Worthing boss: ‘What a league … not a moment’s peace… I love it’
Adam Hinshelwood hailed Worthing's second National League win in three – and said their first clean sheet was a big step forward.
And he also spoke enthusiastically of how much he was enjoying the huge, relentless challenge the National League was bringing him, his staff and his squad.
A goal by Ramell Carter secured a 1-0 home win over Wealdstone and the shutout delighted the boss, who’d seen his side concede two goals in each of the league and cup games played before it.
The win put Worthing ninth ahead of holiday weekend clashes at Tamworth and at home to Boreham Wood.
Hinshelwood said: “I really enjoyed it – I enjoyed the clean sheet, that was massive for us. I challenged the players. We’ve conceded six sloppy goals already this season. But we dug in.
"Full credit to Gary and how he set the team up. First half they made it really difficult for us. Ramell scored from one of the chances we did have.
"It was a great finish and I’m pleased for him. He’s been working so hard in training. He’s so eager to score goals for us so that will settle him down a bit.
"We probably didn’t find our rhythm and that’s credit to the opposition. We found a way to dig in second half.
"We missed some good chances – we got into some good positions and didn’t quite take the right option.
"In the first half we got into the final third and tried to score every time instead of keeping the ball in their half for a while.”
It remains a time to keep feet firmly on the ground at Woodside Road, as you’d expect.
"We’re not going to get carried away. We’ve played better than that and lost, here against Forest Green,” the manager said.
"We’ll learn a lot from it. I said to the players ‘what have they learned from the first three games in the National League?’. It’s the first games (at this level) for some of them.
"I think we could have helped the players more in the first 35 minutes, with their shape, so there’s learning for us too as a management team so we’ll take that on board. But we’re delighted we’ve come away with the three points.”
Hinshelwood was pleased with the quick free-kick routine that led to Carter’s winning goal. "We got done by it against Forest Green last year, that intelligence,” the manager said.
"I think a big difference between the two leagues is that last year, we could have those moments of being casual and switching off, but we can’t afford to do that this year.
"Weadlstone’s No7 was a real handful and occupied the centre-halves really well. There’s some good players at this level and it’s a great challenge.
"I hope the fans are enjoying it as much as the players and the staff. Week in, week out you get a tough challenge and it’s great – that’s what we want.”
Hinshelwood said he changed from a back four to a five during the game – bringing on Harry Ransom – because he felt that would repel Wealdstone’s most likely route back into the game.
"I felt the only way they were going to get back into it was from a set-piece or delivery back into the box. Having the three centre backs provided more height and cover. To deal with that threat was really imporant.
"Harry, Packo (Sam Packham) and Ollie (Godziemski) are going to be vital. We haven’t got the biggest squad in the world and we haven’t changed the team too much – it’s been the same starting team for the three league games,but the whole squad’s going to be needed so I’m delighted at those who have come on and contributed really well.
"In the three games I think some of our best football was against Forest Green when we didn’t come away with the points. I don’t want us to be a team, or me to be a manager, who just plays pretty football and doesn’t get results.
"Ultimately it’s about winning games and we’re relatively happy with six points from nine but we feel with how we’ve played ,we should have had more.
"We could easily have come away with less on Saturday but you have to have that grit and determination. We spoke it after the West Ham game – we were concding soft goals.
"We definitely didn’t find our rhythrm against Wealdstone and that’s credit to the opposition."
Worthing are back in action at Tamworth on Friday, before entertaining Boreham Wood on Monday.
"It’s a late game on the Friday then straight back on it on the Monday. It’s two real tough tests. It’ll be one of the toughest away games you can have, Tamworth away, a really tough place to go, especially for a night game.
"We’ll have to roll up our sleeves there and compete. But what a leagie, what a challenge. There’s no given, you can’t switch off, you can’t have a moment’s peace, a moment’s holiday and I love that – and I want the players to relish that too.”