Originally taking place just over a month ago, this fixture against Horsham was abandoned early on when Herne Bay forward Kymani Thomas suffered a lower leg injury, later diagnosed as a broken tibia and fibula.

Since then, the Bay have struggled to fuel their survival bid, picking up a valuable win against Brightlingsea Regent before going winless in their last six matches, picking up two points from a possible 18.

In their last outing against Billericay Town, it was former midfielder Bradley Stevenson that played an important role in the defeat of Kevin Watson’s side, with the hosts winning 2-0.

The Bay started the game well, with Rory Smith’s shot crashing off the post before Jack Parter’s long-range effort whistled wide of the top corner.

But Kareem Isiaka edged the hosts ahead five minutes before the break, turning Michael Chambers header home from close range.

Stevenson came close to doubling the lead not long after the restart, with his curled effort hitting the foot of the post.

But the former Bay man went one better later with a well-taken finish that put the game to bed.

The Opposition

The first Horsham Football Club was founded in 1871, though its existence largely depended upon enough players being available to form a side. In 1881 the club was firmly re-established, playing its first game against Dorking, and, in September 1882, helped found the Sussex County Football Association.

Horsham became founder members of the West Sussex Football League in 1896. They went on to win the WSL championship in 1899–1900, 1900–01 and 1901–02, and claimed the Royal Irish Rifles Cup in 1900 by defeating the champions of the East Sussex Senior League, Hastings.

The Sussex RUR Cup was taken in 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938, and the Sussex Senior Cup in 1934 and 1939. After the break brought on by hostilities, Horsham won the first post-war title in 1947, the RUR Cup in 1946, 1949 and 1951, and the Sussex Senior Cup in 1950.

In 1973, Horsham joined the Isthmian League when it expanded to two divisions. They enjoyed little success during the 1980s and early 1990s, finishing bottom of the entire league in 1993–94, but began to turn their fortunes around with a Division Three championship win in 1995–96.

In 2001–02 they finished second in Division Two and were promoted to Division One South and in 2005–06 a second-place finish in that division, finishing 2nd behind champions Ramsgate on goal difference, saw them promoted to the Premier Division for the first time.

Their first ever season in the Premier Division, in 2006–07, saw the Hornets finish in eighth and a promotion challenge in 2007–08 again fell away to see the club end up eleventh. However, the team beat Maidenhead United 4–1 to reach the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time.

Horsham played at Worthing during 2008–09 and reached the 4th QR of the FA Cup where they took Conference side Stevenage Borough to a replay before ending an injury-ravaged year in thirteenth place. Season 2009–10 found the club back in Horsham, having entered into a ground share agreement with their old neighbours Horsham YMCA as their quest for a new ground continued.

During that 2015/16 campaign, the club recorded a club record ninety-seven points whilst conceding the fewest goals in their history (twenty-two). After a slow start to the 2016/17 campaign, in which just three of the first thirteen matches were won, the Hornets recovered to finish in a not unsatisfactory sixteenth place in Division One South.

With automatic promotion the right of only the champions, Horsham faced a play-off semi-final clash with Haywards Heath Town at the end of the 2018/19 season, winning 3-0 to set up a home final with Ashford United. After a tense tie, Horsham won through 2-1 after extra-time to return to the Premier Division after an absence of seven years.

In the 2021–22 season saw the club won the Isthmian League Cup for the first time in their history.

Opposition so far

Currently, our visitors on Tuesday find themselves only six points off the final play-off place, with the Hornets sat 10th in the Isthmian League Premier Division table after 14 wins, ten draws, and eight losses from their 32 games, scoring 59 goals while conceding 42.

In their last outing, Horsham founds themselves involved in a goal fest with an improving Haringey Borough, with six first half goals, but none in the second, leaving the final score 3-3, with the Horsham goals coming from Jack Brivio, Lee Harding, and Tom Richards.

Key Players

Jack Mazzone (Forward): Jack is a proven goalscorer who has spearheaded the Met Police attack for the past four seasons, having started out in the Woking FC Academy. Got his first taste of senior football during loan spells with Chertsey and Hendon in 2011/12, finding the net for the first time in a 4-2 defeat for the Curfews at Burnham in November 2011, before joining Godalming Town.

Stints at Knaphill and Tooting & Mitcham followed but it was an impressive return of 32 goals for South Park in 2017/18 that prompted The Met to tempt him to Imber Court where he has top scored in each season since his arrival.

Jack Brivio (Midfielder): After coming up through the ranks at Tonbridge Angels, Brivs’ career at Longmead was cut short by an injury that sidelined him for over a year.

Joining Isthmian Premier Division rivals Burgess Hill Town in 2016, he became a regular in the side for two seasons before switching to Horsham in September 2018 and captaining the Hornets to promotion to the Premier Division at the end of his first season, leading them to the FA Cup first round in 2021, and lifting the Velocity Trophy back in April.

Kadell Daniel (Midfielder): Began his career as a youngster at Crystal Palace and was also on the books of Charlton Athletic before dropping into ‘non-league’ circles where he played Conference and the National League football for Torquay United, Woking, Welling United and Dover Athletic.

Kadell has also represented Guyana at international level, with Hayes & Yeading, Dulwich Hamlet, Leatherhead, Margate, Kingstonian and Hampton & Richmond also appearing on his CV.

Ticket News

Tuesday evening's rearranged game against Horsham will be free entry, with buckets located at the gate and at the bar for fans to donate towards Kymani Thomas' recovery from the injury he suffered in the original fixture.