Rebels boss refuses to let standards drop

A convincing first-half display on Saturday in a 4-1 win over Sittingbourne saw them have the three points wrapped up by the break and keep pace with the Ryman League Division 1 South top five.

In fact, Rebels could now jump from sixth to fourth with wins in their games in hand, helped by Folkestone’s shock 4-0 defeat at home to Merstham, which pulled them back into reaching distance.

Goals from Steve Metcalf, Matt Hurley and Ryan McBride gave Rebels a 3-0 lead at the break. Tom Lawley’s mazy run on 77 minutes saw him hit a stunning solo strike, and, although Richard Atkins pulled one back for Sittingbourne, they did not threaten further.

White, however, felt there were a number of errors from his side that went unpunished and they could have been a lot more clinical.

He wants more from his side as they chase promotion into the Ryman League Premier Division and admitted he is striving for perfection in their play-off chase.

He said: “It was a 4-1 win and three points which is the main thing, but we were a little sloppy at times.

“They are a very poor side, there is no shying away from that, but if we had done the right things when we had the pressure up, it could have been six or seven.

“I am disappointed we conceded, and I am nit-picking a bit, but it’s important. We have 14 cup finals now and we have to be up for every one of them to achieve what we want.

“I had a moan at half-time, which sounds a bit odd when you are 3-0 up, but we have set high standards here this year and I don’t like it when we don’t match up to them.

“We were winning and took our foot off the gas and I don’t like that, either. But, at the end of the day, we got the win and another three points, which is the main thing.”

McBride put in a superb shift on his return from a seven-match ban and White added: “I was very pleased for Ryan, he gives us a focal point up top and was terrific, considering he hasn’t played for six or seven weeks. It was good for him to get his goal and he is a major asset to us and we have missed him.”

For a full report and reaction from McBride pick up this week’s Worthing Herald, which is out now.