Second half goals from Reggie Savage and Claude Seanla settled a low-key Ryman Premier Division tussle at Woodside Road to send Horsham in to 8th place, their highest position since September. Rob Tolfrey denied the visitors' Gavin Smith a goal in the only noteworthy effort of a sterile first half but the game burst in to life after the break with Savage ignoring offside appeals to slot home a Darren Budd pass and Seanla doubled the lead, 3 minutes later, when he coolly converted Alex Haddow's through ball. The Tangerines rarely threatened the Horsham goal after that as Horsham comfortably took the points. Full report....

Horsham will face a resurgent Ashford Town this Saturday without the versatile Russell Eldridge who misses the next two matches due to work commitments. The former Hastings United man has been one of the Hornets' most consistent players this season and his absence will be a big blow to John Maggs' preparations with Anthony Acheampong also rated as only 50/50 due to a groin problem. There's better news, though, from Darren Budd and Williams Peauroux who are reportedly 'making good progress' after picking up knocks during Tuesday's League Cup loss at Harrow and Gary Charman should be fit after receiving treatment on a back strain. After bagging a first ever win at Billericay last weekend, Horsham find themselves defending their own unbeaten home record against Ashford who come to Woodside Road on the back of 4 wins and a draw that has helped keep them out of the relegation places in 14th position. While the Hornets were slipping to their obligatory defeat in Middlesex on Tuesday night, the Tangerines were earning their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 success at Redbridge to add to back-to-back league wins against AFC Hornchurch and Dartford. Unusually for this stage of the season, this will be the sides' first meeting after the away fixture was postponed three times due to bad weather and cup commitments. Last season's corresponding fixture saw Horsham record a 2-1win with goals from Danny Davis and Simon Austin, either side of a header from Gavin Smith.

Congratulations go to Alex Haddow, winner of the January Holiday Club draw. If you want to stand the chance of winning a £600 holiday voucher, or a £500 cash prize, then join the Horsham Football Club Holiday Club today. Click here for further details and to download an entry form

The Hornets will face Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves in the semi-finals of the Sussex Senior Cup after the Seagulls' second string saw off the challenge of Horsham YMCA this evening. The County Leaguers held the cup holders until the 66th minute when Kevin McLeod slid the ball under YM 'keeper Tom Rand and Albion wrapped things up in the final minute through Josh Pelling. The date and venue has yet to be decided for the semi-final tie

John Maggs failed to hide his disappointment as he reflected on another unsuccessful trip to Harrow that left his side beaten 4-1 by 'very poor' opponents. Horsham's hopes of pulling off a rare victory over the Middlesex club were brought quickly down to earth when Harrow scored 3 times in the second half to record a 10-1 aggregate success over the Hornets this season and send them crashing out of the Isthmian League Cup. More...

Horsham's bid for a first ever League Cup semi-final appearance were ended tonight with a disappointingly predictable defeat at the hands of Harrow Borough. Alex Haddow's scrambled effort, soon after half-time, cancelled out Gary Noel's 15th minute opener to give the Hornets hopes of a first success at Harrow for more than four decades. However, despite an improved second half showing, John Maggs' side conceded three breakaway goals to crash out of the competition on another disastrous night at the Earlsmead ground. Full report here

"History is more or less bunk. It's tradition. We don't want tradition. We want to live in the present, and the only history that is worth a tinker's damn is the history that we make today." - Henry Ford, 1916.
The Hornets will need to cast aside 41 years of disappointment if they are to be rewarded with a place in the last 4 of the Isthmian League Cup tomorrow night when they travel to eternal killjoys Harrow Borough (kick-off 7.45pm). A dismal record of P14 W1 D4 L9 tells the sorry tale of Horsham's constant struggles to overcome the Middlesex club, whose last home defeat against the men in yellow and green came back in October 1968, but having already gone further in this competition than at any time in their past, and seen off the demons of Lewes and Billericay Town this month, there is a feeling in the Horsham camp that their Harrow hoodoo might finally come to an end. "We had an excellent win at Billericay on Saturday, somewhere we'd not won before, and could have won by 3 or 4 goals," said Maggs. "We've only lost once in 8 games and are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment but we know that Harrow is a difficult place to come. They gave us a hiding back in November and they've beaten Dartford, Dover and Staines as well so we know it's not going to be easy." Horsham will be without the cup-tied Reggie Savage and Ebenezer Masade, who misses out on a reunion with his former team-mates for the same reason, but are otherwise at full strength for a tie that must be decided on the night.

