Crow Lane outfit welcome Chingford on Saturday before title contenders await

Romford & Gidea Park captain Steve Barfoot admits they face a tough task this weekend as they travel to Chingford in London One North.

Park visit Lea Valley Playing Fields to go up against one of the form teams in the league.

Chingford have won their last four matches, including smashing Ruislip 39-0 on January 17, and Barfoot said: “It is not going to be easy.

“We are going to push for a good start and try to not be under pressure inside the first five minutes, like we have been recently.

“We will all be saying let’s take it to them. You never know what might happen. They could be missing players, you just don’t know.”

Chingford beat Park 20-5 at Crow Lane earlier in the season, but Barfoot felt his team didn’t give a proper account of themselves.

They did manage to defeat Chingford last season, but both sides have changed this campaign.

“Chingford are a good side and they did the basics well before,” added Barfoot.

“We didn’t really pitch up that day to be honest and we know we could have been better, but that has been our problem all season.

“It was two different sides last year because they have added and got more now, but that is the way it goes in this league sometimes.”

Park’s team spirit will be boosted ahead of the clash after a team night out to a Chinese restaurant recently.

But with Colchester and Eton Manor up next, Barfoot concedes this weekend’s fixture is the one they need points from, adding: “We are looking forward to getting back to the rugby, but we have three tough games coming up.

“We do need to target this game and I’d like to think we could come away with a point because being away from home we need to be realistic and a losing point is what we will look for. But we will do our best and that is all we can do.”