Foxes ready for next friendly

Ilford manager Allan Fenn is hoping his side can improve their performance against Enfield Town at Robert Clack tonight, after a 4-0 loss to Hornchurch at the weekend.

The Foxes boss went into Saturday’s clash knowing it would be a difficult game, which would push his players and make them work hard.

Ryman North side Hornchurch were expected to win, but Ilford challenged them for periods in the game and Fenn was generally pleased.

He said: “It was a fair result, Hornchurch played with pace and quality, but we did well.

“Overall the result was fair and we adapted well. We can take a lot of positives.”

The gap between the teams will be fairly similar tonight, with Enfield Town a Ryman Premier Division outfit.

But Fenn has been impressed by the attitude of his men, adding: “The players have reacted positively. They’ve tried hard in training.”

Fenn and the Ilford fans will be hoping the pre-season training will benefit them going into the new Essex Senior League campaign, with another tough friendly allowing them to get their fitness levels up.

Fenn said: “We need to look at some players and give some the chance to improve their fitness. We currently have 25 players in the squad that we need to whittle down to 20.”

Ilford will have to push themselves more to avoid another heavy loss, but the pressure will not really be on them as they are not expected to get a result.

Enfield might be expecting to win, which may mean Ilford could take advantage of that mindset.

But the visitors are expected to field a team with just four first-team players, with the rest being trialists.

Fenn added: “Trialists will be exposed. It will be difficult, with quick, fast passing, but hard games are good for the team as it gets the fitness levels up.”

The change of style will also help Ilford in their preparations as they will have to cope with a different type of play, which their players will need to adapt to in order to give them the best possible chance of success.

Enfield might well be hoping to get the better of the weaker side, but Ilford will put up a good fight as they will be trying not to replicate the defeat from Saturday.