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Hornets
fans will be hoping Lee Carney can go out on a high when they make the
short journey to Bognor for the Boxing Day 'derby' against the
division's basement side. The midfielder's imminent departure to Three
Bridges has left most supporters in a state of shock but few, if any,
will harbour any resentment towards the player who made more than 330
appearances for the club in an 8 year career and he is sure to be
afforded a good reception when he dons the green and amber jersey for
the final time this Saturday.
Carney will be hoping for a more successful afternoon than when the
sides met in September's Sussex Senior Cup tie at Nyewood Lane when he
picked up an injury, midway through the second half, and could only
look on as his team-mates crashed to a 3-2 defeat. The Rocks' victory
was, at that stage, only their second of the season and marked a
personal triumph for debutant striker Jason Prior who claimed the
extra-time winner. That began a hot streak for the former Moneyfields
striker who showed he could make the step up from Wessex League
football with further goals against Ashford Town, Billericay, Worthing
and Margate, and a hat-trick against Dartford that took Bognor to
within seconds of becoming the first team to defeat the league leaders
this season. However, despite Prior's promptings, Darin Kilpatrick's
side remain rooted to the bottom of the table with 15 points from 19
games.
John Maggs has challenged his players to bring home maximum points
from the Christmas and New Year programme but believes the Hornets are
in for a tough test against their county rivals. "We play Ashford on
the Tuesday after Christmas and then host Bognor in the New Year and
I'm looking for us to win the lot," he said. "But they're not going to
be easy. Bognor will be confident. They've picked up a few points just
lately and have done quite well in their last 5 games. They beat us
earlier in the season so will be up for it and we've got to do the
same."
Extra spice is added to the occasion with the recent disclosure that
Bognor have made an approach to sign Horsham's in-form defender Ben
Andrews. The ex-Worthing man has been in superb form for the Hornets
in recent weeks and Maggs will not want to see his side further
dismantled.
Horsham's hopes of ending a 3 match losing run were ruined by the
extreme weather conditions that saw the home match with Dartford
postponed last Saturday while Bognor suffered a similar fate when
their league clash with Hendon, and Tuesday's League Cup tie at
Leatherhead, were also called off.
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