Defeats dent play-off bids

Hornchurch and Romford will both be hoping for better when they return to Ryman League action tomorrow night.

Both suffered defeats on their travels at the weekend as they looked to maintain their respective pushes for promotion.

Premier Division Urchins were undone by two goals in 11 minutes at Billericay as they fell to a 2-0 defeat.

And Boro were left fuming at the referee after their 3-0 defeat at Ryman One North rivals Grays.

Cedric Ngakam broke the deadlock at New Lodge as he headed Billericay in front after 50 minutes.

And Jimmy McFarlane’s Urchins were left empty handed after Benson Kpaca nodded beyond Darren Behcet just past the hour mark.

They return to Bridge Avenue to take on lowly Aveley tomorrow, having slipped to 11th in the table.

Romford, meanwhile, felt Paul Kavanagh had been pushed in the build-up to the first Grays goal, scored by Simon Thomas midway through the first half at Rookery Hill.

Matt Toms, Kurt Smith and Kavanagh all had chances to level for Boro, before Thomas doubled the home side’s lead just before the hour.

Jason Fontaine added a third in injury time to leave Boro facing a daunting return trip to Corringham to take on Grays’ landlords, title-chasing East Thurrock, tomorrow.