Urchins boss laments missed chances

Hornchurch manager Jimmy McFarlane admitted his club had underachieved in the Ryman Premier Division this season.

Urchins ended the campaign in tenth place after beating Maidstone 2-0 at the weekend.

Frankie Curley and Martin Tuohy struck either side of the break to seal the points, but Hornchurch finished four points adrift of the play-off places.

And McFarlane felt they should have done better, saying: “As a unit, we’ve underachieved.

“The players realise that. With the squad and players we’ve got we should be in the play-offs, but human errors cost us a lot of points.

“We made more mistakes than most and we got punished a lot of the time. We also needed to be a bit more clinical in front of goal. Missing chances is one of the reasons we’ve not got into the play-offs.

“It was a comfortable 2-0 win on Saturday and I would’ve taken that beforehand, but I think 4-0, 5-0 or 6-0 would’ve been fair.”

McFarlane has already started talking to players with regards to next season, but has ruled out wholesale changes at Bridge Avenue.

“I’d like all the boys back for another crack at it next season and I always look to improve,” he said.

“Getting in the play-off would’ve been good this season, sixth place would’ve been acceptable, but when you look at where we are we’ve underachieved and I’ve already spoken to players about next season.”

Romford’s miserable run-in was completed after they suffered an eighth defeat in nine Ryman Division One North games.

Boro slipped to a 3-0 home defeat against lowly Thamesmead Town and ended the campaign in 12th place, after harbouring hopes of a play-off spot only a month ago.