McFarlane: There’s nothing like playing games

Hornchurch boss Jimmy McFarlane spoke today of his frustrations at a recent spate of postponements.

Having seen Ryman Premier Division matches against Hastings and Carshalton fall victim to frozen pitches, during the cold snap, Hornchurch’s home meeting with Margate last night was called off due to a waterlogged Bridge Avenue pitch.

Urchins have not seen any action since their injury-time win over East Thurrock on January 28 and now trail leaders Billericay by five points, with two games in hand.

McFarlane said: “After getting a result (against East Thurrock) it has been very frustrating.

“On the one hand, it’s been a chance for some of the players to recover from injuries, but on the disappointing side, for others suspensions that would’ve lasted two weeks will last five weeks now. It has been very frustrating.”

Hornchurch have been able to keep training, despite the recent wintry weather, and will hope to get their game against Lewes played on Saturday.

And McFarlane admitted he cannot wait to get back in the dugout and get Hornchurch’s promotion push back on track.

He added: “We’ve been very lucky. We’ve had the opportunity to use an indoor facility as well as being out running outside on the snow, doing some fitness work. But there’s nothing like playing games.

“We’re not going to know how much of an impact this is going to have on us and everyone in the league until later in the season.

“Maybe in five or six games time, we’ll know how the break has affected us.”