It was an afternoon of 'firsts' at New Lodge this afternoon as Darren Budd opened his Horsham account with the goal that earned the Hornets a first ever win at Billericay and a first goal in five meetings with the Essex side. Joe Flack struck the crossbar for the hosts after just 8 minutes but John Maggs' side defied a poor playing surface to construct a fine move from which Budd scored on 30 minutes and it was the Hornets who went closest to extending their lead when Gary Charman and Reggie Savage both struck the woodwork with second half efforts. The win moves Horsham up three places to tenth in the Ryman Premier Division table.
Full report...

Reggie Savage returns for Saturday's Ryman League trip to Billericay Town after missing the midweek win against Dartford as Horsham look for an overdue victory against their fellow League Cup quarter-finalists. The Blues, who have registered 4 successive 1-0 victories against the Hornets, sit one point and one place above John Maggs' side and have been boosted by the return to the club this week of Paul Shave after brief spells with Aveley, AFC Hornchurch and AFC Sudbury. Maggs will be hopeful that Lee Carney recovers after aggravating his groin in Wednesday's cup success over Dartford but can otherwise expect to field a full strength side. The Blues have failed to score in each of their last 2 league outings but recently became the first side to win at Sutton United this season while the Hornets have lost just once in eight matches in all competition.

The League Cup quarter-final tie against Harrow Borough will take place at Borough's Earlsmead ground on Tuesday, 24th February (kick-off 7.45pm). Our Ryman Premier League fixture at Hendon, scheduled for Monday night, will now be played later in the season. The club will be running a coach to Harrow for our first ever appearance in the last eight of this competition. See above for further details.

Efforts by Horsham Football Club supporters to raise awareness of the club’s continued plight without a ground raised a staggering £1898 for local charity The Friends of Strawfords. On Saturday 6th December 2008 a group of 40 supporters walked from the club’s former ground at Queen Street to their temporary home at Woodside Road in Worthing, a distance of over 21 miles, with the simple message “Get The FC Back to Horsham.” However, as well as walking for the football club, the supporters were also raising money for the charity that supports the work of The Strawford Centre, a day centre that provides services for 112 adults with a learning disability. More...

Horsham marched in to the quarter-finals of the Isthmian League cup for the first time in their history thanks to tonight's dramatic extra-time victory over Dartford. In a game of fluctuating fortunes, the Hornets looked in control of proceedings and led 1-0 at the break through Claude Seanla's close range finish. However, within 12 minutes of the restart they looked to be exiting the competition after efforts from Brendon Cass and James White had given the visitors the lead and it took an 89th minute equaliser from substitute Tony Nwachukwu to keep the tie alive. The youngster was also involved in Horsham's winner, in the 115th minute, when his header came back off the crossbar and was bundled home by Williams Peauroux.
Full report and highlights...

Steve Davies replaces cup-tied Reggie Savage for the Hornets' League Cup 4th round clash with Dartford tomorrow night (Kick-off 7.45pm). Davies, who scored his first goal for the club in the recent Sussex Senior Cup success over Lewes, is expected to be the only change to the side that held third placed Tonbridge Angels to a goalless draw at the weekend with John Maggs' side still searching for their first goal against the Darts this season following 4-0 and 3-0 defeats. The Kent club were convincing winners at Woodside Road at the beginning of the month and have shown that there is life after Cody McDonald with 2 wins and a draw following the striker's dream move to Norwich City. However, it is as much about keeping clean sheets as putting the ball in the opposition's net for Tony Burnham's side who have gone almost 9.5 hrs since conceding a league goal ! Maggs, though, fancies his side's chances of progressing further in the competition "We are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment. We've come up against some decent sides lately and our performances have been good so we'll certainly be up for this one." Harrow Borough await the winners in the quarter-final.

