FA Cup: Horsham FC are happy to avoid an upset at Walton & Hersham

The Hornets ran out 3-0 winners at the Swans – where a goal and two assists from Charlie Hester-Cook sealed the victory and Dan Ajakaiye was also on target.

Horsham’s loanee goalkeeper Michael Dike produced a pair of excellent stops before the visitors went ahead with just nine minutes remaining, Hester-Cook firing home from Harvey Sparks’ cut back.

Dike then made another outstanding save before the Hornets put the tie to bed. Hester-Cook’s cross was superbly volleyed home by Jamie Yila with five to go to secure Horsham’s passage into the third qualifying round.

Returning Hornets hero Ajakaiye then added further gloss to the scoreline in the third minute of second half stoppage time.

Di Paola told the County Times: “It was a harder game than it needed to be. Greg [Luer] and Jake Elliott pulled out on Thursday and we had a few playing with knocks.

“But in general I’ve got to be happy with it. In the first half we were quite poor. The irony of it is they [Walton & Hersham] didn’t create much in the first half, and we were really good in the second half and they had some good chances that the keeper had to save.

“Football is a strange one like that, but I think in general we were much better in the second half. We had a little bit more about us.

“It’s hard. [Jack] Brivio has missed a few games, Lee Harding missed the last game, [Danny] Barker missed the last game, so we were throwing them back in.

“We also had two debutants in [Harry] Hedges and Michael [Dike] in goal, so it’s going to be a bit disjointed, but I thought people grew into the game and will be better for it for getting some minutes.

“As much as I would have been all right with a replay – you always are in the FA Cup because you’re still in it – the win gives us extra time to get some bodies back.

“It was a good win in the end. It’s always dangerous when you play these sides because the pressure is off them as it’s not a league game. They were well-organised on Saturday so they’re clearly beginning to get their act together.”

Horsham’s reward is a second trip of the season to Devon – to take on Plymouth Parkway, with the tie scheduled to be played over the weekend of October 3.

The Parkway, who lead the Southern Premier League South after eight games, have beaten Gosport Borough and Frome Town en-route to the third qualifying round – and Di Paola admitted the Hornets couldn’t have asked for a tougher draw.

He added: “They’re a proper side. I expect them to win that league. It couldn’t be much harder really!

“We had Folkestone last year who were smashing their league at the same stage. Now we’ve got a big ‘in one-day’ trip again, which is always hard for us.

“It couldn’t have been a worse draw but that is cup football. One year we had to beat Gorleston to get into the first round, which was an amazing draw. It’s literally the luck of the draw as they say.

“It’s a tough place to go. It’ll be a tough journey to take on a tough team, so it’s going to be super hard to win.

“It could have been further in terms of journeys, I don’t think, at this stage of the draw. And they’re a quality side, so it’ll be a very tough one.”

Horsham travel to Chelmsford City in the National League South on Saturday ahead of a home Sussex Senior Cup clash against Newhaven on Tuesday.

And you can read more from Di Paola throughout the week online at sussexworld.co.uk/sport.