After a tough start to life in the National League, Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard will be hoping for some light relief as they bid to reach the FA Cup first round proper at the expense of AFC Hornchurch at Meadow Park on Saturday.

Wood will be looking to inflict cup revenge on the side formed from the ashes of Hornchurch, who disbanded owing to financial difficulties at the end of the 2004/05 season.

The newly formed Urchins stormed to the Essex League title at the first attempt and the following season we met in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The then Isthmian Division One side upset the form books, winning 2-0 at Meadow Park. That season Wood almost swapped league places with the Urchins, who won a second successive league title whilst Wood were reprieved from relegation owing to the demise of Halifax Town.

That began a three season relationship with the Upminster based side, with Wood winning three, drawing one and losing twice in the Isthmian Premier until Wood's memorable promotion to the Conference South.

One year later we were joined by the club that has had Colin McBride and Jimmy McFarlane at the helm since its inception.

That season Wood drew 1-1 at Bridge Avenue, before running out 2-1 winners at Meadow Park in March 2013, a game in which Garrard, Ben Nunn, Callum Reynolds and James Russell all featured. That was the last time the two sides met.

The Urchins were relegated after just one season in the Conference South, but almost made an immediate return, losing the Isthmian Premier Play-Off Final the following season, which then led to a further relegation to Division One North.

This season The Urchins have been in formidable form, showing the club's incredible bouncebackability under the guidance of manager McFarlane, the former assistant to the now chairman-coach McBride.

The pair moved across Essex from Thurrock when McBride unceremoniously sacked after guiding them to the brink of the Conference.

Hornchurch have scored 16 FA Cup goals already this season and took the scalp of Southern League Premier Cambridge City.

Should they advance to the next round they would equal their best ever showing in the great competition. That was in 2008/09 when they lost to a 90th minute Craig Mackail-Smith goal against Peterborough United at London Road.

In the league the Urchins are averaging just under three goals per game and sit just four points off the summit with two games in hand over current leaders Cray Wanderers. In George Purcell (16) and David Knight (11) they possess the Isthmian Division One North’s two leading scorers.