Happy Easter! For the second time in four days, Tonbridge Angels play against a club for a third National League South fixture.

On New Year’s Day, incessant rain on an already heavy pitch brought an abandonment on 37 minutes with the score level on one apiece with Nazir Bakrin having equalised a fine strike from Ollie Muldoon. The game was replayed a month later, this time the home side recovering after the Angels had taken a two goal lead with goals from Gianluca Botti and an own goal from Will Greenidge.

Hornchurch, sit one place ahead of the Angels in the league table with just goal difference separating the clubs. Their form of late has not been great having won just one of their last eight games, but that win was against title chasing Worthing. They have won away this season at Hampton and Richmond on the opening day, and latterly at Enfield Town, Chesham United, Bath City and Farnborough.

Hornchurch are managed by Daryl McMahon. The 41-year-old Dubliner has also managed at Ebbsfleet United, Macclesfield Town and Dagenham and Redbridge and joined Hornchurch in 2024. He's assisted by Steve Gritt, formerly joint Charlton Athletic manager with Alan Curbishley.

McMahon looked forward to the Good Friday visit to the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium commenting after last Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to table topping Truro City: “I would have bitten your hand off if you had offered us top half back in August. We're looking forward to the run in. We've put in some decent performances when we've had nothing to play for, and it's important to give the fans something to talk about.”

The Essex side have two familiar faces in their squad. Their forward options include Tommy Wood who has had three spells with the Angels and Charlie Pegrum, on loan from Leyton Orient, who had loan spells with us in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Their principle goal threat will come from Darren McQueen, a player known to McMahon from his Ebbsfleet United days. He joined from the Fleet in the summer and has also played with McMahon at Dagenham and Redbridge. He is the Hornchurch top scorer this season with 14 goals in league and cup.

There is a heavy Maidstone United influence in their midfield with Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, Tom Wraight and Muldoon alongside Sean Scannell, who played for Crystal Palace and is the younger brother of ex-Angel Damian Scannell.

Admission prices for Saturday’s game are: Adults £17; Concessions £14; Youths £7 and Under-12’s free with accompanying adult with tickets available HERE.

Gates open at 1 pm with the Sports Bar and Marquee Bar open from the outset with special offers of two pints of Staropramen or Carling for £8. The Tea Hut serving burgers, hot dogs, butties, hot and cold drinks and Fries Like An Angel, serving all your favourite loaded chips are also open from 1 pm. The Pie Shack opens from 1.30 pm. After the game, the Sports Bar will be closed but the Marquee will include the Happy Hour, with £1 off all pints of draught lagers and ciders and the special offer drinks price continuing.

Saturday’s sponsors is Rob Steele and we hope he and his family and guests enjoy their day.

Last word goes to Scott Wagstaff: “The boys were excellent Tuesday night, we should have had another penalty, and if that had been given we could have got something out of the game. We gave Mackenzie and Ben some valuable football. I'm not going to be in charge next year and if I can help the boys develop, then that's great. I think on Tuesday our oldest player was Woody, who's 22. Because we didn't get back until three in the morning from Weston-super-Mare we couldn't do full preparation for Friday’s game. I knew being a manager wasn't going to be easy, but not this tough! But I'm loving it. One day I'll be a manager somewhere and it won't be tougher than this. We’re looking forward to Friday, a tough one, and then the big one at Maidstone on Monday. We all understand the occasion and what it means to the fans and we'll give everything in both games. I've told the boys you're going to be a part of club history if you score the winner at Maidstone and that's the motivation.