Urchins, Boro seek home rule

Saturday January 8

Ryman Premier Division

HORNCHURCH v LOWESTOFT

Urchins returned to action with a stylish 3-0 win at Wealdstone on New Year’s Day and play their first home game in six weeks.

Unbeaten in 10 league games, they go into the weekend in fifth place, just ahead of visiting Lowestoft, who were 2-0 winners when the sides met back in August.

It was a forgettable night for goalie Darren Behcet, who made a couple of costly errors and suffered a broken hand in Suffolk.

Behcet is back in a settled Hornchurch side now, though, and manager Jimmy McFarlane is hoping the locals find the urge to come along and cheer his side on.

Ryman Division 1N

ROMFORD v WINGATE & FINCHLEY

Frustrated by boiler problems, which saw last weekend’s clash at Leyton cancelled, Boro return to league action after almost a month at Mill Field.

Manager Paul Martin gave most of his first-choice side a run out in a 3-0 midweek friendly win at Hornchurch and has the headache of a virtually fully fit squad to chose from.

Beaten 1-0 when the two sides met in north London in August, Boro have lost just once since, to table-topping East Thurrock, and climbed into the play-off picture with a string of impressive displays.