Archibald notches on return as Horsham ease past Hailsham

Horsham continued their red-hot form in front of goal last night as they dumped Hailsham Town out of the RUR Cup at Gorings Mead.
Southern Combination League, Premier Division: Horsham (yellow) v Lancing. Horsham's first goal. 19.09.15 Pic Steve Robards SR1522330 SUS-150921-091918001Southern Combination League, Premier Division: Horsham (yellow) v Lancing. Horsham's first goal. 19.09.15 Pic Steve Robards SR1522330 SUS-150921-091918001
Southern Combination League, Premier Division: Horsham (yellow) v Lancing. Horsham's first goal. 19.09.15 Pic Steve Robards SR1522330 SUS-150921-091918001

A comfortable 7-0 victory saw the Hornets ease into the second round of the competition and were boosted by forward Evan Archibald coming of the bench after injury to score in his first appearance of the season.

The result means Horsham have now scored a staggering 25 goals without reply in their last three games.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, Hornets boss Dominic Di Paola is keen to not get carried away and has warned there are much tougher games coming up in the next few weeks.

He said: “These three or four games we have had against these sort of teams, it’s a case of getting through and getting them out the way and keeping clean sheets.

“We played quite well last night and it was not particularly troubling, but there are bigger tests to come. Next week after Selsey we have Eastbourne Town and couple of times, Loxwood and Newhaven.

“So there are bigger challenges ahead and we are not getting carried away. I hope we can take the positives and take the confidence into those bigger games.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After missing the start of the season with a suspected hernia, Archibald was given the all-clear after a scan on Monday and told it was more of a tear.

He looked sharp, notching on his return and Di Paola added: “It’s really good to have him back. I like him as a person with his attitude as well as a player and it gives us something we have not got.

“It gives us competition and we will see how that goes, but we are very lucky to have the squad we do.

“Everyone is playing well. The people that are coming in are playing well and hopefully they maintain that high standard, that is what we are after.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The hosts had the lead on just two minutes as Mark Knee’s free-kick was delivered into the box and missed by everyone, ending up in the back of the net.

It was 2-0 on 19 minutes as Charlie Farmer glanced home a close-range header from a corner. Soon after a brilliant Knee delivery was smashed home by Terry Dodd from six yards.

Dodd added his second just before half-time he peeled away after a good passing move and fired a low drive across goal into the far corner.

After the break, Samir Hadi hit the fifth from what looked like and offside position as he broke through and finished well, before Joe Shelley put through substitute Archibald to score on his latest debut with virtually his first touch.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The home side completed the scoring on 68 minutes as Jordan Clark’s free-kick hit Craig McFarlane in a sensitive area and rolled back to Clark as he curled home with his second attempt.

Horsham: Williams, Duncan, Jones, Farmer, Knee, Clark, Shelley, Keehan, Hadi, Dodd, Pamment. Subs: Boswell, Lewis, Gilbert, Storrie, Archibald.

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 this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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!