Title winner Hall adds to Hornets ranks - as boss expresses delight at defeat

New Horsham signing Reece Hall in action for Kingstonian against Worthing

Dom Di Paola admitted to surprise that he was able to land forward Reece Hall, who won the division with Dorking in 2018-19.

Hall, who can play up front or as a No10, adds to the Dorking ‘flavour’ in the squad, joining the likes of Lewis Taylor, JJ O’Sullivan and David Ray.

Hall was a youngster at Crystal Palace and has also played for Tooting & Mitcham, Staines, Bromley, Lewes, Carshalton, Met Police, Redhill, Merstham and Kingstonian.

Di Paola said: “I didn’t think we’d get him, but I’m pleased. He’s got good pedigree and he is a really talented footballer. He’s been in and around this league for a long time now.

“He’s a good technician on the ball, and will give us a little more creativity in the final third. He can play in two or three attacking positions, although he is not ready yet to play in every game.”

Hall’s arrival brings to eight the number of new faces in the Hornets squad and Di Paola said he was glad they’d had as many as nine friendlies to introduce them into the squad.

They suffered their first defeat of pre-season in a 3-2 loss at Hartlet Wintney on Saturday – and Di Paola was delighted.

“I was happy coming home from Hartley because that’s the best game we’ve had. It felt like an Isthmian League game with the pace of it and the calibre of player involved.

“In the first half we we were good and went 2-0 up but in the second half, which ended with us losing 3-2, we saw things we need to be aware of and work on. That’s what you want.”

Next come two home games and a first chance since March for fans to see the Hornets on home soil.

They host Harrow on Saturday and Ramsgate on Tuesday and Di Paola said he’d used those games to edge closer to the line-up that would start the Isthmian premier season at Leatherhead on September 19.

He said he knew seven of his likely favoured starting XI but others spots were up for grabs. And competition for places will grow when injured trio Ray, Charlie Coppola and Callum Saunders return to training.