Relegation race expected to go down to the wire, but Horsham boss is delighted they are safe

The Hornets are 26 points clear of the bottom three with just eight games left to play in the current campaign.

While for them it is a case of very much looking ahead to next season and continuing to pick up points, the relegation fight is rumbling on at the foot of the table.

With rock bottom Godalming Town 19 points from safety, the drop is all but assured, but five other sides are jostling to avoid the other two relegation places.

Di Paola said: “We are 20-odd points off the relegation places and over the next couple of weeks it will be done and dusted that mathematically we are safe.

“We just need to keep winning and not let the season slip away.

“I think there are five teams that are really in the mix - Chatham, Three Bridges, Molesey, Guernsey and Chipstead.

“There is still a lot to play for, but they are not all going to make the difference up on us.”

Horsham host Herne Bay on Saturday and will be without the suspended Alex Laing, Tow Lawley and Scott Harris.

But Tony Nwachukwu and Ash Jones are expected to recover from knocks picked up in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Chatham Town.

Di Paola added: “When we played them down there earlier in the season we won 1-0, but it was a woeful game.

“It’ll be nice to have a better game and although we have a few missing with accumulating bookings, we will give it our best.”

With a number of recent new additions, the Horsham management have not ruled out adding any more before the end of the campaign, although they are not currently seeking to add to their squad.

Di Paola said: “You never know really. If a player becomes available or suddenly leaves a club, then we may take them on.

“I am not actively looking, but to be fair, I was not actively looking a few weeks ago. If someone is available then it gives them a chance to see what we are about and we can go from there.”