Perfect timing for performance champs

Picking up their Macron Performance of the Month Award couldn’t have come at a better time for the Ryman League’s latest top flight winners AFC Hornchurch.

The Ryman Premier leaders head to third placed Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Saturday and collected October’s Macron accolade on Tuesday night before they warmed up for the key clash in Kent with a 1-0 win over Bognor Regis Town.

AFC Hornchurch faced stiff competition for the latest performance award but won the final vote of judges for their 6-1 FA Cup triumph over Ryman Premier rivals Wealdstone in the Third Qualifying Round on Saturday 16 October.

Urchins Secretary Peter Butcher - pictured before kick off being presented with a glass trophy to mark the club’s achievement from the Ryman League’s Senior and Youth Administrator Debbie Green – hailed the award as another shot in the arm for manager Jimmy McFarlane and his squad ahead of their top of the table clash.

A delighted Butcher believes it is well deserved after their flying start to the campaign and said: "Beating one of the division's top teams 6-1 was the best in a series of great results for Jimmy and his team in the first two months of the season. This Macron award is a great boost for everyone before we travel to title rivals Maidstone United as league leaders and we hope to land a few more trophies before the end of the season!"

Heroics in the FA Cup and FA Trophy dominated October's Macron Performance of the Month Awards with Ryman North winners Heybridge Swifts and Folkestone Invicta in Ryman South being named alongside the Urchins.

Swifts secured their first Macron award of the campaign when they turned giant-killers and knocked Conference South title challengers Bromley out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Hayes Lane in the Third Qualifying Round. Invicta took the Ryman South laurels for their 2-0 success over former holders Kingstonian in the FA Trophy's First Qualifying Round. Like all Macron Performance of the Month Award winners, both clubs were also presented with glass trophies marking their successes.

Image courtesy of Tommy McMillan