Horsham YMCA fell to a shock defeat at bottom club Worthing United tonight to leave question marks over the Hornets' plans to groundshare with their near neighbours next season. Concerns over the County League's ruling prohibiting such arrangements were hoped to be an irrelevance after YM's trip to the Robert Albion Memorial Ground but the Mavericks recovered from going a goal behind to score twice in the last 16 minutes to record a shock win. YM, who need to finish in the top 2 places in order to gain promotion to the Ryman League, must beat Oakwood on Saturday and hope that that rivals Arundel or Eastbourne Association slip up in their final games.

Carshalton Athletic and Staines Town will meet in Saturday's play-off final after winning their respective semi-final ties this evening. Staines recorded a comfortable 3-0 success over Sutton United, thanks to goals from Newton, Griffiths and Chaaban, but it was at the Longmead Stadium where the night's drama belonged. Richard Jolly and Charlie Ide put the Robins in charge but former Hornet Carl Rook reduced the arrears from the penalty spot on 70 minutes and Paul Booth completed the comeback with 9 minutes remaining. However, it was the Surrey side who would have the final word when Jolly scored his second of the night. Worthing's hopes of joining Horsham in the Premier Division were dashed as Jamie Wood scored the only goal of the game to send Cray Wanderers in to the Division One (South) final against Met Police, 1-0 winners at Fleet Town. In Division One North, Waltham Abbey secured a 4-1 win at Brentwood while East Thurrock's misery at throwing away the title on Saturday was compounded by a 1-0 defeat against Concord Rangers at Rookery Hill.

Mark Knee was rewarded for an excellent first season for the Hornets by picking up the supporters' Player of the Year award. The former Worthing stalwart has been one of John Maggs' most consistent performers since joining in the Summer, whether at full-back or when called upon to play up front, often playing through injury and has become a firm favourite with the club's supporters.

A 'fluke' goal from Darren Budd ensured that Horsham's season ended on a positive note with a rare victory over Harrow Borough. Budd's 59th minute free-kick eluded everyone inside a packed penalty area before ending up in the back of the net to gain some revenge for two heavy defeats by the Middlesex club this season. In a game of few clear-cut chances, Harrow's Dean Fenton went closest in the first half when he flashed an effort over the top while the Hornets might have extended their lead through Reggie Savage, Alex Haddow and Claude Seanla. Match report and edited highlights are now on-line

Alex Haddow could return for Saturday's final match of the season, the visit of Harrow Borough, in what is likely to be an otherwise unchanged side from that which lost at Hendon on Tuesday. The winger missed the defeat through injury but is hoped to have recovered in time to help the Hornets salvage some pride against a Harrow side that has already thumped 10 goals past Horsham this season. The 6-1 defeat at Earlsmead at the end of November was the Hornets heaviest defeat of the season and the Middlesex club followed that up with a 4-1 success that ended our League Cup interests at the quarter-final stage. Borough might have been among the sides challenging for a play-off place, had it not been for a disastrous start to the campaign that saw them with just 7 points by the end of October, but some fine displays against the likes of Dover, Tonbridge Angels, Staines and Carshalton leaves them comfortably clear of the relegation places in mid-table. As most Horsham fans will know, Harrow are the club's ultimate bogey side with the Hornets having recorded just the solitary victory in 15 attempts so what better way to end a frustrating season than by doubling our win tally ? Supporters are reminded to get their Player of the Year votes in to Adam Hammond before half-time as the award will be made following the match.

Hendon and Horsham will meet again next season after the Middlesex side secured their Premier Division status with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Wembley's Vale Farm. Steve Davies put the Hornets ahead on 25 minutes, heading home after good work from Reggie Savage and Tony Nwachukwu, but Jamie Busby levelled from the penalty spot just before half-time when Rob Tolfrey was penalised for a foul on Peter Dean. Tolfrey's heroics were able to prevent Busby from adding a second, 8 minutes after the break, and Kevin MacLaren put the icing on the cake for the hosts with an injury time volley from 35 yards. Full report...

An end of season trip to Wembley may be the stuff dreams for the supporters of Chelsea and Everton but, for Horsham boss John Maggs, Tuesday's trek to North West London is a journey he could do without as the Ryman League campaign draws to its weary conclusion. More...

Our congratulations go to the U15s who secured the County Cup after Sunday's incident packed victory against Eastbourne Town. The Hornets took an early lead through Dan Petchey but lost Matt Merridew with a broken wrist and were pegged back before half time when Town equalised following a corner. David O'Callaghan saw a second half penalty saved but Josh Clack netted a late winner after Eastbourne were reduced to 10 men but they almost spoilt the party, hitting the post in the closing stages.
Full report...

Horsham's wretched end of season form continued with a comprehensive defeat at Hornchurch after failing to create a single effort on goal throughout the 90 minutes. The Hornets finished with 10 men after Rob Tolfrey was forced out of the game with concussion but were never in the hunt after Frankie Curley's brace, and a goal from Simon Parker, put the hosts in the driving seat to leave the Urchins needing just a point against Sutton United next weekend to be sure of a play-off spot. Full report...

