Upcoming Match

Horsham FC will face Braintree Town tomorrow in a step‑two fixture. Manager Dominic Di Paola says the match will be a tough test after Braintree’s recent roller‑coaster season. The game is scheduled for Saturday evening at Braintree’s home ground, and it will be the first competitive outing for the Hornets after a long break from league action.

Braintree’s Recent Form

Braintree Town, who were relegated from the National League last season, have had a rocky start to step two. They opened the campaign with a 4‑0 defeat at home to Tonbridge Angels, a result that came while the club was still under a transfer ban imposed in May due to financial difficulties. The embargo was lifted on 5 August, allowing the Iron to sign a handful of players.

The club bounced back in a 3‑2 home win over Chesham United last weekend, despite being reduced to ten men early in the match. In the National League Cup, Braintree drew 1‑1 with Ipswich Town under‑21s, scoring a late equaliser before losing 4‑3 on penalties.

Manager’s Perspective

Di Paola told reporters that Braintree were “under that embargo for the Tonbridge game, so they didn’t have any players, but they’ve signed a few now.” He added that the club’s recent signings have come from the league above and that “no one is bad in this league. They’ll be good.”

He also warned that the pitch at Braintree is “challenging” and that the Hornets will need to be prepared for a hard‑fought contest. “We’ve exerted a lot in these past two games (against Salisbury and Hampton & Richmond Borough). We’ve got a very small squad and a lot of the boys have done most of the minutes. Hopefully we can find a bit of freshness before the weekend,” he said.

Di Paola expressed optimism that the team would match the energy they displayed against Hampton. “It’s another tough game but you look forward to it. It’s nice to be back playing competitive football and the challenges that come with it,” he added.

Injury Update

Horsham have no fresh injury concerns heading into the trip to Essex, but Di Paola confirmed that it will still be a while before supporters see summer recruit Niall McManus. The midfielder, signed from Dorking Wanderers in June, has yet to make a competitive appearance for the Hornets due to injury.

The manager hopes the team can maintain its momentum and secure a result that will set a positive tone for the rest of the season.