Hornets not expecting favours in the title race

Horsham boss Dominic Di Paola wants his sides focus on themselves

The Hornets are five points behind the leaders who have played an extra game after their 7-1 thumping of Worthing United on Tuesday.

Loxwood looked as though they had clinched a dramatic victory at The Saffrons on Saturday, until Aaron Capon scored in the 86th and 96th-minute to continue their run.

Di Paola says he is not really paying much attention to Town’s fortunes and instead his side must focus on themselves.

Especially as they will be playing catch-up now until late in the season with Town having played an extra game.

Di Paola said: “I always fancied them to win on Saturday so it hasn’t made much difference. After they drew midweek (against Hassocks), I could not see them dropping points again.

“If they are anything like us they would have been up for it after dropping points, so it’s where we were again.

“There’s just one game less and they are still in the driving seat and a very good position.

“Looking at their next couple I can’t see them dropping points, whereas our next few are quite tricky.

“Their trickier games come at the end of the season, when some of the teams might not have anything to play for anyway.

“I think they will be five points ahead until the last week of the season and if they do not drop any, it makes it hard for us.

“Looking at the table there is a bit of a gap, but it’s the way the fixtures have panned out and they will be further ahead until the end unless they slip up.

“I am not really interested in them at all. They will do what they do and nothing we do can impact on them.

“I have never felt anyone will want to do us a favour, they will always want to win games for themselves, not us.

“We cannot look at anyone else, we have got to look at ourselves and go and win each of our games.”

Horsham hope to have Evan Archibald back for the bank holiday weekend fixtures after he missed last Saturday through illness.

Alex Duncan also returns for Saturday’s home clash with Worthing United and then Monday’s derby clash with landlords Horsham YMCA – which has a 2pm kick-off.

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