Horsham boss Di Paola 'gutted' after late defeat at Margate

Gate’s Lewis Knight struck in the 93rd minute to break Hornets’ hearts and deny Di Paola’s charges a share of the spoils.

Clear cut opportunities were at a premium at Hartsdown Park, although Margate’s Sam Blackman and Horsham’s Shamir Fenelon rattled the woodwork.

The late defeat leaves the Hornets 13th in the table on 33 points. Horsham are seven points clear of the relegation play-off.

Di Paola said: “I was gutted for everyone involved in the performance. I thought we did well enough to get something out of the game.

“We gave the ball away with about 20 seconds to go high up the pitch. We gave away a silly free-kick and they scored from it.

“That's the bit where I feel for the defence. I thought we were good for a clean sheet on the day and I felt we were good for a point.

“We had some good chances during the game. But with 20 seconds to go we didn't really have a chance to win the game considering the area we were in.

“We just wanted to come away with a really good point away from home and some positives.

“We had a few players that got through the game with no injuries but we came away with no points.

“It's not been the ideal season for that. It was really frustrating.”

This Saturday sees Horsham entertain play-off chasing Kingstonian.

The seventh-placed Ks are two points off the play-offs and have games in hand on the division’s top four.

Di Paola said that the Hornets had been playing well in recent weeks, despite their recent results, and that a few more victories would preserve their Isthmian Premier status for next season.

He added: “I sound like a broken record, and people must think that I'm one of those managers that keeps saying everything's alright when it's not, but we've been playing really well.

“When we've had chances to win we've only picked up points. Saturday would've been a good away point but we came away with nothing.

“We've got 13, 14 games and I want us to get another three or four wins along the way to ensure safety.”

Di Paola, who has rued Horsham’s injury woes this season, hopes to welcome back Harvey Sparks, Chris Sessegnon, Tom Day and Charlie Hester-Cook for Saturday’s home clash with Kingstonian.

But defender Danny Dudley has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign through injury.