Horsham boss less upset by 3-0 loss than by 2-2 draw

The Hornets boss described their display in Kent as ‘anaemic’ and said it came down to conceding goals at bad times in the game.

And he said he was more downbeat at the way individual errors had seen a 2-0 lead evaporate in the previous game at home to Cray Wanderers.

Di Paola, of course, wants his side to be more consistent – but he said their up-and-down form was similar to that of many teams in a division in which there was little to choose between the top and bottom sides.

He felt Invicta striker Adam Yusuff was the real difference between the sides. “He scored two and was involved in all their best football,” Di Paola said.

"From us it was an anaemic performance. There was no lack of desire, or lack of a will to win, we just weren’t on it on the day.

"Their goals, and the times they came at, sucked the life out of us. I was frustrated with the loss but not as much as I was with the draw with Cray.

"There are no easy games in this league and at the same time there are no teams who are amazing or a lot better than all the others.

"What we’d like is a run of three or four wins on the spin. That would give the season a different feel – but no teams are doing that.

"You look at the table each weekend and there are teams in the top half losing and teams in the bottom half losing.

"We’re doing okay – we’ve not dropped out of the top half for a while – but need to be more consistent away from home.”

Adding to the Hornets’ woes at Folkestone was a late red card shown to sub Charlie Hester-Cook. Di Paola said his first booking was soft, and while his second was clearer, overall he was unlucky to be sent off.

He will miss Saturday’s clash with third-placed Aveley at the Camping World Community Stadium.

Di Paola revealed that key striker Daniel Ajakaiye – who has been out for nearly seven weeks after starting the campaign with six goals – was out running again but was unlikely to be fully fit until late December.

Chief creator Tom Richards is out with a calf problem but should return next week.