Horsham were 'middle of the road' in Cheshunt win, admits Di Paola

Lee Harding netted for Horsham before Amadou Kassarate was shown a second yellow for the Ambers eight minutes before half-time.

The hosts had a plethora of chances in the second half but only Jack Brivio could add to the scoreline.

Di Paola said: “I don’t think we played brilliantly but in spells we played some really nice football. It just wasn’t very joined up.

“Sometimes in football the result doesn’t reflect on the performance and I think on Saturday we were just a bit middle of the road.

“But saying that Jack Brivio and Lea Dawson should’ve scored in the first half and then Alex (Clark) in the last couple of minutes could’ve made the score far better.

“Cheshunt had a little spell in the second half when we took our foot off the gas but it was a good routine result really.”

The Hornets broke the deadlock on 27 minutes. Harding put on the afterburners to leave Taylor Miles on his backside.

The winger then arrowed his shot past Cheshunt keeper Harry Girling and into the bottom corner.

The Ambers afternoon got harder ten minutes later. Kassarate, who had been cautioned earlier for a deliberate handball, was shown a second yellow for hauling down Greg Cundle on the edge of the area.

Horsham doubled their lead on 52 minutes. Harding sped past his man before zipping a ball across goal for Brivio to tap home.

The Hornets had three marvellous chances to add a third in second half stoppage time.

Substitute Charlie Harris spotted Girling off his line and fired a 50-yard effort just over the bar.

A buccaneering run into the area from Harding saw him hold off a defender before firing wide.

A Harvey Sparks cross then found debutant Clark in the box but he sent his effort past the post.

Horsham: Bentley, Metcalf, Sparks, Kelly, Shelley, Merchant, Brivio, Dawson (Harris 75), Smith (Charman 79), Cundle (Clark 56), Harding. Unused: Miles, O’Toole.