Chelmsford City Head Coach Glenn Pennyfather intends to pick his strongest side in order to negotiate the final hurdle before another potential Essex Senior Cup final when his side make the short trip down the A12 to face Ryman League Premier Division side AFC Hornchurch, kick-off 7:45pm at Bridge Avenue.
Just one game remains before City get the opportunity to retain the silverware they won in against Concord Rangers in last year’s final and victories over Heybridge Swifts, Grays Athletic and Aveley so far have contributed to this final four match-up against two rivals with a known history for exciting encounters. Colin McBride’s Urchins are aiming to finish as high as possible themselves and will provide a stern test of City’s young side.
Marlon Patterson will miss out as he serves the second game of his two-match suspension while there will be a note of caution before selecting Steven Clark, Matthew Lock, Steve Ward and Ben Martin, who could all be rested as a precaution to prevent the progression of their own knocks. However, the Clarets’ boss insists he intends to select the best possible team available to him in a bid for a third successive final.
“I can’t change the team too much as we’ve got a small squad, but I wouldn’t want to anyway,” he explained, knowing the other semi-final between Dagenham & Redbridge and Colchester United will be played at the same time. “I’ve always said I want our players to develop good habits and we’re currently on a run of clean sheets. When I was a player I wanted to play in ever game, and my squad are no different.”
A date and venue won’t be confirmed until the finalists are known, but the winners at Bridge Avenue know Football League opposition awaits them. Glenn, however, prefers to concentrate on the task in hand and a tricky tie against a team who have already suffered at the hands of City in the FA Trophy this season, going out of the FA Trophy after the replay which followed a pulsating 4-4 draw at Melbourne Stadium.
“It would have been tough at this stage if we’d have got Dagenham, Colchester or Hornchurch,” he added. “They will be out for revenge for us putting them out of the Trophy and we’ll definitely need to stand up and be counted. I want winning to become second nature to the players as we’ve been on an excellent run and continuity could well spur us on in our league campaign as well.”
AFC Hornchurch: Address: Hornchurch Stadium, Bridge Avenue, Upminster, Essex, RM14 2LX. Phone: (01708) 250501. Position Last Season: 6th in the Ryman League Premier Division. Miles From Chelmsford: 24. Approx Journey Time: 50 minutes. Nickname: Urchins. Team Colours: Red and White Stripes. Ground Capacity: 3,500 (1,400 Covered Terracing). Seats: 800. Official Website: www.hornchurchfc.com.
Travel Club Coach: The coach to this game will depart the Clubhouse at 5:45pm and opposite the County Hotel at the top of Duke Street at 6:00pm. The return fare will be £5 for adults and £3 for under 16s and the latest seat availability details can be found via Mark Fleming on (07506) 873741.
Directions to Hornchurch Stadium: Take the M25 to Junction 29 on the A127 towards London. Come off at the next major turn-off (signposted ‘Upminster’) and turn left into Hall Lane. Follow this road for about a mile and a half, passing Upminster Station on your left, until you come to a major crossroads with traffic lights. Turn right at the lights into St Mary’s Lane. Continue down the hill and take the second turning on the left (Bridge Avenue). The Stadium can then be found about 200 yards down Bridge Avenue on the right. Nearest Train Station: Upminster (BR/Tube).
Weather Forecast: White Cloud. 4 degrees Celsius. Wind 16 mph.
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