The injury news Horsham FC fans didn't want to hear ahead of Easter fixtures
Dominic Di Paola has confirmed two key Horsham FC players will miss the rest of the season with injury.
The Hornets entertain top-of-the-table Dorking Wanderers this afternoon before travelling to relegation-battlers Farnborough on Easter Monday.
But they will do so without forwards Reece Myles-Meekums and Lucas Rodrigues, who will play no further part in the 2025-26 campaign according to Di Paola.
Myles-Meekums has not featured since Horsham’s FA Trophy quarter-final defeat to Southend United on February 28, while Rodrigues has not played since the loss at Enfield Town on February 17.
And Di Paola also revealed that Shiloh Remy was a ‘doubt for the whole season’. The winger has made just two appearances for Horsham since joining on loan from National League South rivals Worthing last month.
The Hornets boss said: “The challenge for us is that we’ve got such a small group to do the two games in four days. It’s going to be a big ask.
“If we play Cookie [Charlie Hester-Cook], for example, on Friday he probably won’t be able to play Monday. It’s a real juggling act because we haven’t got a squad really.
“We’ve got Meekums out for the season, Rodrigues out for the season, Lee Harding is sort of ‘touching the pitch’ right now, so it’s really challenging.
“Shiloh is a doubt for the whole season. He picked up the Horsham curse nice and quick!
“Hopefully Brivs [Jack Brivio] can play a part over the Easter weekend. He’s had his three weeks [since sustaining a head injury against Tonbridge Angels] so hopefully Brivs can play a part.
“But apart from that there’s no one else. This is it. Two injuries will decimate us again so we’re just in a constant state of chaos with the squad.
“Hopefully we can give Cookie and Lee Harding some more minutes and we don’t pick up anymore injuries.
“This is the group we’ve got until the end of the season now because we can’t bring anyone in.”
This afternoon’s opponents Dorking sit six points clear of second-placed Worthing at the National League South’s summit – but the Surrey side have been less-than-imperious in recent weeks.
Last weekend saw Wanderers snap a two-game winless run with a 2-1 home success over promotion rivals Hemel Hempstead Town after drawing at Torquay United and losing at Maidenhead United.
Farnborough, meanwhile, are unbeaten in three at the time of publication. Home wins over Slough Town and Chelmsford City and a battling draw with promotion hopefuls Hornchurch have moved Boro six points clear of the relegation zone.
Horsham played both teams over the Christmas period, with the Hornets going down 2-0 at Dorking on Boxing Day before fighting back to draw 2-2 with Farnborough four days later.
And looking ahead to the Easter weekend, Di Paola said: “I’m looking forward to it. We’re expecting a big crowd on Friday for the Dorking game. We’ve only got two or three home games left so we’re going to try and make the most of it.
“I don’t know what Farnborough’s pitch will be like. It always used to be quite good when I went down to watch games there, but they’re fighting for their lives.
“We can impact things a little bit maybe – but I just want to see our better players on the pitch.
“I’m sick of throwing teams on the pitch. We’ve been doing it for so long this season, it has taken the gloss off what has been a good season for us.
“I just want to be able to compete on a level playing field. We’ve just not had that luck this season.
“Let’s hope we can give the supporters something to cheer – even a goal in open play would be nice!”