Sussex derby success heals Horsham FC’s wounds after ‘worst performance of the season’

Horsham were hit by a late sucker punch in their 2-1 loss to the Magpies on Saturday.

The hosts led through James Hammond’s 24th minute penalty, but Maidenhead levelled through Miles Welch-Haynes on 56 minutes before Matt Robinson struck late to snatch victory for the visitors.

Di Paola said: “It was our worst performance of the season. If you thought Horsham – with a bottom five budget and possibly the smallest squad in the league – were going to have it all our own way this season, you’re a bit of an idiot.

“Maidenhead was a culmination of a December of illness, injuries, and a thin squad. And Maidenhead are underachieving. They’re a top three team. Every time I watch them I think, why aren’t they in the top three? They are a top side with top subs.

“On Saturday, we couldn’t live with them. We were hanging in there. I’m looking at the time and thinking a point would be amazing, because we had nothing about us at all, but we switched off from a dead ball and he [Robinson] has hit the best shot you’ll ever see.

“We didn’t deserve anything out of the game. The better team won and I have no complaints. It’s not often that I say that, but they were better than us.

“We’ve been in games most of the time this season, but we were never in that game against Maidenhead. Sometimes you have to take your medicine and try to work out a way of improving and being better.”

Goalkeeper Lewis Carey, on his 150th appearance for the Hornets, made a superb penalty save in first half stoppage time, and was called on time and time again as the hosts struggled to keep Maidenhead at bay.

Di Paola paid tribute to his long-standing stopper after making his landmark appearance, admitting the 32-year-old didn’t get ‘the credit he deserves’.

He added: “He’s a very good goalkeeper and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves sometimes. He’s a player that flies under the radar for his skill as a goalkeeper.

“He’s been a really good servant, and it shows how many games we’ve played in the last three seasons. We’re not even halfway through this season and he’s already played 150 games.

“He’s been a big part of the success we’ve had over the last two-and-a-half years, and long may it continue. He’s very quiet but he’s just a really nice guy.”

But the Hornets claimed their first victory of 2026 with a 2-0 success at county rivals Borough on Tuesday.

Reece Myles-Meekums gave Horsham a half-time lead before Rhys Murphy made sure of the win in second half stoppage time.

It leaves Horsham sixth in the National League South table going into this week’s cup double-header.

Di Paola said: “We could have won by five or six. We showed a bit more of ‘us’. We just simplified things a little bit and just went back to basics, reminding the boys what we’re about – and they reacted really well.

“Everyone came to the party and did a good job. The only negative is Lucas Rodrigues is now out for a while with a badly damaged Achilles. He was in A&E for six hours with stitches, so I’ve got no idea how I’m going to put a team out on Saturday.

“But it was a thoroughly good performance. We were excellent. I don’t think they had a shot in open play.

“The forward players were a little bit more like themselves. We had a bit more thrust about us. Reece had a really good game up front, and Lucas was very good as well. It was a good one for us.

“It was a vital win in lots of ways. It was good to get back on track and get a little bit of belief in the boys. While we’re in the FA Trophy and the Sussex Cup, a few teams will play games so we’ve been able to keep our distance from the bottom six.”

The Hornets visit Leatherhead in the FA Trophy fourth round this Saturday before making the short trip to Three Bridges in the Sussex Transport Senior Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday evening.

You can read a preview to Horsham’s Trophy trip to Surrey online tomorrow at sussexworld.co.uk/sport.