Smith offers warning to promotion hopefuls

Hornchurch skipper Roy Smith knows everybody will expect his side to defeat Essex League Division Two rivals Horndon tomorrow (Saturday), but says his men are not guaranteed victory.

Horndon are currently bottom of the table and without a win this season and although Smith believes his side will win again, following last weekend’s success over Belhus, he will not stand for any complacency.

He said: “Everyone will be expecting us to win it but you never know. I’m confident we will win, but you can’t take anything for granted.

“Every side has got good players in their team, but obviously for some reason or another they haven’t clicked yet, but it can take time.

“A lot of teams this season for some reason or another haven’t fired, while for us it is the opposite. We are confident and now we just need to make sure we continue and carry on winning.”

Hornchurch lost disappointingly to Orsett two weeks ago, but bounced back against Belhus and Smith has called for his side to continue their momentum.

Ahead of their Horndon meeting explained how they are continuing to learn and will only get better and better.

“It is important not to get too overconfident, we are 20 points clear so there is room for us to have a bad day, but we need to keep winning,” he added.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t keep winning. It is my first season at Hornchurch so we have lots to do and we are all still learning each other’s games.

“It takes time and next season we’ll be a lot better, but we just need to carry on with how we have been playing.”

Dean Skipper’s half century proved in vain as the seconds last to Hainault by six wickets, while the thirds lost to Upminster and fourths went down against Billericay

Danny Imray hit seven sixes and 19 fours on his way to 144, in his first game for the fifths, as they made 241-6 against Hutton.

Dave Kiff (4-13) shone in a 19-over spell as Hutton limped to 92-6 in a draw.