Urchins boss reflects on vital victory

Romford Recorder: Hornchurch manager Jim McFarlane (Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO)Hornchurch manager Jim McFarlane (Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO) (Image: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO c/o 27 Plaiters Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3LR - Editorial Use ONLY - FA Premier League and Football Lea...)

Hornchurch boss Jimmy McFarlane hailed his side’s fighting spirit after their 1-0 win over Conference South rivals Bromley yesterday.

Kieron St Aimie struck in the 90th minute to earn three valuable points for relegation-threatened Urchins, who had lost 2-1 at Boreham Wood on Good Friday.

And victory came after the hosts had played half the match with only ten men at Bridge Avenue, after Joey May saw red.

Victory lifted McFarlane’s men up to 16th in the table, two points above the drop zone with five matches remaining, and he said: “Friday, I thought we were a bit naive.

“People forget how young this side is. Wayne Gray is the elder statesman and he’s only 30.

“For both goals we were very naive but we were beaten by a very good side, so I wasn’t over disappointed to lose.

“I was very pleased to beat Bromley, especially after going down to ten men. I thought it was high, but I thought a yellow card (would have been enough).

“I had a bit of a moan at half time. I thought we were poor first half, we never really got going and you have those games and sometimes you have to have a little grizzle to get a reaction and we certainly got a reaction.”

McFarlane changed formation to 3-4-2 for the second half and the decision to keep attacking eventually paid off as St Aimie netted for the second match in succession.

“Sometimes they pay off and sometimes they don’t. You’ve got to be brave enough to make the decisions,” added McFarlane.

“There was 15 minutes to go and we went for it. We went 3-3-3 and it paid off.”