Hornchurch ‘have to hit back’

Hornchurch boss Jimmy McFarlane says his side must bounce back quickly from defeat against Cray to stay in the Ryman Premier Division title race.

Urchins head to relegated Horsham tomorrow (Saturday) trailing leaders Billericay by seven points, but with a game in hand at home against Margate on Tuesday.

The title rivals are due to meet at Bridge Avenue on Easter Monday, but McFarlane is only focused on the next match.

He said: “We have now got to put this to the back our mind and pick the boys up and go again.

“We have a tough game next weekend. We have just got to keep going. I think there are a few more twist and turns.”

Romford travel to lowly Soham in Division One North, after a morale-boosting win over Harlow last weekend.

Boss Paul Martin said: “Soham will be tough. They’ve got a new manager on board and he will want to bring in new faces.

“We’re happy. We’re trying to build and the atmosphere will be good on the coach.

“We’re trying to go there and take threee points and get into the 50s.”

Martin has a shortage of centre-backs, though, with James Ishmail away and captain Paul Clayton and Matt Toms serving suspensions.

He added: “I’ve only got one centre-back now and Lordy could get another call-up!

“We’ll shuffle it around and have a tinker. Nick Reynolds is good in the air so I might chuck him in there.

“Winning games for Romford is important and we’ve got to try and keep doing that.”