Horsham will face Colliers Wood United in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup following the Londoners' 3-0 defeat of East Grinstead Town yesterday. Wood, who finished 7th in the Combined Counties League last season, are participating in the FA Cup for only the third time and will be hoping for a better result than at this same stage of the 2006/7 competition when they were beaten 3-0 at Worthing. The tie is expected to take place on the weekend of 12/13/14 September, subject to confirmation with Worthing FC.

A blow to the face left Harlow's Danny Chapman groggy and clutching an ice pack to the back of his neck but it was the Hornets who looked decidedly punch-drunk as they meekly surrendered their 100% winning record, slipping to their heaviest home defeat in almost two years against a Harlow side who fully deserved their victory. Just 4 minutes were on the clock when Jamie Richards fired past Paul Seuke but Horsham were level, ten minutes later, when Gary Charman converted a chance at the other end and a closely fought half ended on level terms. However, once second half substitute Jacob Mingle brought down Leon Lalite in the area to allow Mark Taylor to reclaim the lead from the spot, there was only going to be one winner. Two goals in as many minutes from Bunn put the result beyond doubt, midway the half, and the Hawks were able to see out the remainder of the half in some comfort. Match report and goals are now on-line. Click here

Lee Carey must wait a bit longer before celebrating his first goal for the Hornets after Gary Charman was credited with Monday's opening goal at Carshalton Athletic. Initial suggestions that Carey's first minute free-kick had entered the net untouched were dismissed by John Maggs today after he confirmed that Charman had made the merest of glances to deflect the ball past goalkeeper Phil Wilson. "The banter in the dressing room certainly suggested it was Gary's goal," revealed the manager who went on to praise the contribution of his defence in the 5-1 rout of the previously unbeaten Robins. "Andy Howard had a very good game but I thought Sam Page marshalled the defensive extremely well. They put us under a lot of pressure, especially in the first half, but we defended magnificently and literally threw our bodies on the line at times. After they equalised, it looked like they would push on but you have to give my players a lot of credit. We showed great endurance, our fitness level were excellent, our organisation was top notch and our passing and movement was different class. Our fourth goal was a copybook goal. It's early days still but our potential is frightening. I don't think that we've really gelled yet and I do believe that there's an awful lot more to come from this side but a lot of teams will look at our start and come to our place with a different attitude now. They'll make it very difficult for us and we're going to have to show our adaptability."
You can watch all of Horsham's goals, courtesy of loyal supporter Tim Harrison, by clicking here

Horsham's perfect start to the season continued with a sensational win at Carshalton Athletic this afternoon, a result that ended the Robins' own 100% record and enabled the Hornets to leapfrog their opponents into second place in the Ryman Premier Division table. Horsham made light of the absence of leading scorer Evan Archibald to spread the goals around with five different players getting their names on the scoresheet. Lee Carey gave  the visitors the perfect start when his free-kick found the net with less than a minute played but the hosts deservedly levelled on 35 minutes through Dean Carpenter. Two goals in five minutes by Gary Charman and Liam Baitup, either side of the interval, made it 3-1 to John Maggs' side but it took a superb goal to finally break the Robins' spirit when Russell Eldridge surged forward to convert Lee Carney's measured pass and Mark Knee (above) completed the rout late on to record Horsham's biggest ever victory against the Surrey club. Full report and photos here

Horsham Football Club has been delighted with the response to its request for player sponsorship and would like to thank all those who have given generously this season. Just a handful of players and staff remain available so, if anyone wishes to help provide the Club with valuable financial support and get their name/company name printed in the matchday programme, please click here for further details.

The Lardy Boys have a new hero after watching their side record a third straight win of the season against a Heybridge Swifts side still looking for their first goal. Evan Archibald, a pre-season capture from Eastbourne Borough, scored his third goal in as many games to give the Hornets a 38th minute lead and prompt his new fans in to an adapted rendition of 'Wonderwall' in acknowledgement of the tall striker. Lee Carney converted Alex Haddow's pass to double the lead on 79 minutes and Horsham ran out comfortable winners to mark John Maggs' 500th game in charge in style. Click here to see full report and goals

Eddie French received a boost today when surgeons decided against inserting plates in to his broken leg, choosing to pin the joint together and increasing the chances of a return before the end of the season. It was feared that the long serving defender's Horsham career might have been prematurely ended following Wednesday's injury but doctors confirmed that the break was to the smaller of the tibia bones which, it is hoped, should speed up the healing process. A philosophical French, who has had a regular stream of well wishers at his bedside, is expected to be discharged from Worthing Hospital tomorrow but has been told that he will be in plaster for 6 weeks and could face up to 6 months before being able to resuming training.

Eddie French will undergo surgery to have a metal plate inserted in to his leg tomorrow following the horrific injury he received in last night's match against Staines Town. The hugely popular defender is being treated at Worthing General Hospital after being admitted yesterday evening suffering from a broken tibia, dislocated ankle and ligament damage but remains upbeat despite his obvious discomfort. Dressed in Horsham shorts and t-shirt, the former club captain is already planning his next visit to Woodside Road to give his team-mates his support although, this time, it will be from the stands rather than on the pitch. John Maggs was just one of many players, friends and colleagues who visited Eddie today and he was quick to praise both player and physio Andi Marfleet following last night's sickening scenes. "Most people would be screaming the place down if they were in that situation," admitted Maggs. "But as they took him away on the stretcher, Eddie was telling the lads to just go on and win the game  and he even got someone to make sure that his mum was looked after in the stands. I feel so sorry for the lad. He's a terrific club man. Never lets me down on the pitch, never grumbles, never moans and always gives me 100 per cent. But I've got to say how impressed I was with Andi (Marfleet) when it all happened. He was right on top of the situation and was top drawer. Even the ref said how quick it was. He had a leg brace on him in next to no time and told everyone exactly what they needed to do. He was first class and I can't praise him highly enough."

