Key men missing for promotion decider
Hornchurch will be without two key players when they take on Lowestoft Town in the Ryman Premier play-off final today.
But semi-final hero Rickie Hayles has backed whoever replaces them to grasp the opportunity with both hands.
Red cards against Canvey Island two weeks ago have come back to haunt Frankie Curley and Stefan Payne, who miss the trip to Suffolk, but defender Hayles believes their replacements will do an adequate job.
Hayles, the scorer of the only goal in Wednesday’s semi-final win over Kingstonian, said: “It is only through how great Frank and Stefan have been why the other boys are on the bench, but they have been waiting for their chance and they’ve got to take it.
“When they get their chance I am sure they’ll be working just as hard as everyone else and try to take it.”
Urchins manager Jimmy McFarlane conceded it was a huge blow to lose Payne and Curley for their “biggest game in two seasons”.
He added: “Frank has carried a little hamstring injury for about two months now so he hasn’t been full pelt, but he is a massive loss.
“And Stefan? 27 league goals. I don’t think I need to say any more. He has scored against big clubs as well like Braintree Town and Dagenham & Redbridge.”
The Hornchurch manager also discussed what he expects from the Trawler Boys at Crown Meadow, having seen his side lose 3-0 on their league trip in early November.
“Lowestoft are very well organised, very well drilled and they are a workmanlike side,” he said.
“When I look at Kingstonian and Lowestoft they are very similar. They are big and strong so it will be a similar game to the play-off semi-final.”
Today’s match will remarkably be Lowestoft’s fourth consecutive play-off final and the second time in three seasons these two sides have contested the showpiece match of the Ryman Premier season.
Hornchurch claimed a last-gasp 2-1 win at Bridge Avenue in May 2012, thanks to Michael Spencer’s strike, and the Trawler Boys will gunning for revenge this time.
Hayles accepts that, but knows the Urchins players want it just as much, adding: “Lowestoft is always a tough game and they have been a good side for the last three or four years.
“I think we are a strong enough side to play in the Conference South. “Revenge? Well if that previous match in 2012 isn’t hunger for Lowestoft I don’t know what will be, but our boys want it just as much.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here