Horsham FC’s draw at top-of-the-table Worthing FC a ‘good advert for Sussex football’

The threadbare Hornets held the top-of-the-table Rebels to a 1-1 draw as a record crowd packed into Woodside Road.

A new club high of 3,735 was set on December 30 when Worthing entertained Dorking Wanderers – and for Horsham’s visit there was another 130 squeezed into the ground, 3,865 in total – an attendance plenty of Football League clubs would be delighted to lure.

On the pitch, Razzaq Coleman De Graft gave the hosts a 55th minute lead before ex-Rebel Ricky Aguiar hit back for the Hornets three minutes later.

The draw leaves Horsham seventh in the National League South, still in the final play-off spot but having played four games more than place-below Ebbsfleet United.

Di Paola said: “Given the circumstances with the squad, and our lack of availability, the boys gave a lot and did a really good job for the club as usual. There were no real changes we could make.

“Harvey [Sparks] had to come off injured, Hammo [James Hammond] played the last seven or eight minutes walking because he was struggling – but the boys got through it against probably the best squad in the league.

“[Rhys] Murphy has had two cleared off the line, but I think it was a fair result. They had a lot of possession but up until the last 15, when we really were at breaking point, they didn’t massively trouble us.

“They got into good areas but I didn’t think they were hurting us. I felt relatively comfortable up until that last period where we were out on our feet.

“It was two good teams giving their all. I thought it was a good advert for Sussex football, and our support was brilliant.

“It was a good point during a tough period for us. You go there and fear the worst but, as usual, the boys got the club out of the sticky stuff. They’re just battling on, which is all you can ask for really.”

The Hornets host 12th-placed Chelmsford City this Saturday. You can read our online match preview tomorrow at sussexworld.co.uk/sport.