Blue Square South club Chelmsford City will return to knockout cup action against Ryman League Premier Division neighbours AFC Hornchurch this Saturday at Melbourne.
And City have made a change to their attacking options after releasing striker Danny Hockton on Thursday evening.
The forward player has struggled with fitness this season and has been allowed to start afresh elsewhere now he is no longer a part of Glenn Pennyfather’s plans, though the City Head Coach revealed he already has his eyes on talent elsewhere: “We obviously wish Danny all the best in the future, but things move on in football and this releases money in our budget which I can allocate in other areas. I have someone in mind who would fit into our jigsaw perfectly so we will have to wait and see.”
Hockton made thirteen appearances in 2009/10, scoring five goals which included three in the opening trio of matches, although recent knocks took their toll on his condition and Pennyfather felt the time was right for a parting of ways.
His release will, however, give Pennyfather room to bring in further talent to bolster his existing squad who were rated as “sharp” after Thursday’s training session.
He will only be without Anthony Cook for the visit of the Urchins as he sits out for a further week to recover from an ankle injury.
“I can’t wait to get involved in the Trophy as I’ve had a lot of success in the competition in the past so it means a lot to me as well as the players,” Pennyfather continued. “We need to get on another roll and a good run in the Trophy can generate confidence and big crowds. I’m not saying our name is on the silverware, but it’s a competition which we have a realistic chance of winning, not like the FA Cup! Teams from outside the top tier have won it on many occasions in the past, so why not us?”
Prize money worth £4,000 is up for grabs for the victors in this game, though AFC Hornchurch will be no pushovers having completed the double over City during the Clarets’ 2007/08 Ryman championship season. Despite sitting in seventeenth position in the table, their squad contains a host of recognisable non-league names who will be capable of springing a surprise on their day. Former Chelmsford players currently plying their trade at Bridge Avenue include midfielder Jamie Southon and striker Kris Lee, although the latter is currently out on loan.
Captain Dave Rainford also believes there will be no hangover from the Clarets’ slim 1-0 defeat at Bath City last week, adding: “We hit two posts, the crossbar and had two cleared off the line. We only gave them two half-chances and they scored from one! If you were offered only giving your opposition two half-chances before a game you would take that! It’s the tight games that make the difference over a season but I still believe if we play to the best of our ability we are a match for any team in this league.”
