Urchins face FA Trophy trip to Farnborough

Hornchurch boss Jimmy McFarlane is looking forward to his side’s FA Trophy replay at Farnborough tonight (Wednesday).

The two sides battled to a goalless draw at Bridge Avenue on Saturday, when Urchins saw striker Lewis Smith dismissed for two bookable offences in the first half.

The winners of tonight’s clash will travel to Conference Premier side Grimsby in the new year, but McFarlane is not looking that far ahead just yet.

He said: “I noticed on their forum they’re already planning their trip. We’ll start in the morning.

“There’s an old saying in football — ‘you miss your chance at home’ — but it’s the opposite for us.

“We’ve certainly got nothing to fear, especially with it being away and our form this season.

“I’m told the surface will be nice, which should suit us.”

Smith can play tonight, but will miss the big Ryman Premier Division clash at Billericay on December 27.

McFarlane added: “We did everything but score on Saturday. Lewis was having a bit of a frustrating time at the time of his bookings, but he will be firing on all cylinders tonight.

“Replays are always tough games and I’m not taking anything for granted, not for one minute.”

Rickie Hayles and Reiss Noel played despite illness at the weekend and McFarlane revealed he will have the same squad on duty this evening.

“We’ve only got a small squad so we have to get on with it,” he said.

“They’re still feeling the after-effects a bit but it’s part of football. We’ll have the same set of players as Saturday and we’ll get on with it.”