An excellent victory for the Hornets was overshadowed by a sickening injury to Eddie French that saw the popular defender taken to hospital in an ambulance after suffering a suspected broken ankle after falling awkwardly whilst attempting a clearance. It was a sorry episode in what was a compelling contest with both sides showing some enterprising movement and committed, yet fair, tackling. The Hornets took the lead on 27 minutes when Alex Haddow converted a pinpoint pass from Lee Carney but Staines deservedly equalised before the break when Elliott Onochie skilfully turned French before chipping Paul Seuke. Following French's second half injury, both sides had the chance to snatch a winner with Carney coming closest with an audacious 40 yard effort that almost embarrassed the visiting goalkeeper only to cannon away off the crossbar and the keeper's body. With the home fans seemingly content to take a point off one of the pre-season promotion favourites, Russell Eldridge swung in an 84th minute free-kick that took the slightest of deflections on its way in to the net and Horsham were able to celebrate a debut win at their 'new' temporary Worthing base. Click here for match report and goal highlights

John Maggs declared himself delighted with Saturday's opening day success at Canvey Island but refused to get carried away with the victory, claiming that there is more to come from his players. "When you look at it, we've fielded seven new players so I'm delighted with the way we've started. But we won't get carried away with the result. Canvey are a bit of an unknown quantity so we'll have to see how their season pans out before we can judge our performance on Saturday but I thought our full-backs (Jack Page and Russell Eldridge) did very well against their wide men, who looked very dangerous at times, and Sam Page was awesome at the back. Alex Haddow did very well considering he only stepped off a plane from Canada on Friday morning but I don't think you could say that any of my players had a bad game. I wasn't too happy with their equalising goal, I thought we should have done better from the free-kick, and their second took a bit of the gloss off the result but we will get better, I'm convinced of that. We've still got Jacob Mingle and Mark Knee to come in but we know we've got some tough games ahead of us, starting with Staines on Wednesday night."

Yesterday's match report and 3 of Horsham's goals (apologies to Liam Baitup for missing his) are now on-line. Click here to view

Horsham got their season off to the perfect start with an opening day victory at Canvey Island this afternoon. Recent signing Evan Archibald put the Hornets ahead after just twelve minutes only for their newly promoted hosts to equalise through Chris Moore, seven minutes later. Liam Baitup latched on to a weak back pass to give Horsham the half-time lead, Lee Carney expertly converted a one on one with goalkeeper Ricky Wiseman eleven minutes from time and Archibald made it two goals in as many minutes by claiming his second after fine approach play from substitute Lee Farrell. Jay Curran scored an acrobatic consolation for the Gulls but the visitors hung on to record their biggest opening day victory in eight years and their first ever against their hosts.

As the curtain prepares to go up on the start of another season, we take a look back at the 2007/8 campaign; the FA Cup, SKY TV, spectacular goals and the sad farewell to an 'old friend'. Read more.....

With so many 'comings and goings' during the summer, we thought that supporters might need a summary of the club's transfer dealings:

'Ins'

'Outs'

Jack Page (Leyton Orient)
Sam Page (MK Dons)
Russell Eldridge (Hastings Utd)
Lee Carey (Hastings Utd)
Lian Baitup (Eastbourne Town)
Mark Knee (Bognor Regis Town)
Alex Haddow (Bognor Regis Town)
Evan Archibald (Eastbourne Borough)
Sam Jeremiah (St Francis Rangers)*
* dual signed

Alan Mansfield (Worthing)
Stuart Myall (Tonbridge Angels)
Kevin Hemsley (retired)
Tom Graves (Lewes)
Yinka Salaam (USA)
Nigel Brake (Lewes)*
Lewis Taylor (AFC Wimbledon)
Gavin Bolger (Chertsey Town)
Matt Geard (Lewes)
Danny Davis (Lewes)
Simon Austin (Lordswood)
Dean Wright (Three Bridges)
* subject to recovery from operation

John Maggs admits that his players were 'close to tears' at Yinka Salaam's decision to quit the club last week. The popular full-back appeared in less than half of the Hornets' matches last season, the majority of which were made as substitute, but he became a firm favourite of the supporters through his never-say-die attitude and affable nature and Maggs admits that the former Gravesend youngster will be missed in the dressing room. "He's been accepted on to a two year college course in the States and we wish him every success. He wanted to play against Croydon before he flew out and we gave him the first half where he played his heart out. At half time he told me and the lads how much he'd loved his time at the club and how he'd always remain a Horsham player at heart. We all had a lump in our throat when we said our goodbyes !"

John Maggs declared himself 'quite happy' with his side's pre-season form after remaining undefeated in their final 4 fixtures. After suffering 3 successive defeats, the Hornets drew at Horley Town and won against East Grinstead Town and Croydon before a goalless stalemate with landlords Worthing at Lancing's Culver Road ground last Friday concluded an extensive workout for his players. "I thought we put in a polished display against Croydon Athletic and were very good against East Grinstead, although they (East Grinstead) weren't up to much. Against Worthing we had the ball in their net and hit the woodwork as well as creating a number of chances so, yes, I've got to be pleased with the performances. To be fair though, there's been times when we've had to mix and match the side and we haven't always produced the goods but, all in all, the attitude has been good and the fitness levels excellent."