Returning Horsham FC fan favourite and 'top lad' Dsane adds frontline 'flexibility' ahead of Herne Bay FA Cup test

The ex-Crystal Palace striker boosts an already impressive Hornets frontline that includes Jack Mazzone, this season’s Isthmian Premier top goalscorer, Daniel Ajakaiye, who sits joint-third in the league scoring charts, and former Brighton & Hove Albion and Crawley Town marksman Shamir Fenelon.

Dsane netted 14 goals last season, including a memorable winner against National League South side Eastbourne Borough in an FA Cup third qualifying round replay.

He has netted 16 goals in 56 appearances in all competitions for Horsham since signing from Hampton & Richmond Borough in 2020.

Dsane was named in the Hornets squad for the thumping 4-0 home win over West Sussex rivals Bognor Regis Town on August bank holiday Monday.

Di Paola said: “We love Eddie. He’s a top lad and a good footballer. He’s been with us all through pre-season, he’s just been injured on and off.

“Ed’s back but he’s got a bit to do to get himself up to full fitness now.

“He can play in two or three different positions. The thing about our forward players is that a lot of them can play in a few different areas and positions, which gives us a bit of flexibility.

“We’re in an okay place for attacking players at the moment.”

Horsham travel to Ramsgate’s Southwood Stadium tomorrow to take on Isthmian Premier new boys Herne Bay in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

The Bay are playing step three football for the first time in the club’s history following last season’s Isthmian South East play-off final win over Kent rivals Ashford United.

And Herne Bay are still acclimatising to the division. The coastal club sit fourth-from-bottom in the Premier with four points from five games.

Assessing the tie, Di Paola added: “We’re know they’re a good side, they’re at home, we know it’s the FA Cup, which is a completely different thing.

“But we’re ticking along nicely at the moment. The morale is good.

“There was a brilliant reaction from the Carshalton game over the bank holiday weekend, which we knew we’d get. We just had a bad half of football [against Carshalton].

“We’ll just try and attack it.”

Four Hornets will miss Saturday’s trip to the Kent coast. Di Paola confirmed that midfielders Jack Brivio, Doug Tuck, Charlie Hester-Cook and Tom Kavanagh will be absent due to injury, leaving Horsham short in the middle.

The Hornets manager said: “We haven’t got a single midfielder available at the moment, but hopefully we can ride this period out.

“We’ve just got to see how it plays out with those boys.”