Struggling Urchins chase silverware

Hornchurch manager Jimmy McFarlane is looking forward to another high-pressure match tonight.

Urchins meet Grays in the Essex Senior Cup final at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road ground, having fallen into the Conference South drop zone with a 2-1 home defeat against Truro on Saturday.

It represents a fourth game in nine days for McFarlane’s men, but he says he would rather play than rest.

He said: “It’s a nice little rest (from the league), but you can’t say the pressure is off because you’re playing a cup final!

“You go from one pressure situation to another but that is football.

“I wouldn’t take it away if someone said to me ‘do you wish you could have a rest’. I wouldn’t say no (to the final).”

Grays were crowned Ryman Division One North champions at the weekend and McFarlane will not underestimate a team who currently play two divisions below his side in the non-league pyramid, but could be rivals next season.

“All cup finals are tough irrelevant of what division they’re in, they’re all tough,” said McFarlane.

“I know nearly all their players, and we’re going to be down to the bare bones with injuries.

“For me the performances have been good of late, it’s just the results and it is a results business and unfortunately we haven’t been getting them.”

Urchins are without some key players tonight, but McFarlane hopes a win will give them a boost ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sutton.

Several mid-season signings are ineligible, while Joey May is unavailable due to suspension.

But Martin Tuohy has recovered from an illness that sidelined him at the weekend to give Hornchurch a much needed boost.

“Kieron St Aimie, Billy Coyne and Rickie Hayles (are unavailable),” said McFarlane.

“Martin is fine, I spoke to him, he’s not 100 per cent but he’s available for selection.

“You never know, you win tomorrow night and it might give us a lift for Saturday.”