Rebels ease to win over Sittingbourne

Rebels celebrate their third goal against Sittingbourne on Saturday. Picture by Stephen Goodger

The opening action involved a large amount of Rebels possession without them ever really troubling Adam Molloy in the visitors’ goal.

Rebels’ first real attempt on goal came after 22 minutes as Lloyd Dawes’ jinking run down the left led to the midfielder flicking goalwards only for Molloy to save with his feet at the near post.

Sittingbourne had rare moments of pressure with the best coming from left-winger Hicham Akhazzan, who volleyed onto the roof of Rikki Banks’ net in the 26th minute.

Just a minute later a sharp one-two between Dawes and Ben Pope culminated in the former’s volley being deflected wide.

Rebels took the lead just a minute after the half-hour mark as Dawes picked the ball up 25 yards from goal, beat a couple of defenders before slotting underneath Molloy who probably should have done better, but it was no more than the hosts deserved.

Rebels enjoyed more pressure but could not make it pay before the break.

Three early second half substitutions gave the visitors extra impetus and had it not been for Banks’ bravery at the feet of Dan Hughes in the 64th minute, Rebels would have been pegged back.

The hosts rode the pressure, though, and in the 71st minute a strong tackle on halfway by Pope followed by a pinpoint through ball found Dawes bearing down on goal and he made no mistake in doubling Rebels’ lead as he scored his 26th goal of the season.

The victory was complete in the 85th minute with the best move of the game as Will Hendon played a superb crossfield ball to Harvey Sparks, who in turn played the ball from the left wing into the path of Omar Bugiel and he fired home from ten yards.

The margin of victory could have been even greater when in injury-time Dawes’ shot from ten yards hit the bar and Hendon’s follow-up also hit the woodwork.

WORTHING: Banks; Hendon, Elphick, Heath, Metcalf; Dawes, O’Neill, Axell, Sparks; Pope, Bugiel. Subs: Richefond (Axell 71), Quirke (Pope 83), Newton, Piper, Fagan.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.worthingherald.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Worthing.news

3) Follow us on Twitter @Worthing_Herald

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Worthing Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.