After a tough mid-season run, the Blues are back into the top half of the table after Saturday's 3-1 win over a resurgent Whitehawk side. This weekend we are looking to continue our good form and make it five unbeaten as we travel to 3rd place Horsham who themselves had gone five unbeaten before a late turnaround by Dartford on Saturday saw their first defeat since January.
Our Opponents
Horsham have had a resurgence in recent years since appointing current manager Dom Di Paola; as recently as 2015/16 the Hornets were battling in the Sussex County League (step 5), and were crowned champions that year. A few years in the Isthmian South division followed, before they were promoted back into the Isthmian Premier League in 2018/19, while they completed their move into their new stadium in 2019/20 too. Since re-joining this level the Hornets haven’t looked back, with solid performances in their first few years followed up with 7th in 2022/23, narrowly missing out on a playoff place by only 2 points, before finishing 5th last season and securing the final playoff spot.
It is not just league performances that have exceeded expectations in recent years, back in 2007/08 Horsham reached the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, facing Swansea City and taking them to a replay. Last season, the Hornets matched this performance, going on an excellent FA Cup run before being defeated by Sutton United. This season, the Hornets reached the First Round, before losing to League Two side Chesterfield. It is not just the FA Cup where Horsham have had success, last season they reached the Last 32 of the FA Trophy, and this season defeated Maidstone United to set up an away trip to Torquay United where they were knocked out.
In the league this season, Horsham currently sit in 3rd place with 63 points from 33 games (W20 D3 L10). After catching up on their league games in hand after their FA competition exploits, the Hornets have flown up the table, climbing from mid-table just before Christmas, to third place. In that time, the Hornets went on a run of winning eight games in succession through the hectic festive period, the highlight of the bunch being a 6-0 win over Potters Bar Town.
Head to Head
Last season we secured a home victory over Horsham, winning 2-0 at the Maurice Rebak Stadium in October, thanks to a goal apiece from Elliot Long and Ruben Carvalho. In the reverse fixture it was a 1-1 draw, an Alkeo Bani thunderbolt rescuing a point after Charlie Hester-Cook gave the Hornets a first half lead. This season, it was a solitary goal that separated the two sides at the Maurice Rebak Stadium, back in November, as Joel Daly scored the only goal in the game to give Horsham the win.
Last Time Out
Horsham come into Saturday's game after being stung by Dartford last weekend, as 2nd beat 3rd in the table thanks to two very late goals to turn the match on its head, Dartford winning 2-1. Before that, Horsham faced another playoff chasing side in the form of Cray Valley PM, where a late goal from the visiting side was not enough to salvage anything at the Fusion Aviation Community Stadium, goals from Reece Myles-Meekums and James Hammond in the first half proving to be enough for Horsham to seal the win. Coming into Saturday's game, Horsham are six points off the top of the table and four points behind Dartford in 2nd.
Players To Watch
Horsham's top scorer this season is 40-year old striker Chris Dickson. The veteran forward has had an excellent career, including being capped twice at international level by Ghana. After impressing with over 30 goals in a season for Dulwich Hamlet in 2006/07, he was signed by then Championship side Charlton Athletic for £35,000. A number of loan spells followed at other EFL clubs before signing for a range of Cypriot clubs, including AEL Limassol where one of his highlights was scoring in the Europa League against Marseille. In recent years, Dickson has been back in the non-league pyramid, and became the first senior footballer to score a hat-trick on their 40th birthday in that 6-0 win over Potters Bar, his second hat-trick this season so far.
Another Horsham player who has experience in the EFL is forward Shamir Fenelon; the former Irish U21 international signed professional terms at Brighton & Hove Albion after progressing through their academy, before loan spells at EFL clubs such as Torquay, Rochdale and Tranmere Rovers. A permanent move to League Two side Crawley Town followed before ending up at Horsham in 2021, where he has now made over 100 appearances for the Hornets.
For the Blues, our two loanee wingers will be looking to impress on Saturday after both have made vital contributions to the side since joining. Theo Alexandrou already has a goal and an assist to this name in his four games since joining on loan from Dorking Wanderers, his goal against Bowers & Pitsea was an excellent finish. Meanwhile, Ore Bello has shown good pace and trickery on the flank, and has extended his loan from Chatham Town to the end of the season. Blues fans will be looking forward to seeing these two continue to impact the side until the end of the season.
Horsham are hosting a beer festival at Saturday's match, more details can be found here with 12 different local breweries taking part. It is also worth noting that advance tickets for Horsham are £1 cheaper than matchday prices, so get your tickets in advance - the weather is looking to be excellent and the match promises to be a good one - see you in West Sussex!
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.
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