Horsham welcome table-topping Dorking Wanderers to West Sussex on Good Friday.
The match will see the Hornets’ manager Dom Di Paola face his long-time friend Marc White, with the Wanderers founder / owner / chairperson / manager / social media star looking for his side to take another step towards promotion back to the National League.
For their part, Horsham will want to rediscover their winning mojo and head towards mathematically securing their National League South status for next 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 so much this season, including effectively, if not officially, safeguarding their place in the division for next season, Horsham manager Dom Di Paola has made it clear he wants his team to finish their campaign with as much momentum as possible.
The challenge of taking on the current number one team in National League South in front of the Hornets faithful is sure to be motivation enough for Di Paola and his players.
There’s also the added edge of the Horsham gaffer being best mates with Dorking Wanderers supremo Marc White – the man who co-founded the club and guided them from the Crawley & District amateur league all the way up to the National League. Plus, not forgetting making himself and the team stars of social media in the process.
The opposition
Last five league matches: WWLDW
A total of 23 league wins, 9 draws and 9 defeats has earned Dorking a good grip on the division’s top spot over recent weeks, with many tipping them to go up automatically as champions this season.
After an away defeat at Maidenhead United and a draw at Torquay United, the Wanderers bounced back last weekend with a 2-1 home win over promotion rivals Hemel Hempstead, coming from a goal down to seal victory via a converted penalty late on.
Since Christmas, Dorking have used their spending power to bring in new faces to their ranks, as they push for glory.
Winger Sam Pearson joined on loan from Eastleigh last month, with highly rated midfielder Harry Pinchard signed permanently from Gloucester City shortly before that. Young winger Kai Enslin is another loanee, arriving from Charlton Athletic for the rest of the season back in February of this year.
Other players to watch in the Wanderers line-up include:
- Goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes, who played every minute of last season’s league schedule, having arrived at the Meadowbank Stadium in Summer 2024 from Eastbourne Borough
- Veteran defender Tony Craig, who has played over 800 games during a 23+ year career taking in service for the likes of Millwall (over 300 appearances for the Lions), Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient and Brentford. The number of matches he has featured in for Dorking is now into three figures
- In midfield, club skipper Charlie Carter is described by the Dorking website as a ‘cult hero.’ He came through Woking’s academy, before three seasons at Stevenage, and time with Eastleigh. His claims to fame include the fastest ever hat-trick to be scored in National League South history.
- In attack, Alfie Rutherford is a past winner of the National League South Golden Boot – with 30 goals during Wanderers’ promotion season of 2021-22. More impressively, he recovered from heart and knee surgery the following year to remain prolific in front of goal. In 2025/26, he’s scored 13 times in 30 outings so far.
Horsham latest
Last five league matches: LLWLL
Horsham’s coaching staff and players will no doubt be fired up for the visit of their glamorous A24 rivals, having suffered back-to-back away losses to Hampton & Richmond Borough and Torquay United. That makes it just one victory and six defeats in their latest seven fixtures in all competitions.
What better way to halt such a poor run of form than by bloodying the noses of Dorking’s YouTube stars?
With his relatively small squad (in National League South terms) still affected by injury absentees / returnees, Hornets’ boss Dom Di Paola has moved to bring in fresh talent.
Last weekend’s defeat in Devon saw young Barnsley forward Aston Ellard given a start, with encouraging signs of the benefits his talent could have for the team while on loan in West Sussex. Another loanee, as well as Ellard’s fellow attacker and parent club team-mate, Lewis Gould will be hoping for a Horsham debut on Good Friday. Midfielder Isaac Brown, who has come in on non-contract terms from Westfield, seems set to provide additional cover from the bench.
It will be intriguing to see what starting eleven Di Paola puts out against Dorking Wanderers, in particular, whether he is able to, and / or prepared to, take a gamble on players that are still gaining full fitness after injury.
There will be a bucket collection for Momentum so please give generously.
There will also be two competitions with a £1 entry, with HISC providing the prizes for these.
Ticketing information
The match is expected to attract to a big crowd, be sure to buy tickets in advance as it is highly unlikely there will be any tickets on the day available – get yours here
If you can’t make the game, you can follow all the action via online commentary from Radio Lard and updates on Horsham FC’s official X output.
Travel & Parking information
There are bus services that run from Horsham railway station, town centre, and the surrounding area to the Park & Ride at the Hop Oast, just a short walk from the ground. Please be advised that it is running a Sunday service and so will be less frequent than usual – see the Metrobus website for details on the 98 and 23 bus services.
Parking is available at the Park & Ride. However, with a large attendance expected and parking spaces limited, we encourage supporters to use public transport or car share as far as possible.
Further details are available via: What to expect – Horsham Football Club