John Maggs praised the club's youngsters as Horsham began their Brighton Charity Cup defence with a comfortable victory over Pagham. Maggs included no less than 8 of the club's U18 squad in the travelling party with George Magnus, Niall O'Hagen and Tony Nwachukwu given the entire 90 minutes in which to impress and it was another newcomer, former Three Bridges man Kevin Joyce, who opened the scoring with the more familiar names of Reggie Savage and Williams Peauroux claiming the other goals to secure the Hornets passage to the third round. Full report...

Pagham will be hoping to make it a Horsham double when John Maggs takes his makeshift side to Nyetimber Lane on Monday night to begin their defence of the Brighton Charity Cup (ko 7.45pm). The Lions were 1-0 winners over Horsham YMCA on Saturday, a result that saw them move to within a point of their second placed opponents in the County League table, and Gary Block's side will feel they are due a victory against the Hornets having been knocked out of this competition by them 3 times in the last 6 seasons. Maggs' recent signings Kevin Joyce, Rick Francis, Ebenezer Masade and Louis Bell are all expected to feature and Louie Murray looks set to make his first team debut after impressing for the U18s. Rob Frankland makes his third appearance in five games between the sticks and he will be joined in the starting XI by Ian Payne and Mark Hawthorne as Maggs looks to protect his first team squad ahead of Wednesday's League Cup tie with Dartford.

Claude Seanla missed a late chance to avenge October's heavy defeat against visiting Tonbridge Angels when he blazed over from close range but Horsham were indebted to Rob Tolfrey for two fine saves as the sides played out a goalless draw this afternoon. Tolfrey, playing despite having not fully recovered from his midweek illness, reacted sharply to turn away Lee Minshull's second half shot and, when the goalkeeper's weak clearance let in Carl Rook, he stood up well to deny the striker a goal against his former club in what were arguably the visitors' best chances of an evenly fought contest. Despite enjoying some extended periods of possession, the Hornets failed to really trouble Lee Worgan in the Angels' goal but can consider themselves deserving of a point. Match report and brief highlights now on-line

The past few days has seen a flurry of activity in the transfer market for manager John Maggs who will be using Monday's trip to Pagham to cast his eye over 4 new arrivals. Kevin Joyce, Rick Francis, Ebenezer Masade and Louis Bell have all signed forms for the Hornets this week with Maggs looking to bolster his squad after several recent high profile departures. Former Three Bridges utility man Joyce made his debut as a second half substitute during Wednesday's match with Carshalton while Francis has also sampled first team action with the Hornets during a brief spell with the club last season. Masade, a former Margate team-mate of Reggie Savage, also lists Dartford and Harrow Borough among his former clubs and Bell is a former Gillingham apprentice. We welcome them all and wish them every success.

John Maggs will hope to have Rob Tolfrey, Gary Charman and Darren Budd back for Saturday's Ryman League Premier division visit of Tonbridge Angels after admitting that the trio's absence contributed to Wednesday night's defeat against Carshalton (kick-off 3pm). "You'd have seen a different result Wednesday, I've no doubt about that," reflected Maggs. "No disrespect to the lads who played but we missed all 3 of them and I'm obviously hoping that they're okay for Saturday, for what is another big game." Tonbridge, currently 3rd in the Premier Division table, come in to this match on the back of an impressive run of 5 wins and 2 draws from their last 7 matches and with a goalscoring record second only to that of league leaders Dover Athletic. Carl Rook tops the club's scoring charts with 18 league goals and he'll be eager to add to the hat-trick he claimed against his former employers back in October, the first of three trebles for the ex-Hornet this season. John Westcott, Tommy Warrilow and Cliff Cant complete the quartet of former Horshamites in the visitors' ranks while the anticipated debut of Lee Minshull, recipient of a red card whilst playing for Ramsgate against Horsham last weekend, is sure to add extra spice to what is usually a feisty encounter.

