Sunday’s live TV clash sees the TNT Sports cameras head down to the South Coast and to Woodside Road as two promotions hopefuls in Worthing and Bath City meet. The two sides are arguably the most exciting teams in the league, so an intriguing encounter is in store.
After coming fourth in their debut National League South campaign last season, Worthing were beaten in the playoff semi-finals against eventual play-off winners Oxford City. Adam Hinshelwood’s side caught their eye for their attractive, easy-on-the-eye football and willingness to trust in the youth.
They caught the eye so much so that National League strugglers York swooped in for the talented Hinshelwood in a bid to save their dwindling season. This has coincided with a poor run of form for Worthing, with the Rebels sliding down to fifth. Still, they occupy a playoff space and hope still lingers of a late-season push for consecutive playoff finishes.
The Rebels have been far and away the best-attacking side in the division, with their 82 goals the most by thirteen. However, it is their defensive record which lets them down, with Worthing’s 63 conceded the sixth most in the league.
This will not worry owner George Dowell in the slightest – the club legend prides himself on the club's entertaining DNA. With 47 goals scored and 34 conceded in 20 home league games, Rebel’s fans are certainly getting their money’s worth.
Bath makes the 130-mile journey from Somerset to Sussex in the hopes of surprising the hosts and sneaking into a playoff spot. Jerry Gill’s side currently sit eight in the division, just two points and one place outside the play-offs, despite having a game in hand.
Like Worthing, Bath are enduring a difficult run, with The Romans only winning one of their last seven games.
The two sides display a lot of similarities, with both preferring to entertain the crowd with front-foot football. Bath games are averaging 2.7 goals per game. Despite the sale of the extremely talented winger Jordan Thomas to Cheltenham, Bath still possess copious amounts of attacking talent, with two players on double-digits for goals, alongside talented strikers Isaac Vassell and James Alabi.
Worthing is a team with an abundance of talent and exciting players with many of their squad linked with moves away. However, the cream of the crop is undoubtedly Ollie Pearce. The 28-year-old is in his sixth season at Woodside Road and is in the best form of his career. Pearce’s 34 goals are the most in the league by 11, with his goalscoring exploits earning him a call-up to the prestigious England C squad.
Cody Cooke is in his third season at the club having signed from Weymouth. The 31-year-old is enjoying a stellar campaign, with his 16 goals his highest goalscoring season to date. His all-round game and link-up play are amongst the best in the league and he is crucial to any chances the visitors have of springing a surprise result.
As mentioned, Worthing games seem an abundance of goals, with their home games averaging four goals per. 27/39 (69%) of their games have seen over 2.5 goals. Bath aren’t shy of a goal themselves, possessing attacking talent such as Cody Cooke and Scott Wilson. Bath have only kept one clean sheet in their last nine games, only failing to score once in their last thirteen league games.
Worthing has only kept one clean sheet in their last eight and has only failed to score in one of their last sixteen, scoring 38 goals in this timeframe. In front of the TNT cameras, a fascinating game is in store.
Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals – 1.90
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