After four matches on the road, Adam Hinshelwood and his players grace Woodside Road once again and will be hoping home comforts guide them to another victory this weekend.
In the last four home games, the Reds have scored 14 goals and have conceded just once in what has been an almost flawless November.
Hornchurch have the advantage of a few extra days rest compared to their West Sussex counterparts, as they weren’t in action during the week. On the other hand, Worthing made the 366-mile round trip to Devon to face Torquay United on Tuesday.
After a lightning start to the encounter yielded two goals from Joel Colbran and Joe Cook, Torquay recovered and produced a comeback to claim a 3-2 victory. The mission is now to recover and ensure that defeat doesn’t have a lasting effect on the squad.
The Opposition
Hornchurch have proved to be the team to beat this season and have sat pretty in first position for the majority of the campaign.
However, after an unstoppable start the Urchins have faltered slightly in recent weeks, only winning one of their last four matches.
Their record of invincibility was broken away to Chelmsford City almost three weeks ago before being held to a point at home to AFC Totton last weekend.
Only one point now separates them from second place Weston-super-Mare in the league standings, as we approach the halfway point of the campaign.
Steady and consistent progression in recent years as seen them rise up the pyramid, earning promotion into the National League South in the 2023/24 season.
The Gaffer
Daryl McMahon has guided his players to top of the pile this season and has transformed the team into a force to be reckoned with.
He was appointed at the start of 2024 after Steve Morison was snapped up by then League Two outfit Sutton United. McMahon continued the positive work his predecessor commenced and emphatically earned Hornchurch promotion into the sixth tier, as they lifted the Isthmian League Premier Division title with a century of points – 21 more than second place Chatham Town.
After almost getting play-offs in their first season in the NLS, the powers that be at Hornchurch displayed their faith in McMahon by offering him a new three-year contract extension in the summer.
The Irishman was rewarded for his part in Hornchurch’s impressive start to the season as he was named the Enterprise National League South Manager of the Month for August.
As a player, McMahon appeared for his country at U16,U17, U18 level but never appeared for the senior team. After coming through the ranks at West Ham United, the midfielder played for Ebbsfleet, Stevenage Borough and Leyton Orient.
The 43-year-old has also managed Ebbsfleet United, Macclesfield Town and Dagenham & Redbridge.
One to Watch
Since being released from Millwall’s academy’s in the summer, striker Henry Hearn has took the National League South by storm.
The 21-year-old has scored three goals in his last five matches, including the winner against Tonbridge Angels three weeks ago.
In total, Hearn has scored seven goals in the National League South, but has also supplied four assists for his teammates so far.
Hornchurch’s number nine initially signed for the Urchins on a loan deal, spending three months with the club during the middle section of the 2024/25 campaign.
The centre forward was part of Millwall’s Academy from the age of eleven, before progressing all the way through to the U21’s squad.
League Form Guide
Worthing FC | W10 D3 L5 GD: +17 | Pos: 5th
League Form: LWWWW
MD14: Worthing 3-0 Hampton & Richmond | Scorers: Brad Dolaghan, Teddy Jenks & Joel Colbran
MD15: Worthing 4-0 Hemel Hempstead Town | Scorers: Brad Dolaghan x2, Joel Colbran & Tom King
MD16: Worthing 4-0 AFC Totton | Scorers: Brad Dolaghan x3 & Razzaq Coleman De-Graft
MD17: Slough Town 1-2 Worthing | Scorers: Brad Dolaghan x2
MD18: Torquay United 3-2 Worthing | Scorers: Joel Colbran & Joe Cook
Hornchurch | W11 D6 L1 GD: +14 | Pos: 1st
League Form: DLWDW
MD14: Torquay United 1-2 Hornchurch | Scorers: Henry Hearn & Angelo Balanta
MD15: Hornchurch 1-1 Chesham United | Scorer: Henry Hearn
MD16: Tonbridge Angels 0-1 Hornchurch | Scorer: Henry Hearn
MD17: Chelmsford City 2-0 Hornchurch
MD18: Hornchurch 1-1 AFC Totton | Scorer: Aaron Henry
View from the Camp – Adam Hinshelwood
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate for tomorrow’s match, although supporters are advised to purchase their ticket in advance via the Fanbase app.
- Adults: £18
- Concession: £14
- Under-18: £8
- Under-12: £5
- Under-6: Free entry
HOW TO FOLLOW
If you can’t be at the game, you can follow the game via live updates from the club’s official X account.
You can also listen to live commentary via the club’s official commentary service.