Rob Frankland's first league start in almost 3 years ended in disappointment after Carshalton maintained their unbeaten away record with a deserved victory at a soggy Woodside Road. The visitors hit the woodwork an incredible 4 times, twice inside the opening 6 minutes, as the Robins threatened to run riot against a Horsham side missing Rob Tolfrey, Gary Charman and Darren Budd. It took until the 19th minute for Richard Jolly to give Carshalton the lead but the scores were levelled before the break when Williams Peauroux converted Lee Carney's pass. Jamie England restored the lead, 5 minutes after the interval, and Ryan Martin added a third before Claude Seanla kept things interesting with an 88th minute header but the Hornets ran out of time, enabling Carshalton to gain revenge for their defeat at Colston Avenue back in August. Full report and highlights now on-line

Gary Charman could miss Wednesday visit of fifth placed Carshalton Athletic as the Hornets bid to extend their four match winning run (kick-off 7.45pm). Charman suffered groin and hamstring problems following Saturday's narrow victory over Ramsgate and is rated as 50/50 for the clash that sees Lee Carney return from suspension. Carney will replace Darren Budd in the starting line-up after the on-loan midfielder revealed he had already committed himself to playing for Lewes Reserves on Wednesday night, prior to his last minute recall to Horsham at the weekend. Meanwhile, John Maggs has hinted that there may be a new face on the bench in the shape of former Three Bridges utility player Kevin Joyce who was expected to sign Ryman forms earlier today. Carshalton boast the only unbeaten away record in the Ryman League, picking up 9 wins and 4 draws and averaging just over 2 goals per game, and will undoubtedly be keen to avenge the 5-1 mauling administered by Horsham at Colston Avenue back in August.

Horsham will begin their defence of the Brighton Charity Cup with a trip to Pagham on Monday 16th February. With a Ryman League Cup tie against Dartford due to be played just 48 hours later, boss John Maggs has reiterated his pledge to field an experimental line-up with a mixture of youth, squad members and trialists all given a platform from which to impress. "We should have a number of new players to look at as well as the likes of Rob Frankland, Ian Payne and Mark Hawthorne and I'll be taking several of the young lads like Tony Nwachukwu and Louie Murray," said Maggs. The match kicks off at Nyetimber Lane at 7.45pm.

Horsham will travel to Harrow Borough in the Quarter-Finals of the League Cup, provided they beat Dartford first. The Middlesex club, emphatic winners when the two sides met in the league back in November, won through to the last 8 with a narrow victory at Godalming Town. Horsham meet Dartford on Wednesday 18th February. Pagham provide the opposition when Horsham commence their defence of the Brighton Charity Cup at a date to be confirmed.

John Maggs revealed that he was powerless to prevent Lee Carey from leaving the club once he heard of an approach from former club Hastings United on Friday. New Arrows boss Tony Dolby wasted little time in making enquiries for both Carey and Russell Eldridge but, while Eldridge pledged his future to Horsham, Carey found the lure of the Pilot Field too good to resist and expressed his desire to join his new team-mates immediately. "Lee wasn't on contract so there wasn't an awful lot I could do about it," admitted Maggs. "He wanted to join up with Hastings straight away so there was no point in me forcing him to play on Saturday which is why I brought Darren Budd in. I've no gripe with Lee. He's a good player and leaves on good terms".

Horsham left it late to claim victory over an ill-disciplined Ramsgate side who had Ben Brown, Lee Minshull and manager Jim Ward dismissed in a game that provided little in the way of entertainment for the supporters. Brown's dismissal, after just 19 minutes, was the major talking point of a disappointing first half and, when Minshull followed, early in the second half for another two-footed tackle, the visitors dug in to prevent their hosts from claiming the all important goal. However, the breakthrough came on 79 minutes when Savage converted a pass by skipper Sam Page for his first goal in Horsham colours and sub Tony Nwachukwu would have made it 2-0 in the closing stages but for Nick Davis' goal-line clearance. Davis was less effective up the other end, though, when he wasted a golden opportunity to equalise, blazing over from close range. Horsham's 4th successive victory in all competitions moves them above Boreham Wood in to 12th place while only goal difference keeps the Rams out of the relegation places. Full report and highlights now on-line

Horsham face the prospect of a mouthwatering tie with either Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves or Horsham YMCA after the draw for the semi-finals of the Sussex Senior Cup semi-final were announced today. The Seagulls are the current holders of the trophy but were beaten by John Maggs' Hornets on their way to the 2006 Final while a match up with YM should ensure a bumper gate in what would be arguably the most high profile meeting of the once near neighbours. Horsham won their way through to the penultimate stage of the competition thanks to Wednesday's 3-1 win against Lewes while YM are set to host Brighton on 25th February having twice seen their quarter-final tie postponed.

