Hornchurch look for home comfort

Ryman Premier Division

Hornchurch v Carshalton

Urchins boss Jimmy McFarlane said his side needed five wins from their last six games a week ago.

They were held to a goalless draw by Horsham, despite strong shouts for a penalty, last Saturday so that leaves them with five games to make up a four-point deficit and climb six places into the play-off zone.

Three of those five games are at Bridge Avenue, starting with the visit of a Carshalton side, who are stuck in mid-table with nothing to play for.

But when these two sides met in Surrey in late January the match ended scoreless, which is not a good omen for a Hornchurch side who have collected just six of a possible 18 points at the business end of the season.

Ryman Division 1N

Romford v Brentwood

Boro were left to rue another late, late goal as they lost to Waltham Abbey in midweek.

Unfortunate to return empty-handed from high-flying Needham Market at the weekend, Paul Martin’s men looked set for a hard-earned point at Mill Field after Paul Kavanagh and Chris Thomas netted to make it 2-2.

But Abbey followed in the footsteps of Enfield Town, Wingate and Tilbury, who all netted in the closing stages of matches last month to deny Boro victories – which cost them six vital points – to claim a late winner.

And Romford, seven points behind fifth-placed Wingate with only one game in hand, must now rely on other results going in their favour if they are to end such a promising campaign with a play-off spot.

Boss Paul Martin has pretty much written off his side’s chances already, but knows they have alreeady over-achieved this season.

Brentwood have slipped up in their most recent outings, losing at lowly Ilford and at home against play-off chasing Maldon last weekend.

But Blues had won nine in a row before that to climb to third in the table and have a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Sudbury heading into the final few games of the season.