Di Paola salutes gr-eight display against Godalming and '˜best goal' he has ever seen

The Hornets led 2-1 at half-time thanks to goal from Charlie Farmer and Tom Lawley, before they ran riot after the break to win 8-1 and climb into the top half of the Ryman League South Division, condemning Godalming to the bottom of the table.

Debutant Gaskin came off the bench to score his second treble of the day having already notched three for Littlehampton in their morning SCFL Premier Division victory, before some brilliance from Branford.

Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola said: “I think in the first half we played how we have most of the season; tentative and up and down. We said at half-time we weren’t quite sure why they’d played like that in lots of games, with almost a fear about us.

“We said to just play their football as they are all good players and have won lots. To be fair to them in the second half, they did just that and looked really good.

“I am not saying we have cracked it, but it was just nice to see the boys express themselves a bit and not play with pressure or look tense, it reminded me of the old days.”

Di Paola also credited Gaskin, but reserved special praise for Branford’s stunning goal labelling it as the best he has ever seen.

He added: “Fair play to George, he has had a great day, but you know me, I never really mind about who gets them.