A 1015am pitch inspection is planned ahead of tomorrow's visit of Ramsgate as Horsham switch their attentions to the quest for league points once again after the euphoria of the midweek cup triumph (kick-off 3pm). Saturday's 2-0 win at Hastings saw John Maggs' side move in to 13th place in the Ryman Premier Division table but, with the threat of a 4 point penalty hanging over them for player irregularities, the Rams could be sucked in to an unwanted relegation battle and a typically hard fought battle is anticipated. One man perhaps thankful to miss out is the suspended Lee Carney who has twice suffered long-term injuries whilst playing against the Kent side and Gary Charman's fitness is also under scrutiny after tweaking his groin in Wednesday's win against Lewes. Reggie Savage and Anthony Acheampong return after missing the midweek triumph while Steve Davies' twisted ankle is likely to see him among the substitutes at best. The 2 sides fought out a 2-2 draw at Southwood Stadium back in September in what provided Jim Ward's side with their first home point of the season and, although they have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks with wins against Sutton, Margate and Boreham Wood, and creditable draws against Tonbridge and Dover, they remain just 2 points outside the relegation zone.

The League Cup 4th round visit of Dartford will take place at Woodside Road on Wednesday 18th February (ko 7.45pm). The Ryman League trip to Heybridge Swifts has been brought forward a week to Tuesday 17th March (ko 7.30pm) and the twice rearranged match away to Ashford Town (Mx) is now scheduled to be played on Tuesday 7th April. The full fixture list can be viewed here

Horsham edged in to their second Sussex Senior Cup semi-final in 4 years with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Lewes. The Hornets scored twice inside a sensational opening ten minutes through Steve Davies and Gary Charman only for Josh Klein-Davies to reduce the arrears, midway through the first half. The Conference National side enjoyed the greater territorial advantage during the second half but wasted a golden opportunity to equalise when Rob Tolfrey denied Klein-Davies with a superb double save after Lee Carney was adjudged to have fouled the striker inside the penalty area, the second Lewes spot-kick miss in four days. Claude Seanla wrapped up a memorable win with his 5th goal in three matches as John Maggs' side recorded their first success over their East Sussex rivals since 2001. Match report and goal highlights on-line

Wednesday night's Sussex Senior Cup Quarter-Final tie with Lewes has every chance of going ahead, provided the pitch survives the overnight freeze (ko 7.45pm). That's the view of Hornets' boss John Maggs who was delighted to have seen most of the early morning snow disappear from the Woodside Road playing surface by late Tuesday afternoon. With an increasingly busy programme ahead of his side over the coming weeks, Maggs will be keen to get this eagerly anticipated tie played having already fallen victim to the weather last month. More...

A delighted John Maggs praised the attitude of his players after watching them pick up their first league win of the year with a 2-0 defeat of Hastings United yesterday. Claude Seanla's 4th goal in two games sealed the victory in the final minute, after the Hornets had twice been frustrated by the crossbar when trying to add to Lee Carney's 17th minute opener, but there was no denying that the Hornets deserved the victory that sees them jump up to 13th in the Ryman Premier Division table. "I thought the attitude and desire of my players was first class," commented Maggs. "We carried on where we left off at Sutton and I thought our passing was some of the best we've produced all season. Lee Carney was immense and Sam Page was on a different planet but I couldn't fault any of my players. I know that some supporters are a bit concerned that we've lost a number of players lately; Jacob, Buddy, Evan, Siggy, Lee Farrell but we have still got some exceptional talent at the club and as long as our attitude is there, we'll be alright." A full report, and photos, of Saturday's victory at Hastings are on-line

Horsham bade farewell to two more players this weekend with Jacob Mingle agreeing to join Conference National side Eastbourne Borough for an undisclosed fee and Evan Archibald returning to the Priory Lane club after having his loan spell cut short as John Maggs continues his efforts to bring the playing budget back in line. Mingle was transfer listed last week after expressing his desire to play at a higher level and Borough were quick to sign the talented midfielder until the end of the current season with a contract option for 2009/10. Last season's Player of the Year, Mingle made 115 appearances for the Hornets after signing from Ashford (Mx) in 2006, scoring several spectacular goals while Archibald's 10 goals this campaign made him the club's leading scorer. We thank them for their contributions and wish them well with Eastbourne Borough.