Horsham welcome desk-topping Dorking Wanderers to West Sussex on Good Friday.
The match will see the Hornets’ supervisor Dom Di Paola face his lengthy-time good friend Marc White, with the Wanderers founder / proprietor / chairperson / supervisor / social media star in search of his aspect to take one other step in direction of promotion again to the National League.
For their half, Horsham will need to rediscover their successful mojo and head in direction of mathematically securing their National League South standing for subsequent season.
Joel Hufford has your match preview.
Horsham v Dorking Wanderers
National League South
Friday 3 April 2026
3pm KO
The Fusion Aviation Community Stadium, Horsham
Having achieved a lot this season, together with successfully, if not formally, safeguarding their place within the division for subsequent season, Horsham supervisor Dom Di Paola has made it clear he desires his workforce to complete their marketing campaign with as a lot momentum as attainable.
The problem of taking up the present primary workforce in National League South in entrance of the Hornets devoted is bound to be motivation sufficient for Di Paola and his gamers.
There’s additionally the added fringe of the Horsham gaffer being greatest mates with Dorking Wanderers supremo Marc White – the person who co-based the membership and guided them from the Crawley & District newbie league all the way in which as much as the National League. Plus, not forgetting making himself and the workforce stars of social media within the course of.
The opposition
Last 5 league matches: WWLDW
A complete of 23 league wins, 9 attracts and 9 defeats has earned Dorking an excellent grip on the division’s high spot over latest weeks, with many tipping them to go up mechanically as champions this season.
After an away defeat at Maidenhead United and a draw at Torquay United, the Wanderers bounced again final weekend with a 2-1 residence win over promotion rivals Hemel Hempstead, coming from a objective all the way down to seal victory by way of a transformed penalty late on.
Since Christmas, Dorking have used their spending energy to usher in new faces to their ranks, as they push for glory.
Winger Sam Pearson joined on mortgage from Eastleigh final month, with extremely rated midfielder Harry Pinchard signed completely from Gloucester City shortly earlier than that. Young winger Kai Enslin is one other loanee, arriving from Charlton Athletic for the remainder of the season again in February of this 12 months.
Other gamers to look at within the Wanderers line-up embrace:
- Goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes, who performed each minute of final season’s league schedule, having arrived on the Meadowbank Stadium in Summer 2024 from Eastbourne Borough
- Veteran defender Tony Craig, who has performed over 800 video games throughout a 23+ 12 months profession taking in service for the likes of Millwall (over 300 appearances for the Lions), Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient and Brentford. The variety of matches he has featured in for Dorking is now into three figures
- In midfield, membership skipper Charlie Carter is described by the Dorking web site as a ‘cult hero.’ He got here by Woking’s academy, earlier than three seasons at Stevenage, and time with Eastleigh. His claims to fame embrace the quickest ever hat-trick to be scored in National League South historical past.
- In assault, Alfie Rutherford is a previous winner of the National League South Golden Boot – with 30 targets throughout Wanderers’ promotion season of 2021-22. More impressively, he recovered from coronary heart and knee surgical procedure the next 12 months to stay prolific in entrance of objective. In 2025/26, he’s scored 13 occasions in 30 outings up to now.
Horsham newest
Last 5 league matches: LLWLL
Horsham’s teaching employees and gamers will little question be fired up for the go to of their glamorous A24 rivals, having suffered again-to-again away losses to Hampton & Richmond Borough and Torquay United. That makes it only one victory and 6 defeats of their newest seven fixtures in all competitions.
What higher solution to halt such a poor run of type than by bloodying the noses of Dorking’s YouTube stars?
With his comparatively small squad (in National League South phrases) nonetheless affected by harm absentees / returnees, Hornets’ boss Dom Di Paola has moved to usher in contemporary expertise.
Last weekend’s defeat in Devon noticed younger Barnsley ahead Aston Ellard given a begin, with encouraging indicators of the advantages his expertise might have for the workforce whereas on mortgage in West Sussex. Another loanee, in addition to Ellard’s fellow attacker and guardian membership workforce-mate, Lewis Gould will likely be hoping for a Horsham debut on Good Friday. Midfielder Isaac Brown, who has are available on non-contract phrases from Westfield, appears set to offer extra cowl from the bench.
It will likely be intriguing to see what beginning eleven Di Paola places out in opposition to Dorking Wanderers, particularly, whether or not he is ready to, and / or ready to, take a raffle on gamers which can be nonetheless gaining full health after harm.
There will likely be a bucket assortment for Momentum so please give generously.
There may even be two competitions with a £1 entry, with HISC offering the prizes for these.
Ticketing data
The match is predicted to draw to an enormous crowd, you should definitely purchase tickets upfront as it’s extremely unlikely there will likely be any tickets on the day out there – get yours here
If you may’t make the sport, you may observe all of the motion by way of online commentary from Radio Lard and updates on Horsham FC’s official X output.
Travel & Parking data
There are bus companies that run from Horsham railway station, city centre, and the encircling space to the Park & Ride on the Hop Oast, only a quick stroll from the bottom. Please be suggested that it’s operating a Sunday service and so will likely be much less frequent than standard – see the Metrobus website for details on the 98 and 23 bus services.
Parking is accessible on the Park & Ride. However, with a big attendance anticipated and parking areas restricted, we encourage supporters to make use of public transport or automobile share so far as attainable.
Further particulars can be found by way of: What to expect – Horsham Football Club
