United are back on the road again tomorrow, as they head to Upminster to face Hornchurch.
After picking up maximum points in the midweek home clash v Worthing, a similar result at the Hornchurch Stadium could see Paul Wotton’s men climb to the top of the Vanarama National League table, depending on results elswhere.
Who’s the Boss?
For the second weekend running, a former Gulls midfielder will be in the opposition dugout, although Daryl McMahon’s stint at Plainmoor lasted no more than a sole substitute appearance for Leroy Rosenior’s promotion-bound side against Yeovil in the Spring of 2004.
McMahon’s playing career saw him clock up over 350 appearances for the likes of Leyton Orient, Stevenage, Farnborough, Boreham Wood and Ebbsfleet, along with that briefest of loan spell at Plainmoor thrown in for the good measure.
His managerial career started at Ebbsfleet in April 2015, leading the club to the National League in 2017 via the Play-Offs. After leaving the Fleet he then took charge of Macclesfield in August 2019, but resigned only four months later after the club had financial difficulties.
Following three years at Dagenham & Redbridge, the Irishman took charge of Hornchurch following the departure of Steve Morison in January, and duly built on the foundations laid down by his predecessor, by clinching promotion to English football’s sixth tier.
How have they been doing?
Three wins and a draw from their opening seven fixtures represented a highly-respectable start for The Urchins, however, results have been hard to come by since, with the side registering just one win in their last nine outings – that being a 2-1 FA Cup win over Isthmian League outfit Hashtag United.
There were certainly sides of improvement and cause for optimism on Wednesday evening though, as McMahon’s side secured a valuable 1-1 draw at much-fancied Boreham Wood.
Player to Watch
Angelo Balanta has faced United many times in the past, and tomorrow he may well be doing so once again, having signed for his old Dagenham & Redbridge boss Daryl McMahon during the summer.
The Columbian striker started his career at QPR in 2007 and stayed there until 2014, during which time he took in loan spells at Wycombe, MK Dons and Yeovil Town. Following his departure from Loftus Road, Balanta linked up with Bristol Rovers before making the long trip north to join Carlisle United. After only spending a season at Brunton Park, Boreham Wood was his next stop, prior to a century of appearances for Dagenham paving the way for a return to The Wood.
His second spell at Meadow Park would only last a year though, with Angelo making his way to Upminster during the closes season.
Played For Both
Jazzi Barnum-Bobb arrived at Plainmoor at a difficult time for the Club, with Gary Owers’ side in the middle of an ultimately unsuccessful bid to retain their National League status in 2017/18.
Jazzi didn’t let that testing loan spell from Newport County hold him back though, with the right-back having gone on to represent a whole host of non-League clubs, in addition to winning six full international caps with Saint Vincent and The Grenadines.
Having graduated from Watford as a youth player, a spell in Wales saw him turn out for Cardiff, Newport and Wrexham, before a return to England saw Chelmsford City, Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet all benefit from his experience and versatility.
Barnum-Bobb joined Hornchurch in June 2024.
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Main Photo Credit: Hornchurch FC