Injury-hit Hornets grateful of a midweek break

They were without a game on Tuesday night which led to them having a night off from training for a much-needed rest - but all eyes would have been on East Sussex where the Premier Division leaders dropped points.

Eastbourne Town played out a 0-0 draw with Hassocks in their game in hand meaning they are now only two points ahead of Horsham at the top.

Victory would have taken them five points clear, but a draw keeps the title race very much alive with Town facing an in-form Loxwood on Saturday.

With Hornets central midfielders Kevin Keehan, Graham Martin and Adam Hunt all injured and an upcoming ban for Joe Shelley imminent - Di Paola hopes a night off would have helped their cause, having stated it’s unlikely he will bring anyone else in.

He said: “We’ll just take one-game at a time and having this week off and a rest is good as hopefully we can get Kevin Keehan back playing then.

“I am not so sure about Graham Martin though as it’s an ongoing problem with him.

“We will have Tuesday off as we need to be wary, but we will train Thursday and go again at the weekend (at AFC Uckfield) with one or two back.

“If someone right was available we’d look at getting them in.

“But people are pretty settled at clubs even if they are playing for nothing.

They feel obliged now to see out the season for the clubs they are at.

“I also tried it at East Preston, bringing four or five in and they didn’t know enough about us and it didn’t really work.”

Horsham travel to AFC Uckfield Town on Saturday and Di Paola admitted it would be foolish to under estimate their hosts.

He added: “The surface down there isn’t great and we struggled with that at Wick and the manager has just gone so that can have an effect.

“We can’t take anything for granted and the guys would be ashamed of themselves if they start doing that.

“They had a few gripes when we beat them 2-0, so that might give them some added desire, but it would be stupid to not treat anyone with respect.”

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