Hornchurch moving in right direction says Steve Morison

Steve Morison says Hornchurch are ‘going in the right direction’ ahead of the 2023-24 Isthmian League campaign.

Urchins are due to visit Redbridge for their next pre-season friendly test on Friday (7.45pm), having drawn with St Ives Town and Braintree Town over the past week.

Jack Leahy and Lewwis Spence twice put them ahead in a 2-2 draw in Cambridgeshire on Saturday, before a goalless draw with National League South Iron on Tuesday.

And Morison felt there were positives to take from both fixtures.

“We’re going in the right direction. We used everyone in the squad,” he said. 

“We picked a different team to Dagenham, we don’t want to kill the lads, we want to be ready to peak at the start of the season.

“It was a different team again on Tuesday and we’ll give the other lads who didn’t play a start on Friday.

“St Ives was one of those annoying ones. We got the lead with a good goal but then scored a worldie.

“We then took the lead again and had chance after chance but couldn’t put the ball in the net.

“They were horrendous conditions, it was like a monsoon, but it was a good workout, boys got minutes.

“It was a really competitive game with Braintree on Tuesday. From our point of view, they only had one shot.

“We had a few more chances, a couple clear cut, we had a good shape and the boys are taking it all on board.

“We made some subs but there was no change in shape or work ethic.

“I was pleased again. You want to win and have good habits but you don’t it’s good that you don’t lose.

“It was a nice competitive game and they got something out of it too.”

Redbridge were promoted to Isthmian North from the Essex Senior League last season and Morison will shuffle his pack once again as he searches for the right formula for their Premier Division opener.

“We move onto Friday and it will be a different team again,” he added, having used trialists in both recent matches.

“We’ll look again this weekend. People have come in and done well, we’re trying to build relationships with local clubs, seeing if we can any on loan. 

“You always look to improve, you’re looking all the time, that’s football, to see if players can make you better.

“You’re not burying your head in the sand. It’s up to players to change my mind, that’s the key.

“The boys have been good in training, they’re getting time on the grass, and all things considered we’re going in the right direction before it all starts at Horsham [on August 12].”