Urchins visit cup conquerors Concord

Hornchurch will look to set the record straight as they visit fierce rivals Concord in the Ryman Premier Division tomorrow (Saturday).

Urchins were dumped out of the FA Cup by the Canvey Island side earlier this season, losing 3-1 at home.

But they have lost only one of seven league matches since to climb to second in the table, having briefly held top spot, and progressed in the FA Trophy this week.

McFarlane said: “We’re not doing bad, but Concord are a good team who are just waiting to turn a corner.

“I hope they don’t turn it until Monday.

“It will be tough, but we’ve had a few lately. They’re all tough matches when you’re fighting for promotion.

“If we get near to where we can play, we’ll be alright.”

McFarlane was due to give Jonathan Hunt, Aaron Gayle, Tommy Black and Andy Tomlinson a run out in the Capital League at Harlow and, apart from Dave McSweeney (illness), should have a full squad to choose from.

Urchins visit Thurrock on Tuesday in the Essex Senior Cup in a dress rehearsal for their FA Trophy meeting later this month.

Romford, meanwhile, visit an improved Waltham Forest in Ryman Division One North and manager Paul Martin is not expecting an easy time of it at Cricklefield Stadium.

He said: “Last season you’d expect to take three points, but it’s a different matter now.

“I saw them about there weeks ago and they looked comfortable.

“They’re a strong side, but have had a little dip in form.

“We’ve reached our 20-point target, but if we can string a few more results together now to get to 30 points by Christmas, we might be able to push for the play-offs.”

Paul Clayton and James Ishmail serve one-game bans after collecting their fifth bookings of the season in Boro’s 2-0 win over Heybridge last weekend.

Martin was sent off himself in the closing stages of that match and added: “I don’t think we deserve to be where we are in the disciplinary league.

“Some of the tackles that were going in were fantastic. The bookings were beyond me.”