Hornchurch manager Jim McFarlane (Gavin Ellis/TGS)

Urchins host Colchester in quarter-final tie

Hornchurch boss Jimmy McFarlane says tonight’s Essex Senior Cup quarter-final against Colchester is a ‘big game’.

Urchins host the League One side at Bridge Avenue, having slumped to a 5-2 defeat at Conference South rivals Havant on Saturday.

Colchester are enduring a poor run of form themselves, but are taking the county competition seriously and beat Hornchurch in the 2010 final.

McFarlane said: “A few will get games, who haven’t been playing as much recently, but we’ve got to take it seriously going by the strength of the side they’re sending down.

“They’re sending a first-team squad, trying to find a bit of confidence.

“But it’s a big game for us and it’s a bit of respite from the league.”

Urchins found themselves 3-0 down at half-time at Havant and, although Lewis Smith and Wayne gray netted late replies, they conceded twice more in the final minutes.

McFarlane added: “They looked very comfortable in the first half, but we came out a different side in the second and put them on the back foot.

“We got it back to 4-2, but some of the mistakes we made were unacceptable.”