Hornchurch boss Daryl McMahon was elated with his side’s defensive display as the Urchins played out a feisty goalless draw with Welling United on Monday afternoon.
After a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Slough Town on Saturday, the National League South newcomers put in another solid home performance to make it back-to-back home clean sheets for the first time since being promoted to the sixth tier of English football.
“I’m pleased with the clean sheet. That’s back-to-back clean sheets at home, which I think is great for us,” McMahon told reporters.
“I thought it was a strong performance again. I thought we controlled a lot of the game and had some chances right at the end as well.
"We look like a team that’s grown into the season and grown into how we want to play against a very good Welling team as well.
"They’ve got some very experienced players, and they’re a decent side, but I thought we equipped ourselves really well.”
Since returning to National League South, the Urchins have begun the campaign with a steady approach, picking up seven points from a possible 15.
But McMahon wasn’t too keen to be drawn on points totals this early into the season.
“I didn’t think about it to be honest,” he said when asked if the management had hoped to be around mid-table at this point of the campaign.
“I think we’ve just come up, and it’s important we consolidate in the league right away. That’s at the forefront of our minds.”
The timely return of the experienced Nathan Green offered McMahon some much-needed stability in the backline, cutting out several threatening Welling attacks.
And the Urchins boss was delighted with the performance of the veteran.
“I thought he was brilliant today, Greeny,” said McMahon. “He played there on Saturday - left centr-half. It’s a new position for him, but I thought he dealt with it really, really well today, and I thought he was outstanding.
“We want to win every game. We don’t go into any game looking to lose or draw. I think you have to appreciate that we’ve gone up a division and we’re playing against some very, very good sides, and next Saturday away to Weston (super-Mare) will be no different.
"It’ll be a tough game, and they’re in really good form as well. They’ve won away from home today, I think. So, it’s going to be a difficult game, but we’re going to look and put our mark on the game.”
Hornchurch make the long trip to North Somerset on Saturday, hoping to rediscover their goalscoring form before hosting Farnborough the following Tuesday (7.45pm).
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