Mark Knee could miss Saturday's trip to promotion chasing Hornchurch after aggravating a leg injury at the weekend. The full-back's determination to play his part in the club's successful fight against relegation leaves him struggling for fitness but he should be the only absentee from the side which earned the point they needed for Premier Division survival on Monday. More...

The board of Horsham Football Club has issued a statement announcing their decision to withdraw its Planning Appeal at the Holbrook Club. Read why, here

Horsham's Premier Division status was secured after an unbeaten Easter programme that culminated in today's goalless draw with Tooting. Saturday's narrow victory at Harlow meant that the Essex club were the only side capable of overhauling the Hornets side but a point against mid-table Tooting puts John Maggs' side out of reach of the bottom four with 3 games remaining. There was little else to cheer, though, from a match in which flowing football was at a premium with neither goalkeeper truly extended throughout the 90 minutes. Claude Seanla headed wide from Horsham's best move of the match. 10 minutes from the end, while Andrew Howell saw his mishit cross come back off the crossbar for the visitors.
Harlow and Tooting match reports now on-line

Mark Knee is facing a battle for fitness ahead of the crucial Easter programme that sees Horsham facing relegation rivals Harlow Town this Saturday before Monday's visit of mid-table Tooting & Mitcham. The full-back is struggling to shake off a dead leg picked up in last week's draw with Boreham Wood, giving boss John Maggs further selection headaches after Yinka Salaam was effectively ruled out for the remainder of the season with torn ankle ligaments. More...

Harlow Town's hopes of avoiding the drop suffered a blow this week when the Ryman League Appeal Board dismissed their application against the deduction of 3 points for playing an ineligible player against Wealdstone in February. The Hawks slipped to 19th place as a result of this decision, 6 points and 7 places below Horsham who visit Barrows Farm this Saturday.

Yinka Salaam suffered knee ligament damage and looks certain to miss the rest of the season as the Hornets' woes continued with this demoralising defeat at relegation threatened Ashford. Salaam's injury, soon after the interval, was the catalyst for a disappointing second half display in which the hosts scored three times to move to within a point of Horsham who drop down a place to 13th after Billericay's 1-1 draw with Tonbridge Angels. An evenly fought first half saw both sides create chances but it was the Tangerines who went closest to opening the scoring when Byron Harrison saw a goal ruled out for offside. However Horsham's luck was out when, within 5 minutes of Salaam's departure, Scott Harris' deflected shot wrong-footed Rob Tolfrey for the opening goal and Harrison added a second with a fierce drive before wrapping things up from the penalty spot in the final minute after a trip by Anthony Acheampong. Match report & goals now on-line

Andy Howard returns to the side for Tuesday's vital clash with Ashford Town after Mark Knee became the latest to join the Hornets' growing injury list. The full-back suffered a dead leg in Saturday's draw with Boreham Wood and is almost certain to miss the trip to Short Lane, prompting John Maggs to recall Howard from Three Bridges. Mark Hawthorne and Ian Payne could also add their experience to the side as the Hornets lock horns with another of the clutch of sides fighting against relegation. Ashford are without a win in 5 league games and Saturday's 2-0 reverse at Billericay leaves the Tangerines in 17th place, just 2 points outside the drop zone. The two sides met as recently as February when goals from Reggie Savage and Claude Seanla won the points for Horsham and a similar result on Tuesday evening should guarantee Ryman Premier Division football for Maggs' side next season.

Horsham scored two goals in a league match for only the 3rd time this year but it wasn't enough to defeat a stubborn Boreham Wood side for whom Sean Sonner grabbed a brace to keep them just outside the relegation zone. Anthony Acheampong gave the Hornets a 20th minute lead, heading home Russell Eldridge's free-kick, but the home side lost Mark Knee to injury soon after and Wood equalised before half-time when Sonner beat Rob Tolfrey from the edge of the area. Steve Davies restored the lead, just before the hour, when he provided an opportunistic finish to Darren Budd's pass but Sonner found a second equaliser on 69 minutes when he lashed the ball home from close range. Both sides had chances to win the game late on with Jon Wordsworth firing wide for the Hertfordshire club and Reggie Savage lobbing on to the roof of the net. Match report on-line

Horsham tackle the first of 3 relegation strugglers this Saturday as they search for the victory that should secure their Premier Division status for another season. Boreham Wood visit Woodside Road with a couple of new, yet familiar, faces hoping to end a 4 match winless run and avenge November's 2-0 defeat by the Hornets. However, a 3rd successive league defeat for John Maggs' side could see them embroiled in an unwanted relegation dogfight but they have mounting injury problems ahead of the match. More...

The club's hopes of a return to Horsham next season now rest with the Sussex County League after Gorings Mead was passed for use at Ryman Premier Division level following an inspection earlier today. Having implemented all of the League's requirements, the ground met with the approval of Ryman representatives and the decision now rests with that of the Sussex County League as to whether the groundshare arrangement with Horsham YMCA will be given the go-ahead.