Steve Morison wanted a reaction from his Hornchurch players after exits from both the FA Cup and FA Trophy - and he is delighted to have got exactly that.

The Urchins were first beaten 2-1 at Aveley in a third qualifying round replay in the famous old competition before a penalty shoot-out at Leiston ended their interest in the FA Trophy.

However, since then they have twice won 4-1 in the Isthmian League Premier Division, first at home to Hastings United and then away to Cray Wanderers on Sunday.

And the boss is more than happy about that.

Romford Recorder: Liam Nash scored twice in the win at Cray Wanderers. Picture: TGS PHOTOLiam Nash scored twice in the win at Cray Wanderers. Picture: TGS PHOTO (Image: TGS Photo)

He said: "We were obviously disappointed to lose those [cup] games, especially in the manner that we did, but we challenged the lads to respond and react in the correct way and so far they have managed to do that. 

"I’m really pleased and we just need to try and continue that work now."

Even the downside of conceding in both those matches, which help maintained their unbeaten league record, could not dampen the spirits of the boss.

"That's just life," he said. "You’re never 100 per cent satisfied but I keep telling the players that you have to enjoy the wins. 

"That's what we're trying to do, enjoy everything that we're doing at the minute and obviously when you're winning games, it's a lot easier to do that.  

"And then obviously the clean sheets will come, I’ve no doubt. And yeah, we need to keep scoring goals as well. 

"The disappointment with the goals [we've conceded] is they are normally poor goals, there’s no one who has opened us up and scored a really good goal. 

"But we have scored some good goals and I'm really pleased with how we're doing as a whole. 

"We just need to continue that."

Next up is another set of back-to-back games, both at home.

They face Bognor Regis Town on Saturday before returning to Bridge Avenue on Tuesday when Folkestone Invicta are the visitors.

Morison said: "They are very good teams, two teams at the right end of the table and in and around the play-off picture. 

"It's going to be two tough games and we need to make the most of home advantage. 

"We're just taking each day as it comes, each game as it comes and we'll go from there.  

"We're not get too carried away, we'll let everyone else worry about us and just continue to do our work. 

"We'll do our homework on [those] teams and we'll set up and try and win them."