Wealdstone FC's historical record against Worthing FC includes a notable cup withdrawal and several tight Isthmian League contests. The details of these past meetings were compiled in a report by worthingfc.com this week.
Wealdstone's current campaign sees them 21st in the National League with one point from three games. Their recent form reads LLD, having scored three goals and conceded six, leaving them eight points behind leaders Southend United.
What was the first meeting between the clubs?
The first competitive match between Wealdstone and Worthing took place on 23rd February 1999. Wealdstone were ground-sharing at Edgware Town's White Lion Ground at the time, which hosted this Isthmian League Division One fixture. The game ended in a heavy 4-1 defeat for Worthing, which remains their largest margin of loss against Wealdstone. The Reds, as Worthing are known, managed to take just one point from the first four encounters between the sides.
How did the rivalry develop in the Isthmian League?
Following that initial meeting, the clubs faced each other regularly in the Isthmian League. Division One fixtures occurred between 1999 and 2002, before both were in the Premier Division from 2004 to 2006. Most of Wealdstone's 'away' games in this period were actually played in Edgware due to their ground-sharing arrangement, though one final match took place at Northwood's Chestnut Avenue ground. Scorelines were typically close, but Worthing finally secured a victory with a 1-0 win in Middlesex during the 2000/01 season. You can explore more historical data on our stats page.
What happened in the 1963/64 AFA Invitation Cup?
Long before those league games, the clubs were drawn to meet in the semi-final of the 1963/64 AFA Invitation Cup. That match never happened because Wealdstone withdrew from the competition. Fixture congestion was cited as the reason for pulling out. This decision gave Worthing a bye straight into the final.
What was the last meeting between Wealdstone and Worthing?
The most recent clash occurred on 7th January 2006, a home fixture for Worthing, who are nicknamed the Rebels. They won the match 3-1, with goals from Danny Davis, Andy Alexander, and Sam Francis. This result closed the chapter on competitive fixtures between the two clubs for the last two decades.
Where does Wealdstone go from here?
While this history lesson provides context, Wealdstone's focus is firmly on the present National League season. The team needs to find consistency and improve on a goal difference of minus three. Building from a solid defensive base will be important as they look to climb the standings and close the gap to the top. The current squad will be aiming to create new, positive stories for the future.
