Hornchurch take on fellow play-off hopefuls Kingstonian whilst Boro look to dent Sudbury’s hopes

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Good Friday, April 22 (3pm)

Ryman Premier

Hornchurch v Kingstonian

Urchins play-off hopes were dealt a massive blow with their second 3-0 defeat at the hands of Essex rivals Canvey Island.

Their promotion chances are now slim but they would need to pick up maximum points from all their remaining games and hope other results go in their favour, starting with tomorrow’s (Good Friday’s) home game against fellow promotion hopefuls Kingstonian.

At Canvey Jimmy McFarlane’s men went a goal down after 20 minutes through Leon Gordon but it wasn’t until keeper Darren Behcet was sent off for tripping Gordon that the Gulls completed the result, with Rob King scoring from the resultant spot-kick.

Skipper Elliot Styles went in goal and a late strike from Danny Heale sealed the three points.

Kingstonian are on a three game winning run and sit two places off the play-off positions, but are only two points behind fifth-placed Lowestoft Town, whilst Hornchurch are a further five points behind.

It will be a backs to the wall job if the Urchins are to achieve their aims, but McFarlane won’t let his team finish the season on a whimper.

Saturday, April 23 (3pm)

Ryman Division 1N

Romford v AFC Sudbury

Boro boss Paul Martin still won’t give up on his side reaching his target of 60 points but they face a tough test against another side still harbouring promotion hopes.

Martin will have been disappointed with the 2-0 loss to Maldon & Tiptree and hat makes it five defeats in six for Romford.

And it looks another tough test for his side this weekend when they face the Yellows with their play-off chances hanging by a thread.

Chris Chase and Joe Sweeney done enough for Maldon to keep their Ryman Premier visions intact last Saturday after Paul Kavanagh missed a penalty for Romford.

But if Romford do turn up they can end Nicky Smith’s side’s play-off ambitions and would edge Martin towards a satisfactory end to the season.