Hornchurch, Romford look to bounce back from cup exits

Ryman Premier Division

Hornchurch v Horsham

Urchins play the first of six home matches in a 24-day spell on the back of a disappointing exit from the Essex Senior Cup.

Jimmy McFarlane’s men were knocked out in the quarter-finals after a 2-0 defeat at Heybridge, the fourth team from a lower division to eliminate them from a cup competition this season.

That came after a goalless draw at Carshalton in the league last weekend, where Hornchurch’s already thin squad picked up a few injuries.

Results elsewhere this week have seen Urchins drop down to ninth in the table, but they are just three points behind Cray, with two games in hand, and will look to kick on now in the push for the play-offs.

Ryman Division 1N

Romford v Needham Market

Successive defeats have knocked the wind out of Boro’s sails a little bit.

But what better time to bounce back than against title-chasing Needham in the first of four home games in a row.

Having started the new year with back-to-back away league wins at Heybridge and Cheshunt, Paul Martin’s men slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Brentwood last weekend.

And a last-minute goal sent them out of the Ryman League Cup at Dulwich in midweek.

But they remain firmly in the play-off hunt, trailing third-placed Wingate by 10 points, with seven games in hand.