McFarlane frustrated by decision and draw

Hornchurch boss Jimmy McFarlane was left scratching his head after seeing Abs Seymour sent off against Dereham Town at the weekend.

Midfielder Seymour was given his marching orders towards the end of a 0-0 draw in their Ryman North encounter, but Urchins have appealed against the decision.

McFarlane said: “I’ve got to be careful what I say but it topped it off. I must have been watching a different game!

“No-one can work out what it was for. Even their bench were asking what was it for?

“The boys went for a 50-50 ball, the ball went out for a throw-in. There was no appeal, the two players just clashed.

“It didn’t have an effect on the game, but if we lose the appeal he will miss three games. He had been getting used to us, had found his feet and was getting better and ebtter every game.”

The red card compounded another frustrating day for McFarlane’s promotion hopefuls in Norfolk, as they failed to find a breakthrough against the Magpies.

Although unbeaten in their last nine league matches, Hornchurch have drawn six and failed to find the net in four of those fixtures.

He added: “I’ve defended us and defended us, but I’m getting a bit concerned now. Every game we’ve drawn 0-0, if we’d won 4-0 the oppositon couldn’t have had any complaints.

“If it had been 4-0 at half-time on Saturday, I don’t think there would have been any complaints.

“We missed so many chances and then they had a couple late on. Sam Mott has made a couple of half-decent saves and there’s a fine line between being unlucky and not being good enough.

“We can’t keep going through games like this. We’re still in touching distance, but we won’t be if we can’t start scoring some goals.”

Hornchurch now turn their attentions to the Ryman League Cup and a third-round home tie against Premier Division side Sudbury tonight (Tuesday).

Leon McKenzie hit hat-tricks in 4-1 away wins over Haringey Borough and Enfield Town in the previous rounds, but McFarlane revealed he will be shuffling his pack at Bridge Avenue.

He said: “We picked up some tiny knocks on Saturday, nothing major, so those boys won’t be included and others will get a game.

“I’d much rather play a league cup game than just do 90 minutes of running and it’s an opportunity for some of them who are coming back from injury to get some minutes. James Morrish is only a week away now from getting some minutes.

“We won’t take it too lightly. We’ve got our personal pride and will still be putting a strong side out.”