'˜Flat' Horsham fall to third straight defeat against South Park

With their eight-game unbeaten league run well and truly behind them, an injury-hit Hornets suffered a 2-0 home defeat to South Park on Saturday.

The result saw the visitors go three points clear of Horsham in 12th place in the Ryman League South Division, although have up to eight games in hand over teams around them.

Horsham meanwhile, who were missing Tom Lawley and had the injured Darren Boswell and Jordan Clark on the bench, are not having the rub of the green with Di Paola reflecting on a tough couple of weeks.

He said: “I thought first half we did alright. We stuck to the game plan and it was quite even, they only had one real test for Pells (Josh Pelling) to deal with.

“In the second half we looked really leggy and conceded from a set-piece and we had said that was their biggest strength, so that was very disappointing.

“After that we just went flat and never looked like creating anything. We did not play much football.

“We are having a bad time of it again, we had two fit subs which is not ideal when you are playing such a good side. But they deserved the win as second half we did not cause them too many problems.

“It was just really flat and we have had a few like that at home this season. I cannot put my finger on it. We are finding it tough with availability and injuries.

“We constantly have four or five out and it makes it hard. I hope we do not pick up any more as it will become very difficult and we would have to sign some players, which we have said we don’t want to do.

“We had a good run and spells of playing nice stuff. We need to pick up and go on a run again.”

The game was played in front of a crowd of 402 thanks to the club giving out free tickets to local schools and parents, but it was a slow-starter.

Kieran Lavery headed straight at Josh Pelling and George Gaskin, playing with Littlehampton’s game again postponed, had an effort saved.

Possession was being given away cheaply by the hosts and Nathan Ayling’s shot was beaten away, before at the other end, Scott Kirkwood’s shot was blocked.

The opening goal arrived ten minutes into the second half when Lavery headed home Dan Moody’s set-piece unmarked at the near post.

Moments later, Chris Smith hit the post to spare the home side’s blushes as Park continued to press from Horsham mistakes and they added a second on 75 minutes.

Moody flicked a delightful ball over the defence for Smith to crash an acrobatic volley past Pelling for a superb goal.

Smith and Lavery both went close to adding a third, before in stoppage time, a rare Horsham chance saw Charlie Farmer head against the crossbar.

Horsham: Pelling, Duncan, Jones, Hyde, Metcalf, Hunt, Harris, Kirkwood (Nwachukwu 56), Branford (Rogers 75), Farmer, Gaskin. Unused: Boswell, Clark.