Hornchurch boss looks for home rule

Hornchurch manager Jimmy McFarlane knows his side are struggling a little bit.

With only one win in their last six Ryman Premier games, Urchins have slipped down to 11th place in the table.

But they host Hastings this weekend and Harrow on Tuesday, looking to make up lost ground.

McFarlane said: “We’re having a dip and every game is a hard game at the moment.

“But we haven’t become a bad team overnight and there’s nothing wrong that a win won’t put right.”

Urchins fell to a 2-0 defeat at Billericay last weekend, before their home derby with Aveley was postponed due to floodlight failure.

Some conspiracy theorists suggested it was a timely cancellation, given Hornchurch’s injury list, while others thought there were other forces at hand.

But repair work was carried out on two pylons in midweek and Hornchurch will look to lighten the gloomy mood at Bridge Avenue.

McFarlane added: “Billericay were a bit sharper than us. We looked like a side who had players coming back from long-term injuries.

“Two or three hadn’t played for a long time and it showed, but we didn’t throw the towel in. We kept huffing and puffing.”

McFarlane took the chance to watch Hastings in their 3-0 defeat at Billericay on Tuesday and was hoping to complete a deal for a Conference South player before the weekend.

He added; “Hastings looked a decent side, but Billericay were too big for them.

“It wasn’t a 3-0 game. Billericay’s goalie [Ashley Jones] made a couple of great saves when it was still 1-0 and is the best I’ve seen this year.

“We need to get a few more [players] in and I’m waiting for a phonecall. It seems that’s all I’ve been doing this last month.”