Horsham's defending leaves manager Di Paola 'annoyed'

Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola. Picture by Steve Robards

Kershaney Samuels picked up the ball on the edge of the box on 73 minutes before striking a superb 25-yard strike into the top corner, out of George Bentley’s reach.

However, Di Paola wasn’t happy with his side’s defending. He said: “It killed every chance of us getting back into the game.

“We’ve not tracked their holding player, they’ve scored, and after that, there was only one team in it.

“We were well on top at that stage. We put them under the cosh for 20 minutes, they barely came out of their half and then after that it was game over with all our momentum knocked out.

“If that doesn’t happen, and we score five minutes later, it’s a different game because they were having to work hard at that stage.

“But once they scored that third, they could sit in a little bit, and they did us on the counter with the fourth.

“There were no excuses for the third goal because, although it was a great finish, it was just sloppy defending.

“I am annoyed as it’s something that’s happened one or two times (this season).”

The match was the first time in five games that the Hornets hadn’t kept a clean sheet, and was their heaviest league defeat since their a 5-0 loss away to Thamesmead Town in August 2017.

Speaking about their general defending throughout the game, Di Paola added: “The players will know that they didn’t do the basic jobs that they always do, the basic jobs that make us a good team.

“People have to take responsibility. Just because we’re chasing a game it doesn’t mean we have to be so open and we were open all game.

“Structurally, we weren’t as good. We’ve had four clean sheets in six so we’re normally very good at that but people just neglected their basic duties on Saturday.”

However Di Paola insists these types of results aren’t uncommon.

He continued: “All the teams have had a thumping this year because there are quality players in these games.

“And when they become open, the team who’s on top and a couple of goals ahead, can get away from you because you have to commit more numbers forward to try and get back into the game and that happens in football.”