McFarlane: Lewis got frustrated

Hornchurch manager Jimmy McFarlane criticised Lewis Smith’s challenge that led to him being sent off against Truro City, especially as he was running the game.

McFarlane stated that in the modern era players cannot commit challenges like Smith’s, as he was given his marching orders for a two-footed lunge.

He said: “Ridiculous challenge, but what I will say is Lewis can’t tackle, so I don’t know why he even tried.

“The referee said to me at half time ‘what on earth was he (Smith) doing, he was running the game.’ and he was. He was in one of those moods where he was unplayable, everything good was going through him.

“He got frustrated, and it was his own fault he had too many touches and held onto the ball for too long, got outmuscled and then he left the foot in.

“Ten years ago that would have just been a tackle, probably not even a foul but the rules, if you leave a foot in there these days you’ll get punished.”

Stewart Yetton headed Truro in front just 20 seconds into the second half, but Joey May levelled on 51 minutes.

Andy Watkins scored Truro’s winner shortly after to drop Urchins into the Conference South bottom three.

McFarlane admitted defeat was hard to swallow, even likening it to grieving someone’s death, and he felt the timing of Truro’s opening goal was crucial.

“Most results at different levels are a pain, but I feel like I’m grieving someone’s death,” he added.

“I don’t think the sending-off changed the game. I thought we had enough to win it like we did against Bromley, and I thought what changed the game was the first goal we gave away.

“After Lewis got sent off we were a little bit shook up but still the better side.

“What the first goal done to them, it lifted their tails, all of a sudden they were popping the ball around and they had a 25 per cent rise in their own confidence.

“I think the first goal killed us rather than the sending off, as much as I thought the sending off was deserved.”

Hornchurch have the chance to bounce back tonight though, as they face Grays in the Essex Senior Cup final at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road.