By Eric White
PLAY-OFF PREVIEW: THURROCK VS AFC HORNCHURCH
THURROCK FC host AFC Hornchurch in the Ryman League Division One North playoff semi-final at Ship Lane this evening (27th April).
Both sides had very strong seasons in the league, finishing on 96 and 86 points respectively, and the winner of tonight’s game will go on to Sunday’s play-off final against either Harlow Town FC or Cray Wanderers, who play each other in the other playoff semi-final.
Goals from Ross Gleed and Moshood Olafunmishe in the final day 2-0 win away at Aveley ensured Thurrock got to play the semi-final at their home ground.
Thurrock have the better record of the two sides when they have met in the league this season, edging it with a 2-1 win thanks to Lewwis Spence’s last-minute goal at Ship Lane back in December, while the game at Hornchurch finished a 0-0 stalemate.
Thurrock can take confidence from the fact that their 17 victories at home in the campaign is the second-highest in the league to Harlow Town (18) and they will need all of the crowd to urge them on if they are to come out on top.
AFC Hornchurch come into the clash having won four and drawn one of their final five league games, so they will no doubt believe they can cause problems for the Thurrock defence.
Tickets for the game are £10 for adults, £6 for O.A.P’s and students and £2 for children.
Parking for the match is free.
For further information, please visit the club website http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/thurrock
Kick-off is at 7:45pm, with turnstiles opening at £6pm.
