Cup defeats will keep Worthing humble

The team have had a superb start to the new Isthmian premier season as they hunt down the title they feel was snatched away from them when last season ended early and was then declared null and void.

But boss Hinshelwood says the fact they have gone out of the FA Cup, FA Trophy and Sussex Senior Cup at early stages will help keep their feet on the ground – and remind the players there is no room for complacency.

Worthing went out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle at East Grinstead, losing 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw, which came after they’d led 3-1.

Their FA Trophy run also ended quickly, with a 4-2 shootout loss at the end of a 4-4 draw at Leiston.

Before that they’d blown a 1-0 lead in the Sussex Senior Cup at Three Bridges to lose 2-1.

Those results have been in stark contrast to a league campaign in which they’ve won seven out of eight games – despite not being able to play at Woodside Road because of pitch problems.

The Mackerel Men are two points clear at the top in this enforced month’s break, and with games in hand.

Hinshelwood said: “We’re only eight games into the league season and when we look at our campaign as a whole, there’s been lots of good stuff and lots to improve on.

“The cup defeats will keep us humble – they show us that we’re certainly not the finished article.”

Hinshelwood said he had a squad of players who had their feet on the ground and were not about to get big ideas just because they were top of the league at this early stage.

But he said given that football had to stop for a month, and hopefully for no longer, he’d rather be top of the table than chasing the early leaders.

Worthing have been relatively fortunate with injuries of late but the month off should mean Reece Meekums returns to full fitness before the resumption.

Defender Alfie Young has recently returned to fitness and that is clearly a big boost, especially given the departure of Aarran Racine.