tier ambitions for next term.
Player To Watch
Danny Cashman remains on of the main men at Worthing, with his impressive performances continuing to thrill the locals at Woodside Road.
Having begin his career at Brighton, his release in the summer of 2021 prompted a move to Coventry City, and although he saw his route to the first-team blocked, productive loan spells at Rochdale, Walsall and Altrincham preceded a permanent switch to Woodside in 2023.
After an impressive first season with The Rebels that saw him notch 17 goals in 44 league games, he was recognised by the club by being named as Worthing’s Young Player of the Year, and he has continued in much the same vein this season.
Played For Both
Joe Felix’s career in a Gulls shirt may have not quite hit the heights he’d have hoped for, but little else has gone wrong for the 25 year-old full-back since departing Plainmoor in the summer of 2022.
Having started out at QPR, stints as various non-League outfits including Burgess Hill Town, Woking, Farnborough and Billericay Town saw Felix’s rise to prominence attract the attentions of then-Gulls boss Gary Johnson midway through 2021/22.
After struggling to establish himself on the English Riviera, a successful season at Dulwich Hamlet led to an equally impressive season at Worthing last season, prior to Felix heading back up the footballing ladder to sign for York City during the close-season.
Previous Encounter
United’s past two visits to Worthing have ended in handsome home victories, with the hosts running out 4-2 in last season’s corresponding clash, before The Rebels stormed to a 5-1 victory in last month’s Isuzu FA Trophy clash between the two sides.
Ahead of the long trip to Sussex tomorrow, perhaps it is better to focus on The Gulls’ fine home win at Plainmoor back in October, as goals from Omar Mussa and Jay Foulston saw Paul Wotton’s side come back from Jack Spong’s first-half opener to clinch three hard-earned points.
National League South | Worthing v United | 11/02/25 7.45pm KO
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