And Kevin Watson’s side capitalised through Ogunleye, who finished into the bottom corner after a defence splitting pass from Hamilton Antonio, to secure all three points.

Without a win in six games and with time not on their side in their battle to avoid the drop, the Bay started the game impressively, with Jack Parter’s dangerous ball into the box smothered by Taylor Seymour at the near post after four minutes.

Three minutes later and the ever-dangerous Mason Saunders-Henry looked to be cutting through the Horsham defence like a knife through hot butter. Approaching the penalty area, the winger was let down by a heavy last touch, allowing the visitors to recover.

However, Horsham are a dangerous side that have proved to have threats across the pitch. With ten minutes on the box, Shamir Fenelon looked to pick a teammate out in the Bay box, only for Harry Brooks to tip the ball away from danger.

In what was proving to be an action-packed start to the game, the Bay were posing much more of a threat as Smith saw his towering header in the 13th minute drift agonisingly wide of the bottom corner of the visitors’ net.

Placed mid-table before the start of the game and with the play-offs well within reach, the visitors were in just as much need for all three points as the Bay and but for tremendous save from Brooks, and a follow up shot which struck the crossbar, the Hornets could very well have edged ahead.

However, Watson’s men were matching Horsham all the way as Saunders-Henry saw two efforts six minutes apart from one another in the 28th and 34th minute narrowly miss the target.

Herne Bay could have even taken a first half lead when Antonio was played through on goal with five minutes before the break but in switching the ball onto his right foot, he allowed a recovering defender to make a vital interception.

The second half started roughly for the hosts, with David Ozobia forced off with a knock after only a few minutes, with Mike West his replacement off the bench.

This set back seemed to breathe a little more confidence into the Horsham squad, who were enjoying a greater share of possession, albeit without doing enough with it.

With 55 minutes on the clock, Brooks was forced into another smart save to keep the visitors at Bay, but any goal wouldn’t have counted anyway as the linesman had his flag raised.

That half chance seemed to help refocus the men in blue, with Smith once again at the centre of the Bay attack, only to snatch his shot wide in the 58th minute.

Less than sixty seconds later, the versatile forward came even closer to hitting the back of the net when a low cross into the box seemed to be heading his way. However, his touch wasn’t heavy enough and the Horsham defence eventually cleared their lines.

Just past the hour mark and the Hornets were starting to create a little more space for themselves in the Bay final third, with substitute Charlie Hester-Cook getting his head to a excellent delivery from Bobby Price, only to find Brooks in top form once again, with the shot-stopper making another impressive save.

The Bay had gone the previous two games without scoring a goal but in the 68th minute, they broke that duck through Sammoutis, who found himself in the right place at the right time to fire home from the edge of the six-yard box, after Seymour parried West’s shot into his path.

Ten minutes after that strike, the midfielder was replaced on the pitch by Ogunleye, with the former Brentwood Town man still waiting for his first Bay goal. As it turned out, he didn’t have to wait very long at all.

In the 83rd minute, Smith, who was putting in another energetic performance, took control of the ball before breezing his way past the Horsham fullback. Working his way into a crossing position, he whipped the ball right into the path of Ogunleye, who made no mistake from close range to double the hosts’ lead.

The visitors were still posing a threat and had an excellent chance to pull one back through Dsane but the Hornets’ sub hooked his 86th minute shot wide from the corner of the Bay box.

Horsham were made to pay for that missed opportunity when in the 89th minute, Ogunleye put the game to bed. Racing on to Antonio’s defence splitting pass, Daniel carried the ball into the Horsham area before firing beyond Seymour and into the bottom corner.

Final Score: Herne Bay 3 Horsham 0

Herne Bay Starting XI: Harry Brooks, Jack Parter, Laurence Harvey ©, Dan Johnson, Hamilton Antonio, Mason Saunders-Henry (Monty Saunders 90’), Marcel Barrington, Rory Smith, Finn O’Mara, David Ozobia (Mike West 48’), Jack Sammoutis (Daniel Ogunleye 79’)

Yellow Cards: Finn O’Mara 22’

Unused Substitutes: Donnell Anderson, Troy Williams

Horsham Starting XI: Taylor Seymour, Bobby Price, Harvey Sparks, Doug Tuck, Jack Strange, Jack Brivio, Lee Harding, Tom Kavanagh, Shamir Fenelon (Eddie Dsane 73’), Daniel Ajakaiye (Charlie Hester-Cook 60’), Tom Richards (Alex Malins 75’)

Yellow Cards: N/A

Unused Substitutes: N/A